Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-27
DENKMANN PARK
PLAYGROUND open
Children Flock to Square for
Formal Dedication of Their
Place of Recreation.
WOMAN'S CLUB PROVIDER
Speeches and Games Constitute Pro
gram With M. A. cIevett as Su-
pervlsor of Sport.

The children of the west end of the
city have a vital new interest that
promises to keep them occupied for
the remainder of the summer, and
which will do away with that oft-re-
peated complaint, There amt nothing
to do" for Saturday the public play
grounds in Denkmann park were for
L-ally opened to the Riddles"
The civic department OF the wom-
ans club through its public pla.
grounds committee, Mrs. F. c. Denk-
mann and Mrs. NJ. c. Rice, has made
possible this place of recreation for
the children of the west end, and has
given them a new impetus for sport.
With the establishment of the super
vised play grounds at Long View park
by the play grounds committee and
its great success, the committee was
enlarged by the addition of Mrs.
Charles Esplin and Mrs. s. w. Searle,
ond play ground at Denkmann square,
between Fourth and Fifth streets and
Fifth and Sixth avenues, which was
donated by Mr.. and Mrs F. c. Denk.
mann to the city as park years ago.
Amusements Provided.
With the assistance of r. C. Smed-
ley and NJ. A. Clevett of the Y. NJ. C.
A. and the park commissioner, c. F.
Gaetjer, tennis courts, volley ball
courts and baseball diamonds have
been laid out and equipped for the
pleasure of the children. They
fiocked in crowds from blocks around,
some in rags and some in toys, and
some in khaki suits, but mostly minus
shoes and stockings, for they had
come to play and to be in first on the
amusements that have been provided
for them. They were there by the
hundreds Saturday, all alive and eager
to get in on the teams and to learn
how to play the various games that
Mr. Clevett has so kindly promised to
teach them. a few of the parents and
older brothers and sisters of the chill
dren came to help them formally open
the grounds, and they too showed a
good interest in the undertaking and
one that promises much for its fu-
ture
Speeches on Formal Program.
The park is minus any large trees
that could provide shelter from the
torrid heat of Saturday, so the formal
program of short speeches was held
in the shade of some friendly trees
across the street. Mrs. G.. H. Sher-
wood, chairman of the civic depart
ment of the Woman's club, made
short Introductory address in which
she spoke of the fact that during the
years that have gone by and since
the time of the prophets the streets
have been full of children; of the ad-
vance of civilization that has placed
dangers for the children in the streets
and of the necessity of providing them
with some place where they can play
away from harms reach. With this
thought in view the play grounds have
been equipped and opened to the chill
dren that they may go there for their
play and recreation, and to make OF
them good citizens.
]. II. Hauberg, who with his fife,
drum and bugle corps, enlivened the
afternoon with selections. made a few
remarks, in which he spoke of the
necessity of play in the lives of chill
dren to fit them better for the work of
life that must come in later years.
Mr.. cIevett Popular.
NJ. A. Clevett, in announcing the
rules of the play grounds said that he
would be at the park every afternoon
from to 4:3O for the purpose OF
and supervising play and that
he hoped a mob of kids will be there
every day. the more the better" and
unless the kids did come and show
their interest in the sports he would
not give them his time. He is popular
with the aforesaid kids,-there is no
doubt about it-and is already famil-
larly known among them as "Clevett,"
and his announcements were greeted
with more applause than any, other
talk.
r. c. Smedley spoke of the benefits
If supervised play and of the necess-
ty for the right care of the equip
nent thus far procured. He tried to
impress upon each that the grounds
ire for all the children alike, that the
courts. nets, balls, etc. belong to
hem and that 1t is their duty to see
hat everything is properly taken
,are of.
The program of speeches was short
md to the point and the children
gave attentive ear, but were not slow
1t the conclusion to accept the invita-
ion of Mr.. Clevett for you kids to
come up to the ~ for a SWIM" and
-hev "beat il" as fast as they could
N that direction.
Winners in Sports Events.
Preceding the speeches a program
If sports was carried out, directed by
Mr.. Clevett and open TO any who
cared to enter. In the class for boys
inder II in the 80 yard dash De Voss
won in % seconds. Saunders was
second and Franks and Seifert thfro
and fourth. There was shot put
icing "a eix-nound madicina hall in