The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-11-26
CITY FAR BEHIND
.INPLAYCROUNDS,
DECLARES DUST
Detroit Not Keeping Up With
Other Cities, Says Commits
sioner, Home from Trip
FAVORS EXPENDITURE
OF 100000 NEXT YEAR
Finds, Too, That Local Park
system Suffers by Compare
son With Others

Park Commissioner Dust. who By
virtue OF his office will be member
OF the recreation commission which
Mayor Marx Will shortly appoint un-
der a recently-adopted charter amend
ment. thinks that the commission
ought to have an appropriation OF at
least 100000 for playground pur-
poses next year This year bond
Issue OF $4,000 was authorized Tor
the purchase OF Fairgrounds. The
purchase by the park and boulevard
department OF triangular piece Of
property on the west side bounded by
McGraw. Milford and Vinewood.ayes..
was approved by the council. Tuesday
night. The price was s12,S00. Com.
missioner Dust intends TO spend the
balance OF the $4,000 on two or three
other sites that he has in view.
The commissioner. while indorsing
the recreation commission amend
ment, believes that the management
OF a playground system could be &C
complished more economically under
the direct supervision OF the park de-
partment
1--WE have facilities now for taking
care OF large part of the work that
tenn" said he by the addition or a
few Office assistants and physical d.
rectors We could handle the work
nicely"
The commission will be composed
OF 10 members. i've citizens to be APP.
pointed by the mayor and the follow
ing city officials Superintendent OF
schools, park commissions librarian
OF the public library, police commits
sioner and commissioner OF public
works In addition TO exercising con-
troll over all public amusements, II
will have the management. direction
and care of all public Fairgrounds. in.
door recreation centers, gymnasiums.
public baths. etc II will appoint a
recreation superintendent and one
chief assistant, and such other direc-
tors and caretakers as are necessary
for the proper conduct OF the work
Commissioner Dust, who accompan-
led Mayor Marx on his eastern visit,
inspected the playground systems in
various cities
Detroit Is far behind In playground
work" said the commissioner Phil
adelphia. for instance. has 48 public
Fairgrounds Large sums OF money
are appropriated each year for play.
ground purposes The movement Is
warmly Endorsed in all the larger
cities. We have only one playground
outside OF school premises, and that
is the Northwestern There are two
other parks that are being used for
playground purposes"
Commissioner Dust on his visit also
found that Detroit's park system Is
woefully small compared with those
OF other towns Baltimore has be-
tween q. 900 and 5000 acres compar.
ed to Detroits l,247 acres. Baltimore
is spending 100000 and Pittsburgh
$4,000 for the purchase OF additional
park property.
ITO give you some idea OF how they
go at things in other cities. ST. Louis
is now trying to get sl0,000,000 with
which 10 purchase six blocks OF prop
erty In the central part OF the city
for boulevard purposes" remarked
the commissioner I'VE Detroiters
have a very beautiful city, but We
must step lively to keep up with the
improvements being made by our sis
ter cities"