CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 542, 24 June 1909, Page 3

CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUNDS.

1 The cities of tho World are now at great cost-in making children's playgrounds, says a. Sydney . writer in . urging that steps shall bo taken at onco to provide Sydney with similar playgrounds/ ' Glasgow's. latest park, tho gift of one of'her citizens, is tlio Rouken .Glen. It is.;large' enough; to have within its boundaries a forest where squirrel and rabbits gambol at their ease. .But: the wise fathers of Glasgow know that, all these cannot supply, tho need of the babies of tho poor, and "they ■:. havo/ acquired»: in , different .parts- of; tlilei" city'"nine - ' ;childrah's'Jplaygrounds,-; and ' hr.vo also obtained from ■ the .trustees of old churches. permission /to prepare. tho ground -surrouhdirig ltho buildings, now no longer needed for' burials, for . the same purpose. Some of tho playgrounds are small/'The' largest is only a little , over two acres, biit they aro all in or near poor neighbourhoods,' ahd must'be of incalculable benefit to tho. children who without them would spends their, lives in;close -rooms'or .'narrow streets. •' '

In London .there is a National League for physical- 'culture, .which, has a playground committee. ... This; committee: has- obtained from school authorities, "in view of tho,great direct benefits to be derived from open-air exercise," , permission for their 'school-.' playgrounds to be used da, general playgrounds after school hours.'. ... ' Every municipality-ought to/buy and hold at least, ono aero "of ground for- theuse'of its 'children; An inexpensive fence, a - : shel-ter-shed, and a' swing .'or two! are all.'that .is 'needed. - A''small effort ' and a few' subscriptions would. do the work—a work which would be of 'lasting benefit.'-- And. the'.!land would always bo thero, increasing in value, to form, an asset . of. the municipality, an as-. set; Whoso value would bo the'incalculable worth of the health, arid hap>piness of icqun'tloss vchildreni. r:, The ,city ! Offers" a greale'r problem than tho suburban municipalities. City land .is now .of great value, and -the councils wants •„ money. But - .no considera.tion. of nio'iiey should prevent , tho -setting apart, Of land for- playgrounds.' Land will hover; bo cheaper .--'Children .will always want to play; Surely ifew,' if any, of our. citizens would object to an expenditure so, n;iso and reasonable. ; l: