SOME DESIGNS FOR NEW YORK CITY 

 PLAY-GROUNDS 



At 111th Street on the banks of the East River 

 is what may be termed a large city park devoted 

 chiefly to children's play-grounds. 



A reason for its existence just here is found in 

 the thousands of Italians living in tenements all 

 around the park and only a little further away 

 even a greater population of Jews. The park 

 consists of ten or twelve acres lying almost level 

 between 110th and 114th Streets, with a gentle 

 slope to the banks of the river across one arm of 

 which, a short distance away, extends Randall's 

 Island with its hospitals and House of Refuge. 



From the extreme west of the park the effect 

 obtained is that the river is lost to sight and 

 Randall's Island appears to be a continuation of 

 the park with no water intervening. On the 

 edge of the gentle slope, about three hundred 

 feet from the water, is a large handsome shelter 

 building, the level of the floor of which is reached 

 by steps. A band occupies this space during 

 certain days throughout the summer, and the shade 

 is always grateful to mothers, babies, and children 

 at play. Underneath in the basement are shower 

 baths for the use of the public. 



[25] 



