The Washington herald., 1911-07-16

Alarmed by the threatened dete-
rioration of property values, the cit
liens of Garfield Park have started
a determined crusade against the
Washington Playground, Associa-
ton. The fight has been brewing
for more than a year. Now it has
broken|out in full fame.
What they allege to be mysteri-
Gus maneuvers and devious plans
on the part of the sponsors of the
playground movement have caused
householders surrounding Garfield
Park to battle in the open for their
rights. They have attempted to ar
bitrate their differences with poor
success, and believe the time for
drastic action is at hand.
TO HOLD MASS MEETING,
mass meeting of the citizens will
be held next Tuesday night, when plans
for full presentation of their case to
the District Commissioners, and to Con-
gress, If necessary. will be laid.
Save Garfield Park from further en-
croachment," is their cry. They say this
large public reserve is the only one in
the city which the Playground Associa-
ton has succeeded in gaining for its
purposes, and inquire why Franklin
Park or Mcpherson Square have not
been turned over TO its use, If the policy
OF making Fairgrounds out of public
parks is logical
The citizens living on Garfield Park
do not wish to be understood as object
ing to the presence Of children. Their
main objection is to the style Of appara-
tus the Playground Association IsSusine,
and to the fact that the removal Of the
Fairgrounds from one part of the park
to another is contemplated, in violation
Of an agreement made three years ago.
The playground is now at the north
east corner of the park at the intersec-
ton of and Third streets southeast.
There is comparatively little protest
against it, as its present location, since
the merry-go-round and other large
pieces of apparatus obstructing the view
have been removed. The present plan,
as It is understood by the citizens of
Garfield Park, is to shift the playground
from F and Third streets to F and Sec
ond streets for some reason alleged to
be in connection with the development
plans of real estate company.
Against this project an emphatic pro-
test will be made. A playground at F
and Second streets, they say, will ruin
Garfield Park as a beauty spot and as
the attractive "centerpiece' of their
property. They point out that the de-
lightful stretch of meadow running for
a full three blocks along r street will
be hopelessly marred. They say all the
children for blocks around romp and play
on the reserve now and are welcome
The installation Of wooden bars, swings,
goal posts, pole-vaulting and jumping
standards, &C, directly in front of their
homes is the prospect which excites
their ire and has reused them to wage
a vigorous battle.
Park Has Suffered.
For the past decade Garfield Park has
been steadily cut down for public pur-
poses. The railroad tracks rent It in
twain about seven years ago, and cut its
acreage 50 per cent. The construction Of
the power house and heating plant for
the Capitol, Library Of Congress, and
the Senate and House of Representatives
office buildings, about four years ago.
meant further encroachment. Then the
Washington playground Association pro-
cured power to use it, and the residents
in the neighborhood began to say, What
next?"
An agreement, 1t is claimed. was made
with the Playground Association three
years ago, by which the organization
consented to confne its activities to a
certain specified northeast section Of the