Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-24

NEW FAIRGROUNDS
URGED BY MASON
Commission Secretary Asserts
Two Additional Centres Should
Be Acquired Yearly.
SAYS ALL GROUNDS SHOULD
HAVE RECREATION HOUSES
Annual Report, With Many Rec
concentrations, Is Presented
TO Commission.

Containing a summary of the work
done during the past year, as well as
several practical recommendations
for the future, chief among which IS
the addition of two new Fairgrounds
annually until the needs of the city
arc satisfied. the annual report OF
Secretary ]. Leonard Mason was pre-
scented to the Playground Commission
last night. Mr.. Mason recommends
the purchase of the old car barn site
in Belleville avenue, now leased Tor
a playground, as an ideal one.
Speaking of the playground system
generally. Mr.. Mason says:
"All activities are systematically
arranged and grouped into active and
quiet occupation, and adapted 70
groups of children. considering their
age. physical and moral development.
Leagues are formed, composed OF
teams in various sports; these teams
play for the championship Of their
playground. Playground football has
been played successfully this season
IN arrangement of games has been
made. giving singing games, dancing,
active and quiet games for children
from four 10 fifteen years of age, and
telling where q description of each
may be found. A number of indoor
games have been supplied for use in
the recreation houses
obstruction in systematic Symnastic
exercises has been begun. Because of
the great value of this training for
physical development. attention and
coordination, more emphasis will be
given to gymnastics in the future,
One of our chief aims is to incuicate
an appreciation of discipline and obe-
dience on the part of the growing
child. The directors are training the
children in immediate response, to
line up at the call of a whistle and TO
20 through marching formations at
the command of the leader. The drills
in physical exercise are given for the
purpose of developing proper posture,
muscular strength and general con-
troll Boxing and wrestling classes
have been conducted. Standards of
physical proficiency are being estab-
lished and examinations arranged 10
test a boy or girl in general co-ordina-
ton. strength and agility"
Suggests Fee for Dances.
The report speaks of the play
grounds celebrat ions last year and
the band concerts and moving picture
entertainments and tells of the free
dental clinic at the Newton street
recreation ground conducted by the
Newark Dental Associa ton. Three
successful free community dances
were held last year in public school
auditoriums. A small fee is suggest
ed for future dances. Skating should
be encouraged, as well as coasting
permitted where safe skating sur
faces can easily be made by spraying.
Every playground should have a
recreation house, and old houses now
used, the report says, should be re-
placed by well built and equipped
ones Comfort stations should be at
all grounds. Mr.. Mason's strongest
ton is for recreation
building of the first class. He says:
"A building of the type here de-
scribed would have an uplifting in
fiuence throughout the whole city
In this building there should be a
gymna SUM. swimming pool, hand
bail court. game room, reading
room. several meeting rooms and, If
possible, an auditorium equipped with
Q first-class organ. This building
should be centrally located. Well
qualified instructors should be put IN
charge"
"We must formulate a definite plan
of action. which would be in proper
ton to the funds available and the
departments administrative machin-
cry First. much remains to be done
in improving our present grounds,
which will require an expenditure of
a large sum of money. In this par
ticular we must determine how far
1t Is wise to proceed in the improve
nent of our rented property. In the
event that rented property proves
valuable for play purposes, steps
should be taken to purchase it. When
funds do not permit the purchase Of
new grounds, we should acquire the
use of same by payment of taxes
when this is possible, with the option
TO purchase. The advantage of firsc
renting is that the site may be thor
oughly tested before purchasing.
Second, purchase should be made of
at least two grounds each year, and
so gradually add to the number of
the city owned grounds. l recon-
mend that the policy of adding two
Fairgrounds each year and acquiring
two by purchase. whether these be
new or already rented, be adopted.