Minutes 03/26/1929 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 26, 1929 ,Portsmouth, Virginia, March 7th, 1929. To the Park View Neighborhood Club, Portsmouth, Virginia. The tax. payers and residents living on 'B' Street the-short block connecting Hutton Street with Forte Lane also leading into the oldest cemetery ef the 0ity, respectfully call your at- tention to the unpaved, unhealthy and unsightly condition of that block owing to the mud and dust arising therefrom. For the past twelve yea~s the residents of this street have made appeals to have this short and central block paved but so far no action has been taken by the City Oouneil, whilst promise s~fter promise have been made. We feel that this improvement should be made- First- For the health of~the large number of people living here. Second- Because it is the entrance to the oldest cemetery in ou~ Cit~. Third- Because nearly all those living on the block ~re taxpayers. Fourth- Because about 50families including those in three Apartment houses do their trading at a store on this block 'and have to walk through mud and dust carrying it into the houses several times a day. Fifth- Because it is~the only block in this locality left unpaved for several years and reflects upon the business policy of the 0ity Government. We sb~.ll greatly appreciate any effort on the part of your Club to influence the City 0ouncil to take this matter under immediate advisement, and we thank you for your co-ope~ation. Signed: Henry W. Dowding W. Allen Tyler Audrey P. Johnson J. D. Sn~wdon J. M. Albert Mrs. J. H. Mobley W. J. Deans ~. S. Pitchford Lois Hall Snellings Florence-C. Hall Eunice L. Hell Frank E. Hall C. M. 0~rtwright Mrs. C. J. Neathery Mr. Lo G. M~rtin ~r. L. E. Cross." On motion of Dr. Dunford, the oommunicationswere referred to t-he City Manager. -S th. "At the last meeting of the Council, the matter of having the school playgrounds open after school hours, was referred to me. I have conferred with Mr. , ~ndent of Schools and copy cf data which he funished me is attached. You will that of the eighteen schools in. the city, eight have inclosed playgroun~ds.and ten have pl~Mgrounds which are not inclosed. There are no..r~strictions as to the use of the grounds which are not inclosed, by the children'of the communzty. There are certain g~mes which coul~be played by smaller children in the inclosed school g~ounds, but it appears that the difficulty here would be the question of adequate supervision, as the child's safety as well as protection of property must be considered. .I~ most i~stances s~hbolleagues have seen fi~ to beautify the grounds. The schools now h~ve a fifteen minute morning.recess, one a ten minute afternoon recess and practically every morning a large n-amber ~r in all of the school yards for a few minutes play before going into school, be con- sidere~ would therefore ~e the use of the grounds onSaturdays, holidays 'the s~,~mer vacation and I do not think it womld ~e a good thing to turn them iht& public un- less someone could be there tc properly supervise the play and see that the pro- tected. The playground movement is Well worth further study, ! believe, for t~ best interests of the citizens and safety of the children. Traffic on our streets is such that it is unsafe for children to play in the streets. There is another.angle to the question. Mr. HunS inf?r~s me all of ~the pa~n~of the children are very anxious that t~eir ch~ldre~ ~ . after the close of school and theprinoipals ~ud teachers xn .all city Scnoo£: to see that the children leave the school grounds. For a period of one hour closes, the grounds are usually clear~ school I want to say that ~..Hunt is thoroughly in acco: the could be we. rked out as to the suloervision of the grounds, but to do this~at the present time amd~have not playg~ound.~instruo~ors ~nd.superviso=s for 1929 is to take care of our present playgrounds. I am planning go this matte Hunt and also with ~Dr. Roper, in the hope that some co-operative pl'an may be nt if )tan with Mr. On motion, the commtuuication was ordered to be filed. 6~h. :.Sometime agq (during 1928) I r~quested the Eng~mae~s from the Southeastern Tariff Association tc visit Portsmouth and look over the locations cf our various fire stations with the possibility of consolidating certain stations, particularly those in the old wards of the.