Ajo Copper News

Why Not An Adequate
School Playground
For Ajo Right Now?

An Open Letter to the Trustees of the Curley School

TO THE TRUSTEES OF AJO SCHOOL DISTRICT:

When the American Legion built the concrete playground south and east of Legion hall, covering the remainder of the two lots, either the management was foresighted or built better than it realized at the time.

For the popularity of this new playground is so great as to brand it a "bull's eye."

Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, some portion of the playground is teeming with life practically all of the time from dawn till dark, and on other days it is occupied several hours out of each twenty-four.

Tennis, basketball, indoor baseball, and now "barn-yard golf" are the games played; the playground is also used by boxers for training and practice of every necessary kind; and the large number of automobiles parked in the vicinity every afternoon and early evening attests the fact that the play attracts visitors as well as participants.

It is to be the place for holding boxing bouts in future, too.

The Legion has been sponsoring boxing in the camp for several years, and hereafter (commencing with next Monday nights bouts) will stage all bouts on its own property.

The only discouraging feature (if we might call it by that name) is the waiting list. The playground is so small for the camp that its use is limited, and only a small percentage of those who would like to use it at a given time are able to do so.

Afternoon and Saturdays and Sundays there are many waiting to play; and for every one sitting on the benches waiting to play tennis, for instance, there are two or three who stayed at home because of certainty or belief that they would be unable to get on the court.

Not the least among those thus disappointed are the school children, for whom play is very essential.

Registration in advance for tennis would not solve the difficulty.

Another objection is, that on many hours during the week (at present three afternoons every seven days) the tennis net is removed and the court is devoted to basketball and indoor baseball only.

The Legion has made a hit—no one can deny—and is to be commended, but we submit that the Legion playground has only emphasized the need of MORE PLAYGROUND.

There is no place down town that we know of for more playground; and until or unless suitable space closer in is available, we suggest that the school ground is the only logical site.

In our opinion there should be provided back of the school house, on school property, concrete floor and other equipment sufficient for, say, three tennis courts, basketball, and any other games desired by the school authorities for the school children.

Whether or not such playground should be for the use of school children only would depend on whether any portion of the cost is borne by any other contributor or contributors than the school district. In any event, however, school children would of course have the right of way on school grounds.

There should be no wait if any more playground is ever going to be provided. It is clear to all—even at this early date—that the Legion playground is already congested; and that the interests of the school children are not adequately protected and cared for at the Legion playground. Their hope was in the working out of this new playground, for they are without facilities on the grounds of the school.

Adequate playground is one of the greatest problems of the day—not far distant in the great cities only, but right here at home in Ajo. Money spent on playgrounds judiciously, economically, according to scientific, well-thought-out plans, is never thrown away—there is no better investment in the world.

Playgrounds not only protect and safeguard health, and almost cause immunity to disease, but foster sociability and that get-together spirit that makes for one "happy family."

They make life more worth living—make workmen, men, women and children more contented with their labors, with life and with the camp generally; children are kept busy and happy, and those watching from the side lines are not without their enjoyment also.

In the interest of the camp generally, but especially the school children and therefore the future of the Ajo school, Copper News respectfully urges the Trustees of the Curley school to look into the subject of an adequate, properly equipped SCHOOL PLAYGROUND, which would serve a double purpose—fill a long-felt want of the school, and at the same time relieve the congestion at the Legion playground.

NOW IS THE TIME.

WHY NOT DO IT RIGHT AND DO IT NOW?

To do so, would be no mistake.

What better investment? What better boost for Ajo?

Perhaps there is enough room on the school grounds—perhaps not. If not, it might be possible to secure enough more land. That is a matter of detail, on which we are not posted at this time and it is not essential that we should be. It is a subject for the board of trustees.

The present school playground, it should be remembered, has equipment mostly for the little folks. There is, to be sure, some equipment for basketball, baseball, etc., but not concrete floor or track—nothing like the equipment found elsewhere in the State for pupils in the high schools and in the upper grammar grades.

A school playground would give the opportunity for competition not only within the local school but between this and other schools.

Home school teams could compete with outside school teams on the home grounds (as well as away from home); and the rivalry would be most excellent for the Ajo boys and girls. It would also make the local school more popular—more attractive to prospective pupils, and to prospective residents. It would boost the entire camp.

There would be room for tournaments and match games—room for players and room for spectators.

Parking space for automobiles is at a premium now down town while a game is in progress at the Legion playground.

The streets leading to the hospital, even now, thus early are congested for a block during a game.

Respectfully submitted,

AJO COPPER NEWS.