The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-07-22
Washington Street Grounds
Available for Pupils
Attending There
TWO PETITIONS
TO COMMITTEE
Want Playground Provided Meet
ing Held in High School Children
More Important Than Bushes.

y meeting OF the playground com
mlttee elected 1T the annual meeting
of school district No. ? was held in
the high school room last night. 1t
was intended TO be an open public
meeting, but it was not so announced
and most persons supposed it was sim
ply committee meeting, consequent
y very few were present.
The object of the gathering was to
discuss the playground situation and
hear any propositions or suggestions
that anybody might wish to make, as
known plots available for the purpose
desired are scarce and the committee
desires all the assistance the public
can give. E. Q. S. Osgood acted as
chairman and +. B. Smith secretary
Two petitions were received and
read,' one signed by residents of Pros
pect hill and one signed by residents
principally of Elliot and Frost streets.
The one from Prospect hill bore so
signatures and asked that the com
mittee keep the grounds around the
Washington street primary school
building closed and not allow them to
be used for playground purposes. Two
| reasons for this seemed to be appar-
ont, one being that the attraetiveness
| of the shrubbery on the grounds would
| be menaced and the other being that
children from other sections would be
attracted.
The children had a faithful cham
pion in the person of Miss Emma
| Lundbreg of Central street, who lives
near the Washington street grounds
and who has had large experience in
| teaching. Miss Lundberg thought the
| little people ought to have some place
where they could enjoy themselves and
expressed the opinion that the chill
dren were more important than bushes.
| After the discussion the committee
voted to open the Washington street
grounds the children who attend that
school. This will accommodate the
smaller children of the hill. The
larger children, especially the boys,
would not find the grounds suitable
for their needs as there is not room
for ball playing. Moreover, the lit
tie children will not damage the shrub
berry. They have been taught to pro-
tect and appreciate it, and there is no
question but that it adds to the beau
ty of the grounds.
The Washington street grounds are
surrounded by wire fence and the
gates have been locked through vaca-
ton. Hereafter the gates will be un-
locked except at night and the young
sters viii be free to use the grounds
in any reasonable way.
The petition from Elliot and Frost
streets simply expressed the need of
a playground for the children of that
section of the village and asked the
committee to provide one. No great
er need is felt anywhere in town. NJ.
j. Baker of Elliot street has offered to
rent or sell a plot of ground north of
Elliot street and east of Union street
for playground purposes, but the com
mittee has not had time to fully con-
slider it. The land is not level, and
whether it could be made to answer
remains to be determined.
One of the most difficult problems
confronting the committee is to find
piece of ground suitable for the older
children, which is large enough for
ball field and is no so far away that
it would not be used.