New Britain herald., 1929-05-03
BOARD POINTS OUT,
PLAYGROUND NEEDS
Survey Urgd to Procure PEI.
mlne1t Locations

Establishment Of permanent play.
grounds after . city wide survey. ID
recommended IN the annual report
Of the municipal recreation commits.
sion, filed today.
The commission frowns on the
present practice Of taking over por.
tons OF school property with the
understanding that they will be
abandoned whenever the plot ID
needed for school purposes. and
points out that permanent grounds
are most desirable.
q The statement discloses that the
eight grounds were used by 139,5O1
children last year, and that the cost
to the city, including much new
equipment. was less than $1,000.
Following, is the report:
ITO His Honor. the Mayor, and the
Members of the Common Council:
steadily and surely. the growth OF
New Britain as a municipality. II
marked, not only by its rapidly ex-
panding land area development for
home building, but also by the con-
slant increase in the population Of
the children of the community. and
with it all. arises the imperative
need OF providing ample play and
recreational space for all of these
children.
1T is just as important and vital
. municipal problem to afford the
growing children of the city. mod
ern Fairgrounds as 1t Is to provide
police and fire and public works i'm
provements for the city. especially In
the summer months, when the kid
dies are out of school.
New Britain today. as a NUM-
cipality, has reached the point where
1t must, once and for all time, make
permanent provision to insure future
open-air. modern Playground, In
every part of the city. and especially.
In those districts Of the city where
the tenemented population Is great.
There the yard space 10 insufficient
10 give the children adequate space
in which to play, away from the
dangers of automobile traffic, and Of
necessity. the municipality must help
in the solution of the problem. of
not only affording recreation for the
youngsters, but also keeping them
away from harm.
Toward that end, the municipal
recreation commission this year,
proposes to institute a survey of the
entire city. with the aim of the city.
In few spots of the city, there are
modern grounds, but in most in
stances, the Fairgrounds are of
makeshift nature, ill-adapted for
modern recreation of children. In
most cases also. the school yards
where Fairgrounds are established,
no longer serve the best purpose, be-
cause the grounds are greatly dimin-
ished in size by reason of the erec-
ton of school annexes and addition
on those grounds. So that, per-
manent sites must be acquired by
the city, through purchase. or gener-
Gus donations by public spirited ci.i-
zens to insure adequate and proper
grounds for the future. This task
cannot be done in haste, but requires
concentrated study, but which we
feel, will afford a guaranty for <he
children, that they deserve.
1.-THE popularity Of the play
grounds increases annually. Last
year. the city conducted eight play
grounds, including two In the public
parks and the rest on school
grounds, and the total attendance
for the summer season was 13s,504
boys and girls-the greatest In the
Of the city. And all of this
was accomplished. together with the
replacing and purchasing Of new
where needed. plus super
vision by competent men and women
directors, at a cost Of less than
$1,000.
This year. the recreation COM
hopes to establish new
in the northwest section
near the Benjamin Franklin school.
and measures toward that end. have
been taken.
1.-The recreation commission has a
happy task in doing its duty toward
the youngsters who come to enjoy
the facilities offered on the play
grounds. together with the various
games, folk dancing. junior achieve
ment. and field events. 1t IL made
more SO, by reason OF the coopera-
ton given. by loyal staff. and
by Superintendent of
Parks Ellingwood. City Engineer
Merriam and Junior Achievement Dr.
rector Squire. all of whom have aid