New Britain herald., 1921-11-23
PARK COMMISSIONS PLAN FOR NEW
 S75,O0O ATHLETIC FIELD FAVORED
Request Will Be Made to Board of Finance and Taxation to EXpen d Funds On South End Re- serve.

Agitation for the construction of new athletic field in the south end park has been started in several quar- ters and the board of park commits soners has made announcement of a plan whereby the city can secure one Of the best fields in the state.
 Councils Vote.
 The council has already voted s1O0,- 900 for park works. With the expend- iture of major portion of this, mem bers of the park board believe they can fill a long felt want in the form of combined baseball, football and track field at least two sides of which will be furnished with bleachers. When games are to be played where an admission fee is charged, such as the High school football games, the commission has plans for a temporary fencing of canvas at the other sides.
 St. Mary's Field.
 The only field in the city which measures up to those of other cities even smaller than New Britain, is St. Mary's playground, proponents of the movement explain. The place Is a part of St. Mary's cemetery and eventually will be displaced by the need of more room there. Each year the space allotted to the field Is be- coming smaller. In addition to the possibility that the playgrounds must go out of existence in a few years, there is the objectionable feature of too much open space through which the payment of admissions can be avoided.
 How It Was Worked.
 AS an instance of the latter, an of ticial of the High school who stood near the gates during the New Bri- tain Hartford High school games counted If persons going in free while one paid an admission. The profits of that game were, of course | arge, but with the construction of q 1 temporary fence it is believed that they could have been considerably | larger.
 Park Commissions Actions.
 It is expected that the park con- mission will seek from the board of fi- nance and taxation, permission to eX- pend approximately S75,000 for lay ing out the athletic field. Several years ago when the city first consid- cred the purchase of the tract of land which is to be known as the south end park, the laying out of an athletic field was the foremost thought With that idea in view, the park commits sion began laying plans and adopted sketches calling for a spacious field offering all the accommodations found in any place of it's kind in the country.
 Since the money may be raised through an issue of bonds and it will constitute a permanent park improve ment, it is not expected that great objection to the movement will arise
 All athletic events may be staged in the proposed park under the plans Of the commission and those who are agitating the movement believe that such a place will serve as an incen. tive to increase interest in athletics.
 In Need of Field.
 For many years the High schoo has been sorely in need of some such place. For a time the games were played at Electric field and since that time at St. Mary's playgrounds. Some of the track meets were held at the Berlin fair grounds. Since that tract f has been cut up in building lots, it i' no longer available for use.
 It is reported that several loca organizations, notably the American Legion and kindred societies where the membership is composed of eX servicemen or other young men ant women, are backing the move and vii i petition the finance and taXatior 1 board for favorable action.