Evening journal., 1915-04-15
THURSDAY APR. IS. 1915
sTREET.PLAYNe AND FAIRGROUNDS.

7 II any argument be required to emphasize the need
Of more Fairgrounds in Wilmington it is found in
the thousands small children who play the public
streets, many Of them almost beneath the feet OF
horses and the wheels Of speeding automobiles. They
the streets for Fairgrounds there
recreation centres convenient to their homes.
That is not always true, but in the main, it is
condition such exists here calls for correction as
speedily as the city officials their way clear
to do it.
The children and will play. II centres arc not
provided for them, they will play in the street our
city could not support police force large enough
70 prevent that, IL IL were disposed to do
Those facts must be recognized and now that automo-
bile traffic is becoming great and is such
TO the lives of stroot-playng children steps ought
be taken TO apply to the evil the only rational cure.
That Is, TO have abundance OF Fairgrounds so
uatcd and administered that they will attract the
boys and girls hold them in their hours
tion.
AT the present time there is widespread complaint
by automobists that there are so many children in
the streets that il is hardship TO operate a car with
safety in many sections of our city In dealing with
the traffic produced by adult pedestrians an au-
tomobilist is able rule, to Judge what a
is going to do He has no such safeguard,
however, in dealing with hoy girl the street
The Injunction to stop look listen does not make
much Of impression upon irresponsible youth II
is upon the driver of or other vehicle that the
duty of stopping, looking and listening dovolyes and
exceedingly trying duty il IS when Il comes to ac-
commodatng the movements of his vehicle to the err
ratio and reckless movements OF Juvenile pedestrians
engaged in rocroatve pursuits
There s scarcely automobiles in Wilmington and
the surrounding country who has not az some time in
bis or her driving within of passing
through the hoart-breaking experience of killing or
maming hoy girl engaged play in the streets.
Nor should IL be forgotten that conditions beoom-
ing an the time in consequence OF the inorcas-
ing number of children and automobiles
In sections whore there arc Fairgrounds the
streo-playing by the smaller children continues be-
larger boys and girls preempt the Fairgrounds
and crowd the smaller Youngsters Off That is some
thing that and should be corrected, and that
would not exist If the recreation centres were prop
erly administered for the benefit boys and girls of
an II is done in other cities and It be done
here along intelligent lines based upon practical ex-
pcrence in those other places We were informed yes
tcrday by man who lives of the small parks
here that it is hogged he put It. by large boys
TO such an extent that the girls and small boys have
little opportunity to it and are forced into the
street when their natural inclination is to use the
small park for playground
Wlmingtons play season is at hand II will reach
its height in vacation time. Whatever can be done "a
increase the number recreation centres and to raise
tho standard OF the efficiency of their administration
ought to be done quickly the public may obtain a
maximum of service from them in their hoaltl-giying
and lfe-protecting functions