The Washington times., 1912-07-27
FAIRGROUNDS
ARE URGED FOR
EVERY CHILD
District Superintendent Ad-
vocates Extension of
System.

TT our universities and high schools
can AFFORD to provide recreation facili-
ties for or 10 per cent of the mentally
strong, and our asylums and similar
institutions provide these grounds and
equipment for the deficient, there Is
no good argument against providing
equally good opportunities for recre-
alton and athletics for the other 80
per cent Of the population, said e. s..
today, in giving his views of what Inn
provements should be made in WASH
ington open-air places.
Mr.. Martin completed year as su-
perin5endsnt pso5asa sntterSs Of washington play
Needs More Fairgrounds. 4.
During that time he has been chary
of recommendations preferring to first
learn his problem. In response to ques-
tions regarding what he had learned
after q years work, he said emphatic
ally that more Fairgrounds should be
provided so that the whole city. SO far
as IT wishes, may have the chance for
athletics and recreation that is now con-
fined largely to schools. The schools
themselves have not all they need.
Southwest Washington has great
need Of Fairgrounds for small Children
close 10 their homes. Other parts OF the
city need them In lesser degree and all
would be valuable in building up a
stronger citizenship.
sv15 swimming mining pools should be located in
eye, every section OF the city; The present
available for any length Of time. These
pools should be distributed SO as to be
accessible. ! hope to see the time when
every child IN school will be taught to
swim. This can best be Accomplished
by making opportunity accessible"
Fairgrounds should not only be fenced.
m order to permit better control, but
they should also be lighted SO that they
tension work such as is being carried
on In Georgetown, should be protected
~ al parts OF the city. according to
Vacation schools and children's
gardening ought to be given more at
tention. l know of many real estate
owners and dealers who would be glad
To oeiR tbess sne snsSss,gn ms1ser project" ,, ~
and can be done in Washington, Mr..
Marun added high praise for the work
that Is being done by the Boy Scouts
and the Camp Fire Girls
Infused in his interview were fre-
quent references to District and Gov
ernment OFFICIALS and his co-workers,
70 an Of whom Mr.. Martin feels in
oeosea Ior the success of the work
accomplished during the last year
The correlation of all outdoor recre-
auon work Is recommended.
Extension of Powers.
This can be accomplished without
ueading on anyone's rights" said Mr..
Martin. "and would produce better re-
suits. These recommendations for fu-
ture work are being carried out now
slowly, and 1 believe that all of them
will be accomplished"
the Capitalization of recreation work
could best be accomplished by q de-
partment Of recreation. The director OF
n oH
not only or Fairgrounds and similar in
stitutions. but should be given some
supervisory power over dance halls,
moving picture shows. and other places
Where young people congregate in great
The control of these places can best
be accomplished through the use Of
the license system. This has been
tried In other cities and has worked
I'm making this recommendation"
said Mr.. Martin, 'I wish to express
my appreciation of the generally high
amusement managements have estab-
lished and are maintaining.
"A plan involving the creation of a
new department having charge of all
recreation would involve some added
expense said Mr.. Martin. but 1 am
certain that this correlation would bring
such benefits that the expense would
be negligible"
q department of recreation, Mr. Martin
has worked out in detail what he would
have the several subheads of the de-
partment attend to and II his plan,
which will be brought to the attention
of the District Commissioners, Is ac-
cepted an immediate working program
will be available.
my years work has shows me one
other thing and that is that the attitude
of Congress is something on which the
people of Washington should congratus
late themselves. l have talked to many
members of Congress about playground
Improvement and extension, and I'm
none Of them have i detected an atti-
tude not In sympathy with our pur-
poses"
Superintendent Martin came to Wash
ington from Columbus, where he was
engaged in playground work which
promised much and which he disliked to
leave.
II can say that every promise made
to me when came to Washington, has
been kept" said Mr.. Martin, evidently
well pleased with his first years work.
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