St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-05-30
NO REAL HELP FOR PLAYGROUND:
City Officials Offer
ROndO District Only
Token Recreation Aide

OIlly IOhSh SOllCGSSlOllS u
the Rondo community play.
ground commit ee's l947
short term" program for the
Hollow" playground were
made by city officials Monday
to six delegates of the committee
in spite of their previous endorse.
ment Of the entire program two
weeks ago.
The concessions included % pro.
vision, with Halle Q. Brown com.
munity house, of full time play
director, (2) fix fence, 90 put
play area in good order" and (4)
provide certain amount" of play
equipment. They were made by
Commissioner Robert F. Peterson
and Ernest w. johnson, superin-
tendent Of parks and Fairgrounds,
Renege On Program
Two weeks ago these two officials
had joined with the Mayors recrea-
ton committee in unanimously en-
dorsing the committees 1947 pro-
gram which included (D provision
of a drainage system, (2) toilets
and washing facilities, 90 provi-
sion for a full time pay director
and (4) a caretaker on part or full
time basis.
Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Peterson
admitted that it was up to them to
determine how the $4,000 new
fund made available by passage of
the recent tax amendment would be
spent. They stated that this fund
was to take care of our most
pressing needs, but not to expand
present facilities"
This particular situation is an
emergency" said delegate Frank
Boyd in stressing the most pressing
need of the Rondo community for
a public playground. 1t was further
stated to the officials that mas
much as virtually nothing had been
spent by their department in all
the past years for the cOmmunity's
needs that the entire or major part
Of the new fund should be spent
there now in order to make up in
part for past neglect.
Children VS.. Grass
MIR. Johnson replied that Five
caretakers out of the $4,000 was
already set" because they had been
criticized for not having the boule-
ward around established play
grounds cut on time. Every play
area is important" he said, but ad-
mitted that there is a need for a
well developed playground in the
Rondo area.
When queried as to the possibiIi-
ty of the city equipping and devel-
oping a play program for children
up to eight years Of age on the
small graded lot on Rondo between
Kent and Mackubin, he replied that
the lot was under the jurisdiction
Of the department of education and
that he could do nothing about it.
The Hollow" is too small for an
all age group play area.
Both officials refused to consider
improvement and expansion of the
present warming shack in order
to provide toilet and washing IA
cilities. TOO costly" they said,
though Mr.. Peterson said the sew
age connection would cost but $400.
Begs for Charity
Mr.. Johnson's proposal to ask
the Halle Q. Brown house for aid
in providing a play director met
with apparent surprise fro m
Myrtle Garden, director of the
Brown house. When asked what
she would do, Miss Garden replied
that she didn't know at that time.
The proposal to request Brown
house aid is in direct opposition to
the playground committees basic
policy which states:
I'VE do not beg for private
charity, but only ask that which
honestly belongs to this communi-
" by virtue of the taxes and rents