CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19503, 6 December 1926, Page 13

CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA.

STANLEY BAY SMPROVEMENT. OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY. A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME* One corner of the Stanley Bay recreation reserve presented an animated scene 011 Saturday afternoon when tho new children's playground was officially opened by Mr. Ernest Aldridge, a member of the Devonport Borough Council and president of the Stanley Bay Improvement Association. Over 100 children, in addition to a considerable number of adults, were present, and in spite of tho somewhat unpropitious weather the playground resounded with the shouts and laughter of the children who made full use of the various devices provided for their amusement. „The playground, which is the only one of its kind in the borough of Devonport, and in fact the only well-equipped children's playground on the North Shore, is an excellent one from every point of view, and modern and up to date in every respect. It is handy to tho children's homes and is well laid out. It is well sanded so that the danger from falls is reduced to a minimum. It contains an ocean wave, a merry-go-round, a double rock-g----bye, 40ft., 12ft. and 10ft. chute, and six swings for older children and eight for younger ones. History of Development. The playground represents only the first step in development of tho recreation reserve, which has an area of approximately eight acres. Tho formation of the reserve was first' planned about eight years ago when the Auckland Harbour Board vested in the Borough Council the fee simpla of the area of mud-fiat for a recreation reserve. A mud-bank to keep out tho sea was built at a cost of about £460, tho money being obtained by private subscription. Tho bank ■ gradually became eroded and was faced with stono by tho Borough Council. s The residents of the district were anxious to see the reserve completed, and formed a special rating area to raise a loan of £2OOO for the filling in of tho mud-flat. However, when tenders were called it was found impossible to get the work dono at tho estimated price and further delay occurred. Negotiations with tho Auckland Harbour Board finally resulted in the board permitting its dredge to be used to fill tho area with mud pumped from tho harbour. At the beginning of November, 1925, tho dredge commenced operations, and what was a little more than a year ago a waste of mangroves growing in a swampy madflat with a creek 10ft. deep running through it hns now been transformed into a level area ready for the laying out of playing fields. The reclamation of tho area was dono at cost price by the Harbour Board. Money lor the Playground. The speedy provision of the children's playground once the area had been reclaimed is duo to tho almost unaided efforts of Mr. W. M. Chapman, a vicepresident of the Improvement Association. Mr. Chapman practically single-handed collected in the city almost £4OO for the making of the playground, and tho warmest appreciation of his work was expressed at the opening ceremony on Saturday. It is the intention oil tho association to proceed as soon as possible with the improvement of tho remainder of tho reclaimed area. It is intended to lay out a football ground and cricket field, two tennis lawns and two croquet lawns. It is expected that 3000 or 4000 yards of spoil will bo available for surfacing as a resalt of the concreting of Calliope Road which is at present being carried out. It is hoped this will enablo a football field to bo prepared in timß for next season. An area of one acre of the reclamation will shortly be improved with tho aid! of a grant of £3OO from the Education Department. During school hours tho area, will be used as an addition to tho grounds of tho Stanley Bay school, which is poorly provided with playgrounds,, but at other times it will be open to the public. Tribute to Mr. Chapman. Mr. Aldridge paid a tribute to those who had striven to secure the recreation ground in the first place, and remarked that tho playground represented merely the first fruits of their efforts and a foretaste of what was to come. Ho paid a. warm tribute to the services rendered by Mr. Chapman, and presented him with a case of pipes m recognition of his untiring energy. A telegram despatched from Thames by Mr. T. Lament, Mayor of Devonport, was read. Mr. Lament regretted his inability to attend and congratulated Mr. Aldridge, Mr. Chapman and those who had assisted them, on tho success of their efforts. Shortly afterward Mr. Lament appeared on the* scene, having returned to Auckland unexpectedly, arid gave a brief address. After vociferous cheers had been given by the children for those who had assisted in providing the grounds, ice-cream, lollies and biscuits were distributed. During the afternoon a musical programma broadcasted from IYA broadcasting station was enjoyed by means of a portable wireless set.