The Washington herald., 1911-08-12
GARFIELD PARK
CITIZENS ANGRY
Petition Circulated to Down
2 a Playground.
E. s. MARTIN Is ANSWERED
Leader in Movement Objects to
Change that VIII Ruin Years OF
Labor by Landscape Gardeners.
Dividing Line Necessary 10 De-
termine Fit Use Of Public Parks.

Citizens living in the vicinity of Gar
field Park are now circulating a petition
which in several days will be sent to
Col Spencer Cosby, L. S. A. in charge
of public buildings and grounds, request
ing that the Garfield Park playground
be removed from its present site, and
that no part of the park between New
Jersey avenue and Third street southeast
be used for playground purposes.
In a recent interview, Edgar S. Mar
tin. supervisor of Fairgrounds, said he
could take no action in regard to the
controversy, as he had received no formal
complaint from the indignant citizens,
and that the question OF the proposed
change of site from the eastern to the
western portion of the park was entirely
out of his jurisdiction, coming under the
Jurisdiction of Col Cosby.
The southeast residents say they have
sent two protests to the Washington
Playground Association, which appar-
emily have received no consideration and
that, therefore. they will address no more
communications to the association.
Old Protest Filled.
The first protest was sent about a year
ago, calling the attention of the asso-
citation to the fact that the playground
had gone beyond the boundary lin
its which were jointly agreed upon. The
association refused to restrict the ap-
paratus to the territory granted 1t. The
second protest. was submitted when the
plan for the change OF site was first
proposed. This communication was ad-
dressed to Mr.. Moses, president of the
association. who referred II to James z.
West, secretary of the organization. with
the request to act Immediately.
Mr.. West ignored the petition. accord
ing to the southeast residents. The citi-
zens now intend to ask Col. Cosby for a
settlement of the controversy
The petition stating that the Garfield
Park playground has an immoral infiu-
ence upon the children. which was cir
culated several weeks ago. was not in
tended, according to its trainers. for sub
mission to the association, but merely
for the information of leaders in the
movement, who wanted TO find out the
attitude of the people of the commu-
nifty on the matter. The signers say that
they are not opposed to Fairgrounds IN
general, but to the Garfield Park ground
alone.
1T is true that men of learning and
experience along with more ordinary
people, advocate public Fairgrounds, -
said Mrs. T. Solberg, of 1873 street
southeast, one of the leaders in the
movement. in answer TO an interview
with Mr.. Martin published exclusively in
The Washington Herald last Sunday.
But who can honestly say that he
would welcome the sacrifice OF a beauti-
full park opposite his own home for use
as an athletic playground? 1t is also
true that men OF learning and expert
hA inv1
and extension of turf areas as being OF
essential value to the health and COM
fort of human beings of all ages.
I'VE believe that line should be
drawn between the use and abuse of a
beautiful park. We believe that an ath-
letic playground should occupy a field
more adapted to its use than a small
park area made beautiful by the skill
and training of the landscape architect" I"