Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-02

Esta blishment on Fifth ave-
nue. has quickly become a
real community center.

The playground movement in Rock
island Is no longer IN the expert
raeutal stage. It has reached that place
where it has demonstrated for itself
tia. it is q good thing and one that
should receive the encouragement Of
he general public
The movement was first started a
year ago At Long View park and later
IN the summer at the Denkmann square
grounds under the supervision Of the
Fairgrounds committee Of the civic de-
oartm ent Of the Rock Island Woman s
club Supervisors Of play were placed
il charge Of the work in those two
grounds and served through the sum
rar most satisfactorily With the
opening OF the season this year the
department. took steps to have or
gained another grounds towards the
eastern part Of the city and the tract
Of land at Twenty-ffth street and
Fifth avenue was looked upon with
eovatous eyes. Through the ganeros-
ltv Of the owners Of this property the
nse Of the grounds from Twenty fourth
Fourth to Fifth avenues, was donated
20 the department as a Fairgrounds.
1.-The committee appointed from the
department consisted Of Mrs W
Hogear and Mrs. Frank s. Brough and
under their direction and with the help
of other members Of the department
aaf the owners OF the property the
.-.-----..f- --a-- 1Fra~,4 gP --f,J.E.Eef, ,+r
slightly sign boards we're removed, the
tract was entirely fenced with
strong wire netting and later a psrt of
tho grounds was surrounded with a
neat white paling fence. TWO shelter
houses were built and covered with
white awning. one OF which protected
from sun and rain the popular sand
pile and the other for the story tell
inn hour and the clay moulding time
Miss Mabel Friestat WAS installed as
supervisor Of play and she has accom-
p1zHe5 wonders in the short time
since the opening Of tho grounds. which
wss about the middle of june.
Is Welt Equipped.
Since that time there have been in
stalled lawn swings, rope swings,
slides tateTboards. giant strides jump
ing standards, apparatus for volley
bali tennis. craQuet, sand boxes,
baseball diamond, where playground
BAN may he played, etc. The grounds
are open from o'clock In the morn
Ing till IL and again in the afternoon
from z 10 s during which time the
supervisor is always on hand 10 direct
the play and to watch the children that
no accident befaIls them From the
very first the children have taken TO
the place like flies to molasses and
have hooked there in large numbers.
The average attendance has been 20
Tor the morning session and 80 for
i1s afternoon, with days when several
hundred children were congregated in
Jle park for the games,
The sand plies have proven one of
the most attractive places for the
younger of the children and even the
elder ones are not averse to making
figures in the moist sand. They are pro-
vided with pals, spoons and shoveIs
and there is often keen rivalry among
the children in moIding objects. The
making Of automobiles seems to be
& favorite occupation. A 25-passenger
bus has been frequently reproduced
WITH pals for lights. spoons for
brakes and boards for seats. Motor
boats have been manufactured. houses
built gardens laid out etc. and as
many as 80 tots at time have found
occupation in the sand. The moIding
boards are another very attractive fea-
1ure of the play. Every child Is given
Is holding board and a certain amount
% clay and they are left to their own
devices IN making figures Some real
talent has been shown along this line
and the children are quick in learn
ing 70 reproduce objects that appeal
TO them. and which reveal faithfully
those things that surround their life.
Croquet has a wonderful fascina-
ton for the children and there is al
ways long lone awaiting turn
Among the children is a tiny colored |
boy whose name is Joe and a little
Belgian boy whose name In Johnna- |
Joe aud J0hnna have become the thick /
est of friends and games Of croquet /
appeal to them as the most desirable I
Of the sports. It is q rule Of the I
grounds that no play apparatus be (
taken without the permission Of the
supervisor and regularly every day .
Joe comes to Miss FTiestat and asks
"A8sy play crochet and Just as reg !
ulariy Johun& asks MAY I play 'bon- /
cuet No amount OF correcting Will /
make them remember that It Is zero
quiet, but 20 them q more unusual /