Evening star., 1922-03-30
LAW RESTRICTIONS
IMPEDE Progress
OF FAIRGROUNDS
Equipment Rapidly Deterio-
rating Beyond Repair Be-
cause of Many Handicaps.
CONGRESS ACTS PREVENT
ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS
Many Kind Offers of Citizens Re-
jected-Funds Also Lacking to
Make Purchases.

Make Purchases.
Inability of the local officials hav-
ing Fairgrounds under their supervi-
sion to maintain the equipment in a
good state of repair, owing to the re-
strictions contained in appropriation
acts, has caused much Of this mate
rial to deteriorate beyond any possi-
BILE repair. 1t is pointed out The re-
suit has been to put a great obstacle
before the efforts to keep the play
spaces for the children up to a stand
ard that would meet the demands of
the children at all times.
Little elasticity Is provided in the
law. and the officials are held down
to its strict letter. For instance.
residents and associations here who
vicinity showing deterioration in the
equipment which makes it unsafe for
the children have offered to those in
charge Of the Fairgrounds new
equipment with which to replace the
old, provided those in charge would
provide for its erection. While the
officials would be only too glad to ac-
cept the offer and get the equip
ment. they cannot comply with the
terms providing for its erection. ow-
ing to the provisions Of the law.
Kind Oners Refused.
There are a number Of offers on file
in the local Fairgrounds headquar-
ters in the District building to fur
nish equipment to replace that worn
out in some OF the play spaces. But
they got as far as the files and that
was all. The officials could Go no
more than show as best they could
an appreciation Of the spirit Of those
who offered to buy the equipment.
Mothers and fathers of little children
realize the value Of having we'll
equipped Fairgrounds for their chill
drcn, and to such an extent that they
are willing to pay for equipment.
But they are prevented from even
helping out in this situation uniesA
bill OF furnishing the equipment and
then paying for its installation.
In q number Of school yards" the
expektd 6f the children's, bureau re.
ported, "the equipment has worn out
appropriations have not been made in
recent years for purchasing new ap-
parAtus for grounds already equip
ped. In this matter Of upkeep of
equipment the school authorities
being able to replace worn-out equip
ment. as under the wording Of the ap-
preparation act the money for grad
ing and equipping must be expended
wholly on new playgrounds. and like
wise the sums designated for main
NJ to- at 81 ~
as available for purchasing apparatus.
AS a result. in many Of the older
yards the equipment is beyond repair
and yet cannot be replaced. Owing to
the Limitation on the use of appro-
priations, moreover. it is even difficult
to time donated. 1t would seem that
some relief should be given the au-
thorities in the way Of funds for re-
placement and to meet such situa-
tions as that brought out by offers to
furnish equipment"
Children 'LosinG Grounds.
1t was pointed out that unless this
situation can be changed the equip
ment in various play spaces will de-
teriorate fast. and it will be almost
an endless task to try to bring the
play spaces and equipment for the
local children UP to a point where it
will meet the full demand. As the
equipment decays it will throw the
children on other nearby grounds and
thus aggravate an otherwise serious
congestion now prevailing.
This brings up the point as to
what is adequate play space. Play
ground authorities. 1t was asserted by
those familiar with the situation, are
not in complete accord as to the
number of square feet per child
which should be set aside in allotting
playground space.
Schenectady, N. Y. according to the
experts of the children's bureau.
stands for sixty square feet per
child. John Nolen. city planning ex-
pert, has recently succeeded in get
ting New London. Conn.,. to accept a
plan providing one acre Of play space
145 square feet per child and is the
unit adopted by the Playground As
sociation of America.
In the early days Of laying out the
school Fairgrounds around old build
ings in Gary. Ind: 1t was asserted.
adopted a positive minimum Of forty
seven square feet per child.
Play Areas Increased:
Since that time he has increased
the areas until the following situa-
ton exists: The first new school that
was built had two acreas; the second,
four acreas. and the third. eleven
acres, and now the standard provided
for all public schools In Gary is a
twenty-acre tract, ten acres being
set aside for school building with
considerable eaGu,ntn. Gut0o in @amsns rad ana
as a public part. Minneapolis 10
working for one acre Of little chill
dren's Fairgrounds for every $4,000 of