Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-08-05
SPLENDID SHOWING
MADE BY PLAY GROUNDS
Attendance Has Been 1850,
This Not Including Sunday
Visitors

The following is report of the
activities of the Albert Park Play
grounds by Miss Elizabeth A. Schultz
and G. o. Ostrander who have been in
charge since the Fairgrounds were
opened June 26. The report is submit
ted to the Committee of Fairgrounds
of the city council.
There has been an attendance of
three thousand and fifty persons, which
includes all ages but does not include
the attendance on Sundays or in the
evenings when the grounds have been
in charge of your committee. This is
the count between the hours of IL
O'Clock and $3.50 O'Clock. Considering
the cold weather we have had, we con.
slider this remarkable attendance.
There has been a large number of
older boys and girls present and while
some visitors have criticised this fact
we feel they have shown the younger
children great consideration and kindly
assistance and that there is room for
all. We also know that there could not
be a better place for the older children.
We are especially grateful for the
ready compliance in matters of dis
cipline. At no time has it been neces-
sary to send anyone from the grounds
or has anyone refused to obey or COM
ply with any requests that have been
made. We have had no trouble from
dispositions frequently known as the
bullying type. There has been one in
stance Of thieving and we hope to get
this matter Strengthened out soon.
Children have furnished their own
material for hand work. This is bound
to make them appreciate their work
more than if they get everything for
nothing, as is the case in most all play
grounds where all material is furnished
free. Materials used have not been
expensive and in fact some of the
work has required material which had
served its original purpose. This is
true of the doll furniture made of dis.
carded paste.board boxes. Many of
the children tell of furnishing their
playhouse complete and this is one OF
the first steps toward the making of a
homemaker. Boats, lavendar sticks
and twig dolls have claimed many
hours of their time, both at home and
on tha playground. Bead work will be
the next work.
J Many children have requested n
doll Carriage Parade and it is our
intention to conduct this, together
with Doll Day in the near future.
We are especially indebted to the
Y. NJ. C. A. for vOlley ball, to the
Salem Water company who will furnish
free of charge, water on an adjacent
lot; to the city health end police of
ficials for their friendly cooperation
to Misses Beatrice Walton and Ruth
Spoor who tell stories to the children
on Wednesday and Saturday after
moons: to Miss Genevieve Frazier who
has given the girls instruction i'll swim
, ming: to Miss Ruth Jones for hei
e,me work and Miss Ruth Schultz fol
instructions in the use of garden
lavendar; to Lawrence Gage for his
services as referee; to the American
and Filipino boys for their assistance
and many eourtesies and the many
d. visitors for their friendly criticisms
| and kindly interest.
, The many family picnic parties evi
dence the fact that parents are muef
r interested in the recreation OF thel
children.
/ There have been interested visitors
: from Seattle, Portland, and Eastern
t points, as well as some from the coun
, trv inst outside of Salem. These peo
T ple express themselves as never having
, been in more delightful playpark
5 Local visitors express gratitude ant
Q the feeling that maintaining such
D park is not IN unnecessary luxury 10
| salem children but that an actual nee'
| has been met.