Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-11-19
STEP IS TAKEN
ON PLAYGROUND
Chamber of Commerce Ac-
complishes Much at Meet
ing Held at City Hall.
ACTION WITH ALDERMEN
$500 Urged for Recreation
Centers; $4,000 for City
Plan; Excellent Talks Made

The first step towards getting a
more elaborate system of play
grounds in this city was taken last
night in the city hall by members
of the Chamber of Commerce when
motion was unanimously passed
requesting the Board of Aldermen to
make an appropriation of $500 in
the 1921 budget to finance this
means of giving the children of the
city recreation. The motion was
made by Isaac Alpern, president of
the Chamber of Commerce, and
amended by Jean du Bois to include
another $1,000 for development of
the city plan idea in Perth Amboy.
The resolution was not drawn up
last night, but will be drafted ana
sent to the Board of Aldermen so
that the city fathers may have am
pie time to consider the request in
working out their 1921 budget. The
resolution will be so worded as to
make it q request from the 430
members of the chamber that the
aldermen furnish the funds to fl
nance both Fairgrounds and the
city planning project.
The matter of improving the city's
parks was also discussed at length.
Cooperation with the school board
will be necessary in order to get the
best results with the playground
system, it was pointed out.
During the meeting interesting
talks were made by Nathaniel w.
Pierce. Jr., Joseph f. Walker. Mrs.
Peter c. Olsen, John Pfeiffer. }.
Logan Clevenger, Jean Du Bois.
John n. Wester, Merrill A. Mosher
Mrs. Adrian Lyon, Orin c. Baker
and Meigs Russell, the last two be-
ing secretaries of the local Cham
Der of Commerce. John Pfeiffer
presided during the meeting and
also expressed clearly his views on
the matters up for discussion.
Mr.. Baker. the new secretary of
sion in his initial appearance before
the members. He asked for the CO.
operation of the members, saying
that In return he will do the best
he can for the Chamber of Com
merce and the city.
Il am not an office secretary"
said Mr.. Baker. Il intend to enter
into the civic life here and work in
conjunction with all of you. 1 want
our suggestions and criticism, for in
hat way much more can be accom-
lished.'
While no program of work was
nnouncsd, Mr.. Baker said that ac-
ION in that direction is being taken
Women in civic work were given
arm praise by Mr.. Pfeiffer. who
id that large part of Chamber
Commerce work can be done by
EN-. He declared future of the city
SITS with the boys and girls of to-
~, pointing out that If suitable
aces are provided for children they
III become better citizens and the
ture Perth Amboy will be bene-
ed as q result.
Mr.. Russell, who closed his work
installment secretary here last
ght. and in addressing the mem
RS told of his impressions of Perth
mboy.
THE civil interest in Perth Am
10Y is low" said Mr.. Russell. There
re many discordant elements that
lock the way of progress, but when
fou all get together and work on a
common footing you will succeed.
when you make cold-blooded
inventory of what you have. and
what you need, you will get along"
he speaker added.
''There are more people in Perth
Amboy talking against the city than
in any city l know of. You will not
get civic pride that way. Think in
terms of optimism, rather than pes
sinism," he urged.
VI honestly believe you are begin
ming to turn to the frame of mind in
which you will develop civic pride.
You must begin with a few workers
and grow, but you should remember
that only through unification of ac-
tion can you succeed"
Mr.. Pierce, who is a member of
the playground commission, told of
the difficulty experienced by that
body in trying TO furnish the city
with Fairgrounds on the S2,50O ap-
1920. The salaries of the instruc-
tors alone amounted to $1,7OO, he
said, leaving by $500 for the pur-
chase of apparatus. He pointed out
that only temporary equipment
could be purchased with the funds
allowed the playground commission
with the result that yearly there is
lack of materials needed at the
Fairgrounds.
New equipment is needed, Mr..
Pierce said. adding that Perth Am
boy is woefully behind in her play
gound system as compared with the
attention given this branch of civic
work in other places. The school
yards, he said, are not adequate, as
they offer no shady trees or grass
and there is always some damage
done to the school buildings.
He declared that the Raritan Copper
Works field, which was used as a
playground last summer, relieved
conditions considerably.
The city should have a perma-
nent playground. Mr.. Pierce said.
located on city property which
should make a suitable site for
playground. the speaker said. IL the
sewage conditions could be improv-
ed so as to allow of bathing. Plots on
the outskirts of the city. referred to
by the speaker as breathing places
were also advocated. In closing Mr..
Pierce spoke of the advisa bility of
closing certain streets to- vehicular
traffic and allow the children. under
police protection to roller skate and
play there undisturbed
Mrs. Peter C. Olson emphasized
the need of municipal bathing beach
and water front development so thai
the people of this city might be
able to enjoy the natural beauty of
the river and bay. AS an example
OF municipal enterprise she told of
the wonderful work done in Bridge
port. Conn.,, with its Waterfront
Mrs. Olson drew a word picture of
Water sti eet on a hot summers
night with the hundreds of people
syarminS to the river in order to
tCOntinued on mage ~.