Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-13
FOR PERTH AMBoY CHILDREN

Now that Child Welfare Week is drawing to a
close, what meaning has It had for Perth Am
boy? Is all this interest in children that mas
been aroused going to be merely a passing incl
dent, or are we to profit by what we have hearo
and seen so that the city in the future VIII De a
healthier, happier and more beautiful place ior
the youngster to grow up in?
Child Welfare Week was observed mainly for
the babies. It is essential that every care ana
Attention be given the infants and the mothers
lthat the little ones may have a fair chance' 10
( that end the baby clinics, the city nurses and the
safeguards that the Board Of Health places
about the milk supply, as well as the attention
I given the sanitary conditions of the city, deserve
every encouragement. The city cannot be TOO
liberal in providing funds for the carrying on OF
this work.
But what about the child after the babyhood
period has passed? What about the boys against
whom complaint has been made to the police
Z because they play ball in the street? Chief Ton
nesen has given orders to his men to drive the
khildren off the streets and break up the prac-
Itice. Where are these children to go when the
I police get after them? Is that the best the city
can do in the way of child welfare?
There is nothing this city needs more today
than parks and Fairgrounds and recreation CEN
ters. including recreation piers and bathing
beaches, There are two or three apologies for
parks scattered about the city, and, during the
vacation period, there are two or three centers
that go under the name of Fairgrounds. but
neither parks nor Fairgrounds are creditable to
the city or to those who have the management
Of city affairs in their charge.
u When Perth Amboy needs streets paved 1t us
ualIy is able to find the money to have the work
done. When Perth Amboy finds new city stables
desirable the money is forthcoming to erect the
buildings. When Perth Amboy deems it neces-
sarv to renovate an orphans home the altera-
tions are duly authorized. When Perth Amboy
needs automobiles for city department or motors
for the fire department there seems to be little
di15culty in digging up the necessary cash some
where to buy the machines and apparatus. But
Hhen Perth Amboy needs parks and play
7Eroundh when the children are driven from the
street with no place to go for recreation and en-
doyment, it seems there are little or no funds
available from any source or in any form to
provide these most essential features for health
fitness and enjoyment In our municipal life.
This is the one big thought that should be left
with the city officials as a result of Child We'll
fare Week. The extension and development of
the city's park and playground system is the one
big issue for Perth Amboy today. Two of the
most attractive spots in the city that can be en-
joyed by the whole people are little parks
at the foot OF Market street overlooking Staten
Island sound and the little park at the foot of
High street overlooking the Raritan river. But
neither one is adequate for the purpose for
which it Is dedicated. 1t is a short-sighted pol
icy on the part of those in control Of the city
that adjoining property is not bought now while
1t is available at a fairly reasonable figure.
Within a few years all may be built up or de-
voted to business purposes and be lost to the city
forever.
An interested citizen Of this city sent to the
EVENING NEWS, a day or two ago, an editor
kal clipped from the New York Evening World
bearing directly on just the situation that now
confronts this city, although the editorial re-
ferred to had reference to a condition In New