Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-05-06

While no definite plans for the
coming season have as yet been made
by the Playground Commission, ten
tative arrangements are being form
uiated and the policy for h year
will be decided at a meeting of the
commission which will probably be
held Wednesday night. May IL.
In the opinion of Chairman Ma.
.thaniel w. Pierce the playground
facilities of Perth Amboy are insuf-
ficient for the needs of the city and
the work should be greatly expanded.
The two Fairgrounds at Hayes Park
and School No. 6, in tombstone
street. are situated in such a man
ner that while a large number OF
children in the immediate vicinity
OF these locations can be provided
4 with directed recreation. the child
VNen living between and beyond the
fairgrounds cannot be taken care or
without considerable difficulty.
Four Ia the minimum number OF
Fairgrounds for a city h size OF
Perth Amboy. according to Chair
man Pierce, and these should be so
located as to be of easy access to the
children in whose districts they are
placed. When it becomes necessary
for the children. to walk long dis
tances through the city in order to
reach the recreation centers, the
work Is put at a disadvantage
through reluctance on the part OF
parents to allow their children to so
to the Fairgrounds and the disin-
clination of the children to go so
far away to play.
To have these four Fairgrounds on
property owned by the city and un-
der the jurisdiction of the play
ground commission would be the
ideal plan,f thinks Chairman Pierce.
At the present time the work of the
commission is dependent upon the
BOARD of Education to a certain ex-
tent. in that they have jurisdiction
over school property and u be
consulted in regard to changes made.
There is no move as yet on the part
Of the city to provide the desired in
dependent control.
The appropriation provided for the
|. FORK of last year was S2,5O0 and
- with that small mount excellent
work was done. under the supervis.
ion of Edward Burns. An increase
of $1,000 was allowed the commits
sion for this year but, while this
increase is very acceptable and will
enable the work to be extended a
little. it is felt by Mr.. Pierce that the
fund is still much toe small for the
needs of the community. Compari-
son of the sums devoted to recrea-
ton work by twenty other cities the
baMe size as Perth Amboy shows that
Perth Amboy is far behind in its
appropriation for Fairgrounds.
That the available funds for the
work of the commission are made
ouate is shown by the statement of
the chairman that salaries paid to
personnel last year amounted to be-
tween eighty and ninety per cent.
Of the total appropriation. 1t may
be readily seen. therefore. that not
much in the way of the purchase of
new and up to date equipment could
DO accomplished.
In order to ecu the most COM
petcnt supervisor and corps of assis-
tants, a fair salary must be offered,
Says Mr.. Pierce. The supervisor
must be paid at least 500 a month
and each playground requires the
services of three assistants at SAL
aries ranging from $65 to SIS per
month.
The increase OF $1,000 allowed the
-Sommissioc, this year will relieve the
situation somewhat. but In the opin-
ION Of Chairman Pierce $4,000 is the
smallest sum that is required to put
the work on its proper basis. $4,000