Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-09
PROVIDING FOR THE CHILDREN

Roller skating on High street has been broken up by the police.
Hundreds of children have been deprived of a most enjoyable
and healthful exercise. While roller skating has not been forbid
den entirely, it is being discouraged in every way possible, and the
children do not know what minute a policeman will appear on the
scene and break up the sport. Driven off the streets and with no
vacant lots left in the neighborhood, what are the children going
to do to satisfy their natural longing for play?
On the other hand, it does seem like an imposition that the
peace and quiet of a neighborhood should be disturbed by turn
ing the street in front of ones house into a playground for the
whole city. Grown people, tired out from the days toll, like to
come out on their porches and rest in the evening. But there is no
rest where hundreds of noisy children are dispordng on roller
skates until long after dark. And when this keeps up night after
night one can hardly blame the people thus annoyed for COM
planning.
The solution to this problem is clearly up to the city. There
is hardly a city anywhere of this size and character that is without
Fairgrounds and recreation centers. That the children must keep
of the streets is apparent, not only for the peace and quiet Of
the neighborhood, but for the childrens own safety. Conditions
today are not what they were fifteen or twenty years ago. These
changed conditions must be met and they are being met as far as
traffic is concerned although it is hard to keep pace with the
demands even in this regard. But here in Perth Amboy practically
nothing has been done for the children.
Today a movement is on foot to build a decent running track
,'sn the Wonderland Beach property. The high school has some
excellent material for track athletics, but the students lack a
place to train. The city has an ideal location, but it remains un-
developed. An effort is being made to raise sufficient funds among
The citizens to build a running track at Wonderland Beach. 1t is
something worth while. The city needs a feature Of this kind just
as much as it needs paved streets and electric lights. Suppose, in
addition to the running track, the city should cover the oval inside
the track with asphalt, or some other hard, smooth material, and
make a roller skating rink for the children. What an ideal So
luton it would be to the problem that has had to be met on High
street, but which has not been solved, by any means. In fact,
Wonderland Beach property could be made a great recreation
ground with all kinds of amusements, aud provisions for sports of
all kinds, including a fine beach for bathing once the sewers are
removed. Such an investment by the city would be one of the
greatest assets that Perth Amboy could have. The need Of such a
place for the children to play is becoming more and more essential.
The inability of the city under its present form of govern
ment to do anything along this line is another striking evidence
Of the need of a change SO that our method Of handling public
affairs can be modernized. It is just as necessary to look after the
welfare of the coming generation, training our boys and girls to
grow up into healthy men and women who have a pride in their
city, as it is to take care of the present generation and see that
their comforts and requirements are met. Every well balanced
city will attend to this. The City Plan Commission, if given a
chance, will show us how to do it, but until the city plan is pre-
sented it j up to us to do what we can to solve the immediate prob
lens such as that presented by the roller skating on High street
and the cinder running track on the Wonderland Beach property.