The Washington times., 1901-09-29
playground and the clubhouse recon-

playground ana the Clubhouse Tecoih-
mended by Mr.. Riordan.
The Southwest is suggested by the origi-
nator of the plan. as the most desirable
section of the city in which to Introduce
the first public playground. The lot which
It is proposed to select for the purpose
is half of the square located between NJ
and Streets Sixth and Seventh Streets
southwest This property is at present
leased by the District government. and
used for the storage of bricks. curbing.
etc 1t is $50 feet on Seventh. $50 feet on
NJ, 300 feet on Sixth, and 25 feet on N
Street side Around the outside Of the
fence is a parking twelve feet wide.
The grounds are to have baseball
field. sand courts, bowling alley, tennis
| courts, Switchboard, workshops. croquet
| courts, swings. seesaws, and quot courts
| There is to be Toulouse, Il vegetable
garden, toilet rooms and bath. and ath-
| letic outfits. A path will be used for roller
| skating. and another entirely for racing
and running. A small building will be
used for Office and reception room.
| Stands and shelters will be distributed
about the place and there will be also a
| large pavilion. The grounds will be en-
closed.
The clubhouse is to be equipped with a
| most approved gymnasium, a poolroom.
a reading room, rooms for men and for
women. toilet rooms, baths, a sick room,
| a sewing room. a kitchen, 1anitor NV
ing room. and one of the rooms Will be
used during the day as a nursery, where
the children of working parents may be
left and properly cared for.
Outlining the field of utility of the pub
lie playground. Mr.. Riordan says;
General class work on the apparatus
will be arranged for both sexes.
The occupation Of the lawns. gardens
seesaws, swings and sand court. one quot
court, one croquet court VIII be optional
| at all times to all.
by previous arrangement with me
chanics of neighborhood. instructions viii
1 be given at the shops. TO whomever
| chances TO be around. when they are pre-
| vented from working, due to weather OF
| other cause.
| The general care and cleanliness of
| this institution will be in the hands OF
| constantly changing cleaning depart
ment. Incidentally police department
will likewise BE- organized. mainly for the
preservation of the property and gradual
| elimination of swearing.
"A fire department on similar lines. and
drilled daily with real hose. etc, will be
| another unit In organization.
Field days-once month, at least
with a Government band, II one can be
| procured, would be a strong and telling
| feature toward permanent organization.
The grounds would be open in summer
| from S o'clock a. m. until 1890 p m. In
| winter from o'clock a. m. until 10 p. m. :"
The systematic arrangement for occu-
patton Of the ball ground" as suggested
| BY Mr.. Riordan. would be as follows: A
| league OF eight clubs would be organized
| among the churches of the Southwest
| this league to play three days week af-
| ter O'Clock p. a second league of
eight clubs. composed of boys working in
| the day time and idlers to play the re-
naming three days after O'Clock; the
| players to be in this league must attend
! night schools during the session. BY the
I above arrangement at least 160 working
] men and boys would be given chance
| for systematic playing and its attendant
! discipline.
"A third league composed of school boys
will organize for play on four afternoons
| a week from until 5 O'Clock: the remain
| ing two afternoons are left open for ex-
! hibition games with teams OF other sec
! tions. Open dates in schedule of larger
league will allow for similar exhibition
| games. To amalgamate the feeling of
| friendlness a picked team composed of
| the players, the best from each of all
| teams In the larger league will organize
! for travelling and visiting games.
From this IL will be seen that 1t seems
| best to utilize the grounds through regu-