The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-19
VALUE OF FAIRGROUNDS IN RELATION TO THE
 POLICE DEPARTMENT
By MARIE GOAR Supervisor East End Park

Fairgrounds are needed in cities large and small. although the need is not al
 ways felt. If proper places to play are not provided. children will play in streets and alleys, something which is unsafe
 physically as well as morally. Play grounds lessen juvenile delinquency, pro- mote good citizenship, and simplify prob- lems of both parent and teacher.
 People all over the United States are coming to realize that they must make some provision for proper playgrounds or recreation centers. They know that those engaged in all industrial work are made more efficient, and people in all walks of life are benefited. They will be more alive and betted fitted for their tasks. Looking at it from a business standpoint, it Is the best investment a city or community can make. It has been proved that in communities where there has been lawlessness and disturbances of all kinds among the boys between the ages of IA and 20 that great change has been brought about when play grounds were provided. In the study of juvenile delinquency in Chicago it has been found that recreation centers are the most powerful agents for reducing Juvenile crime by giving an outlet for Juvenile energy. Boys must have some thing to do, and if this energy is not lead in the right direction the community will suffer. Some of their misdirected energy leads to street gambling, fighting, entrance of vacant houses, disturbing vendors, thefts and gang work
 We should not leave this work of try ing to stop this general lawlessness to the police force, for 1t cannot be cor rected that way. Some boys think it great fun to be chased by a policeman. depressing the wrongdoer is not suffi- clent. but rather prevent him from be- coming wrongdoer by giving him chance of becoming healthy, vigorous and happy minded citizen
 When the playground committee went to the city commission to ask for the appointment of a superintendent of rec reation they said, "We want the salaries of two policemen for this superintendent Of recreation, and he will do more than p policemen for the peace and welfare of One commissioner replied, There is something in that I must have sent policemen 500 times to straighten out the boys at the terminal, and I believe piaygrounds would be cheaper, better way"
 Judge Lindsay says that a boy who breaks the law in nine cases out of ten IS not a criminal. He is obeying an in- stinct that is not only legitimate, but vltal, and If 1t finds every lawful chan nel choked up will seek an outlet in the next available point. Give boy baseball, lootpah, basketball, or give him some oiHlcult feat to perform, and there will be no need to have policemen to watch or chase him.
 Here IS typical case from Chicago. boy of 9 years had been brought into the juvenile court on a charge of steal Ing apples, and committed to an institu- ton Tor short term. A year later he was again arrested for incorrigibilitv. b,t left under the care of an officer to whonn ne had been paroled from the institution. Three years later. after the second ar rest he was again brought into court for lncorrigibility, and committed to an fn- stitution where the less hopeful cases are sent. After he was released his family moved into a locality near a plaveround He has improved sufficiently to be re. leased from court and causes no flrther trouble
 In Pitts0urg gang of IA boys were ar- rested ana taken to the police station. be- cause they had been hanging around inc railroad station. They had been varre6 not to stand there, but when they asIxe6 where they were to go there was no an- 'wer- They had committed no mischIef. put because they socialized in the warm 'st place they became transgressors of he law -
 A great many cities have found that