FOR THE CHILDREN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 230, 22 June 1908, Page 8

FOR THE CHILDREN.

UTILISATION OF KENT TERRACE RESERVE. CITY .PLAYGROUND SUGGESTED. According to a mandato recently issued by tlio Wellington City Council the pino and fir trees on tho northern half of tho Kent Terrace reserve liavo been felled. The writer has a very distinct recollection of tho planting of this reserve some twenty years ago, and can well remember that the early growth of tho ti'ees in "the Avenuo" (as it was then called) was watched with no little aesthetic pride. It was considered a forward step in tho bcautification of the city on tho best lines. For many year 3 "tho Avenuo" was perhaps tho most delightful walk in the city. Tho trees grew fairly well, the grass that grow around them was regularly cut and kept in order, and there woro seats for the weary and heavyladen. For some'reason "tho Avenuo" has been allowed to go to wreck and ruin.

An Avenue Misused. Hordes of children havo been permitted to romp at will amongst tbo branches of tho trees, the fonces and turnstiles'were permitted to romain in a state of disrepair, and the workmen who used to cut the grass, trim the trees, and keep order generally, dropped out of the picturo. ■ A few years of neglect soon told its tale, until a couple of years ago, when people began 'talking about it as an eyesore, and many and various schemes have been put forward for its utilisation. Tho top or southern half was taken in hand by tho Reserves Committee, and the result takes the form of prim flower-beds alternating with patches of grass—a stiff and formal arrangement, dead level and unshaded,iri no wise as good a schome of street decoration as was the demolished Avenue, with its two lines of well-grown frees, tho clcan asphalt path. between, and on either sido long paddocks of'grass, shaded every twenty yards or so with trees. Somebody has said that the ■ trees did not grow successfully in Kent Terrace, which is highly absurd, as one may seo by an inspection of the big' truiiks (some over three feet in diameter)-now lying prone on tho ground. When the Avonuo- was properly looked after it was tho most ornamentally and aesthetically pretentious thoroughfare in the city, and tho now idea that lias been carried out in the southern half is a poor substitute for what has been. It was a case of a splendid reserve being killed by neglect.

What Is to bo Done? With the razing of the trees of tho northern half last week tho last of what was a really big and attractive tree-planting scheme disappears, and tho question now is what is to, be'done with tho land? It has been proposed that a part of it should bo utilised as a municipal market, but tho principle _ of municipal markets has not Deen unanimously approved, which dismisses the fear of tho reserve being sacrificed in that direction. It is hoped tho Reserves Committee will not repeat the floral prosiness of tho southern, at tho northern ond, with its "just so " flower-beds that can bo only seen properly from tho top of a whirling tramcar, and which are.bound to be raided by tho children of tho districts. A suggestion has been made that the committee should fcnce in. the block, harrow and sow tho soil with grass,. and so create a playground for tho children on the lines of what iB boing done in larger cities both 'in Australia and America. ■, Wellington Central Noglectod. The children of Thorndon have tho Botanical Gardens and Anderson Park to disport themselves in on summer days, and those of Wellington Sijuth have Newtown Park, with its many delights, to romp in and breathe deep of .God's good air, but the centre of population in Wellington is in the vicinity of Vivian Street, which thoroughfare touches one end of the reserve, and here, in tho most congested part of the city, there, is absolutely no playground for tho children,, savo the all too narrow streets. Not far away is the' Basin Reserve, but in summer when it would bo most used by tho children did circumstances permit, cricket is.plaved pretty continuously. So it will be seen that the children of central Wellington aro at'a disadvantage for an open area that can legitimately be called a playground. The uncultivated or ■ lower half of tho Kont Terrace reserve. is admirably suited for the purpose in overy way. It might be suggested that tho trams would bo a source of danger to tho little ones, but that would bo easily obviated by liigh fencing the block and having ,110 entrances on tho tramway side of tho roservo. So as to enable people to cross from ono side of the street to tho other tho block could bo cut in two_ by a road made opposite Homo Street, which would servo the purpose of creating a double playground. Nothing New Under tlia Sun, Tho provision of children's playgrounds in the centre of big cities is not a new ono. They obtain in New York, Chicago; and other large cities in America, where tno physical deterioration of tho human specics has forced action upon the authorities. Even close at, hand, in Sydney, the children are, plentifully provided with parks, and the Domain, in the very heart of tho city, is oiie of tho finest assets the place- possesses. In the Domain tho Government has provided a wellequipped gymnasium for tho uso of children only. It is submitted that' tho scheme is well worthy of consideration for thoso having even a passing interest in tho physical and moral stamina of the younger, generation. In providing swings, see-saws, | etc., at the Botanical , Gardens and Newtown Park, tho City Council has approved the principlo of providing healthy recreation in the open air for tho children.'of the city-cnds.