Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-21
THE PARKS.

Perth Amboy cannot be called well supplied
with parks. 1t is doubtful IL there is a city
Of this size anywhere in the country that
has less to show in this regard than we have.
But such as we have certainly ought to be
properly cared for.
According to the superintendent of parks,
James Tooker, there is an utter lack of CO.
operation here in looking after the parks. The
people seem t. be Indifferent and destroy prop
erty in the most wanton manner. 1t is hard
to conceive the workings of a persons brain
who would deliberately destroy benches and
drinking fountains that have been put out for
their own convenience and enjoyment.
The fact remains, however, that this is done
and 1t is true to a more or less extent of every
city. The one solution is adequate police pro-
lection. In this Superintendent Tooker COM
plains that he does not get the cooperation
he II entitled to.
In cities where there is a real park system
th9e Is an organization of guards working
under the police department, who give their
ehtire time to patroling the parks and afford
INK the protection needed. Perth Amboy has
Inot reached that stage yet, but such parks as
we do have certainly ought to receive some
police protection. Persons caught damaging
park property ought to be severely dealt with.
Policemen patroling beats that include such
parks as we have might be given special in
structions to watch the parks and do all In
their power to end the depredations.
Then, too, the Board of Aldermen could
assist greatly in seeing that the park superin-
tendent Is furnished with maps and charts of
park property If the park board finds 1t i'm
possible to get these things direct.
When only $4,000 is appropriated for park
purposes it certainly is unfair to load down
the park hoard with all kinds of special de-
mands such as laying sidewalks. After all. land
ued for parks is city property and there
is no reason why such things as sidewalks
should not be laid at the expense of the city
at large. Paths and drives within the park
grounds are a different matter entirely. To
appropriate a paltry $4,000 for parks for the
4 eity-and then insist that a large part OF that
amount should be spent at the order of the
street department is not helping to build up
Q park system in the city.
\ Perth Amboy needs parks badly. 1t has
the making of a beautiful park along the river
and there ought to be a park somewhere near
the business section of the city. The city prop
erty at Fayette street and New Brunswick ave-
nue., even If it was bought for a site for a
police station, might be used as a breathing
space for the time being, as long as 1t remains
vacant. AS a matter of fact. here is the >nu-
cleus for a park in the heart of the business
section of the city. By adding some of the
surrounding property, which is as yet unim-
proved, a presentable spot could be made that
would be a decided asset to the city. Those
who are familiar with Military Park in New
ark know what a fine thing it is for a city to
have such an open place in the heart OF the
business section.
But the least we can do at the present time is
to give the park superintendent all the CO.
operation possible to make such parks rs the
sctty now has a credit to Perth Amboy. 1t is
something that every official and every resi-
/dent owes to the place in which he lives.