Evening star., 1922-03-31
CHILDREN CROWDED
INTO SMALL CORNER
Hundreds Would Benefit it
/ Rough Dirt Lot Were
Only Developed.
APPEAL BRINGS PROMISE
OF RELIEF ACTION SOON
Park View Citizens :Deplore Vast
ed Space and Officials Plan
Improvement.

Hundreds of little children are
cramped into one ,snd OF a generous
piece of ground p9rchased last year
by the District for q playground In
the Park View section Of the city.
Just one-third of the ground Is given
over to play. The other two-thirds IL
just an expanse Of red clay. rough and
unfit for play purposes in it's present
condition. a Star reporter found today
after a personal inspection Of the
property.
The unused part would provide a
small base ball diamond, tennis courts.
schlag ball grounds and other games
which the children of the schools now
play. But it cannot be used in its
present condition. as its rough state
makes it dangerous for the children.
both young and old.
But there is hope in sight. AS soon
as The Star was apprised of the
conditions there a reporter immedi-
ately started inquiries at the District
building and in other sources regard
ing the possibility Of getting the play
ground fixed up Immediately. The
ground was turned over to the Dis
trict last July. 1t had been used 40 a
playground before that period as q
loan from the owner.
Last month a corps of laborers
worked a short time and plowed up
the clay. preparatory to grading the
the plows are lying imbedded in the
mud on the site of the unused part
of the grounds. However. The Star
man was informed today at the office
of the municipal architect that.
weather permitting. the work would
be completed next week.
Equipment Planned.
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, director of
municipal Fairgrounds said that as
soon as the grounds are graded by. the
engineer department. she would i'm
mediately have started the work Of
equipping the grounds and laying out
the areas for the various games. She
said that this could be done as soon
as the ground was ~ CONDITION.
The east third OF the grounds now
is equipped With slldss. .winfs. sses-
little children. but 1t was declared to
be too small for the large number Of
children which II is expected to ac-
commodate. 1t does have q bSsket
ball court for the larger children. and
1t is widely used by children for
squares around, children even coming
from other sections =
=, The completion of the other part of
the grounds would do much to relieve
a situation which will become more
serious as the summer approaches
The matter was brought to the at
tention of The Star today in a letter
- fh a 80 h.
committee on education of the Park
View Citizens Associat ton.
Il suggest" the letter read, that
the person writing up the articles in
The Star on Fairgrounds in this city
pay visit to the one. located at Otis,
west, adjacent to tho Park View
School. Here will be- seen a play
ground splendidly located and having
wonderful possibilities for develop
ment, but because Of lack Of avail
able funds 1t Is at present little bet
ter than a dirt pile.
Citizens Hope in Vain.
Tho Park View .citizens Assoda-
tion had hoped that the acquisiti on
of this land last July would be fol-
lowed by rapid improvement, but II
seems that we are doomed to djsap-
potntment, for we receive no encour-
agement~ that the necessary adjuncts
which make up an up-to-date play
ground at all useful will be forth
coming for a long time yet. 1t avails
little to acquire the grounds unless
the acquisition be followed up by in :
stalling necessary equipnent. There
fore, it Is hoped that your agitation
for more Fairgrounds win result in
larger appropriations for equip
ment."
Miss Eaences S. Farley, principal of
the Park View School. said today that
tho unavailable part of the play
grounds should be fixed up innmediafs.
ly. There Is a great need for It., she
said. and at present there IL not
enough room for all Of the children
In the school. to say nothing OF the
large number who do not attend
schools The citizens association. Miss
(Connnued on Page 2, Column ~