Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-23
new PARK PLANNED
Proposed Reclamation of viii.
low Tree Alley.
MODEL RECREATION PLACE
Washington Architects Will Suggest
Methods Of Improvement.
MATTER TO GO TO CONGRESS
Commissioners Will Recommend an
Appropriation to PSrchase the
Property.

properly.
Willow Tree alley may be reclaimed.
According to present plans fostered by
the District Commissioners that area in
the interior of the block bounded by B,
Z, Sd and AZ streets southwest is to be
converted from an unsavory rendezvous
into park and playground.
At the request of Commissioner Judson
the Washington Chapter Of the American
Institute Of Architects has appointed a
committee to draw up plans for model
recreation center on the site of the alley.
This committee is composed Of A. L.
harris, Snowden Ashford, municipal
architect, and Ward B. Brown
At the December meeting of the chap
ter several methods for treating the park
will be submitted by the committee, and
one of the proposed schemes will be se-
lected and forwarded to the District au-
thorities. 1t is the intention Of the Com
missioners to submit the proposed plans,
to Congress. together with recon-
mendation that an appropriation be made
to purchase the property.
Although the cost of the Willow Tree
alley proposition will be greater than
the cost OF any other Washington play
ground. the health department, the police
department and the building Inspector 8
office report that the expenditure would
be justified on account Of the actual
elimination Of the alley and the i'm
proved conditions generally created.
Plans in View.
According to Mr. Harris, chairman of
the committee preparing plans for the
beautiticatiOn of the site, the playground,
IL established. will be a model and will
be built in the style in vogue in leading
American and European cities. The site
will contain a large building, In which
baths for men. women and children will
be included. together with gymnasiums
and other sanitary appliances. In an
other part OF the grounds there will be
constructed a wading pool for children,
a shelter house. swings. hammocks, sand
boxes. tennis COURTS. basket bali courts
and sliding chutes.
The Washington Playground Associa-
ton l. cooperating with the District au-
tnortties IN pushing the scheme. and
tiOn. has accompanied the committee on
several tours of inspection. 1t is proposed
to condemn sufficient property on the four
bounding streets to allow for entrances.
One OF the plans advocated by those
architects interested in the projects pro-
vides that the municipal bathhOuse be
built facing one of the streets instead
of in the interior Of the block. SO that
tablished through the lower floor Of the
structure in the form of an arciway.
The Area to Be Acquired.
The board for the condemnation of in
sanitary buildings. in its report on the
proposed change, states that the sixty
eight structures in Willow Tree alley,
are, with few exceptions, substantial
brick buildings and are not condemnable
under the act under which the board
proceeds. The estimated value of the
property to be included in the confines
of the park Is x6J, $3.50. The committee
of architects has not yet estimated the
cost of constructing the proposed play.
ground.
The District at the present time owns
S3.s744O square feet in alleys in the
square designated, and the number of
square feet necessary to acquire amounts
to s.. .55776. making a total area available
for park purposes of 102. 432 square feet.
Apother argument for the playground
appropriation that will be submitted to
Congress is contained in the police re-
ports. An Investigation Of the records of
the fourth precinct discloses the fact that
arrests In Willow Tree alley average
about one and one-Quarter q day: this Is
not the full quota, owing to the fact that
many are arrested in the alley who live
at other addresses and the home address
only is indicated on the blotter at the
statian house.
Crime and Death Rate.
The police authorities say the offenses
committee in the location cover rather a
wide latitude, including vagrancy. petit
larceny, disorderly conduct, assaults and
an occasional murder. besides many other
minor infractions Of the law usual with
the class of people inhabiting the alley.
The health department records show a
death rate in this alley of 1868 per thou
sand, and the population is divided be-
tween Italians and negroes. the latter
being in the lead. The population of the
alley is given at III white Inhabitants
and 236 colored. making a total Of 4O7
persons
The average rental for dwelling in the
alley amounts to $3.50 month for the 81
inhabited buildings. bringing a yearly
rent Of $5.6l7.60.
Drawings and specifications for the pro-
posed park are nearly completed and call
for a pretentious recreation ground with
every modern appliance and artistic i'm
provementS.
Commissioner Judson and those who
are pushing the project are enthusiastic
over it and say the District committees
of the Senate and House will have every
opportunity to see the benefits that would