The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-24
The Birmingham Fairgrounds As
 Conducted Credit to Any City
SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT By MRS. SIDNEY M. ULLMAN

, they wouldn't be used by city officials for | joy rides.
 | However, the splash of yellow paint
 can't keep them from such use. Even If
 they were painted pink they would be in | danger.
 ] Twice in the last week the author of
 this department has had a real joy ride 1 in the eitys cars (name of official taking
 said ride withheld). For a visit to the
 gardens and the playgrounds of this city is joy enough for any old ride. It is little wonder Birmingham points
 with pride to it's activities in this field.
 Just ride around dt needn't be in a city | car), and see the dear little happy chil-
 dren wade in the pools. swing and play ball, romp and dance with the supervisor. and you will agree with me it is some thing to be proud of.
 Every little suburb has d park of it's own; off the road. in the shade of a great forest of trees you can hear little laugh ing voices and if you venture in, there are swings and sand piles full of little girls and boys having the time of their lives.
 West park with Miss Annie Shapiro at its head. is becoming the popular play ground for the Henley school children. East park, with Mrs. ODonald as su- pervisor, is the athletic field for the city. Here Mrs. ODonald spent the winter months unpaid making the park suitable place for the kddies. This is probably one of the hardest parks in the city to Keep In order. Most of the people who reside in this section are transents and
 care little for the park value to the sec ton.
 Several months ago the park was in- rested with a gang of young men called the terminal gang At times this gang would take entire possession of this park. With the proper influence and interest shown in these same youths, they are now decent citizens and not only help to the park supervisor, but some of the most trusted men at the city gym ne equipment in some instances, as in Norwood, Is given entirely by large com panies. Here is the finest tennis court in the city, the Birmingham Realty com pany having spent 5000 in equipment for this play ground.
 East Birmingham, little suburb that always does things, has turned it's city beautiful park. though not owned by tho, city and only temporary quarters. into a city playground. This is used three days of the week with Miss Jane Hard as supervisor. At night the park is chap eroned by the ladies of the neighborhood and becomes the pleasure ground of the young men and women.
 With the joint efforts of Mrs George e Jannette. MT. Donald Conner and Miss
 Julia Lokey the Wesley House play grounds have become a pleasa place for the children of that section
 After mill hours these little children can have well directed play under intelligent
 guidance.
 Woodlawn has one of the most attrac- tive playgrounds in the city its beautiful pool with real sand beach for the babies to puddle in is inviting and cool and make one long to be a child again.
 These lovely wading pools in so many of the parks are designed by MT. Nichol- son, the city engineer and are credit to the city, the parks and the designer. Graceful and substantial, they lend an air of delight to the parks nothing else can 1t is to be hoped before long every park in the city will have a wading pool. Miss Annie Palmer is the supervisor at this lovely Woodlawn park. Miss Mary Palm CT is the attractive supervisor of the park at East Lake. An interesting con test is being waged here between the Robertson and the Barrett schools each desiring the honor having the playground near their school.
 If lovely surroundings are an incentive for play, nothing could be prettier than Avondale park and the playgrounds The