The Detroit times., 1915-03-18
Jayne's Figures Show
35 Children Killed
In Year
WILL ARGUE FOR
NEW FACILITIES
Recreation C. enters
Under Skilled In
structOrs Planned

Ira w. Jayne, superintendent Of
the recreation commission, has OBJ
tained from the ooroner's Office re-
port showing that So children unde'
the age OF Is were killed while play.
lng In the streets during the past
year lie Is also securing from the
police department data on numerous
street accidents In which small chill.
dren were more or less seriously In.
.jured.
Supt. Jayne viii make use OF this
Information in his argument before
the council budget committees for
the allowance OF the playground
items asked for by the recreation
commission.
There Ia only one way to pre-
vent street accidents 10 children.
and that Is 10 keep the children on
the streets" said Jayne. Wednesday
morning Commissioner Gillespie's
police order will not accomplish
this. There IL only one thing for
the police to do and that is-to ar
rest children for playing in the
streets. Then the children will be
taken before ne Juvenile court and
the Judge Will have TO release them.
What will be the moral effect Of this
procedure on the average boy? 1t
will tend to breed in him disre-
gard for the police. That will be
dangerous.
The commissions plan Is TO pro
vide suitable and adequate play
grounds for the children where they
will be under the watchful eye OF a
play director. The boys win go
where there Is the most excitement
every time That Is why the play
grounds must be made attractive.
We have got TO make the play
grounds more attractive TO the chill
dren than the street. To accomplish
this. we must provide them with
something TO play with.
The play directors will not play
with the children. as some people
seem TO think. They will look after
the valuable property on and around
the Fairgrounds: they viii exercise
police power. and they will keep the
big children from bothering the
little ones. The contemplated play
ground system viii provide less than
six square feet or space for each
child. That Is not much room for
q child 10 play on. unless careful
supervision Is exercised.
Then, we propose TO organize
baseball leagues, teaching the chill
z dren the value OF teamwork. organ
iration and competition. We must
provide attractions for all the chill
dren some OF the time. and for some
OF them all the time"
The recreation commissions play
ground system. as planned In the
budget. provides for SO Fairgrounds
In various parts OF the city. Fifty
nine play directors, to be employed
iall the year around, and As assist
ants, or play leaders. on a yearly
salary. are asked for. II Is Supt.
Jayne's intention to place man
and n woman In charge Of the larger
Fairgrounds. The commission wants
TO locate and equip four new play
grounds. in addition to equipping
eight new grounds aroupd schools.
The present playground system Ia
composed OF Fairgrounds turned
over by the school board and park
department. also sites turned over
by the library board.
More than two-thirds of the com
missions s425.6s6 budget is for
playground purposes and includes
items for salaries. swimming pools.
caretakers, gardens. equipment, etc.
Items Cor playground purposes
amounting to $4,000 have been
taken over by the commission from
the budget OF the Board of Educa-
ton.
A bond issue OF 10000 is asked
10 begin the purchase OF big play
fields on either side OF the city. For
their equipment $4,000 is asked.
II Is supt. Jayne's intention to de-
yelop the play field on the west side
OF the city first. II will be located
ON a line between the Northwestern
playheId and Clark park. In the vi
entity OF Michigan-ave.. and the
Grand Trunk railroad The present
House OF Correction site will be util-
lied for playground purposes when