The Washington herald., 1913-10-19

the undertaking Of a urn foundation
The further interest Of the District Com
missioners was evidenced from time TO
time as the work progressed. The pres
ent Board Of Commissioners has just
shown its appreciation Of the value OF the
movement in It's recommendations for en-
larged facilities for playground activity
for the future.
With the assistance Of Congress and
the Commissioners much more has been
accomplished than previously, still those
who did SO much while the Fairgrounds
were conducted under the Washington
Fairgrounds Associations auspices, have
had to assist during the last two years
by providing voluntary contributions to
care for such expenses as have not been
Incorporated In legislation. These items
are becoming less yearly and soon will
be entirely eliminated.
A list of those who have contributed
would be of interest and would contain
the names of our greatest statesmen as
well as the leaders in every profession
ana every walk of life in our Capital
City. ...-.- % --.-
Improvements in the scheme of opera
ton during the last two years include
not only a complete reorganization of
methods of conducting the grounds, but
the refurnishing and improvement of
many recreation spaces of the city ahd
provision for exercise in various activi-
ties by the older boys and girls, as well
as the younger ones. Many men and
women are permitted to use the space
provided for recreation on the play
grounds under the system as conducted
under the Commissioners of the District
and this line Of work is to be extended.
Games Are Enjoyed.
Baseball games, football games, tennis,
and basketball by the older children and
the young men and women are now fea-
lures Of activity at the Fairgrounds.
Glasses in folk dancing and other similar
work are features of the last two years
work. Courses in industrial and physical
work for the teachers belong to the sys-
tenn established by the present director
of Fairgrounds here. Much of the eff
cheney of playground work is due, 1t Is
declared by officials, to the splendid work
done by instructors in these classes.
OF special importance Is the work done
in refurnishing the larger grounds them
selves. The Mount Pleasant playground,
the most effective CT the list during the
summer OF 1911, was moved from Four
teenth Street and Columbia Road to Four
teenth Street and Park Road shortly
after the new director took charge Of
the work. Through the kindness of VIII
lam Mattingiy the present location was
obtained. The playground at Garfield
Park has been entirely rearranged and
the old apparatus, much OF 1t clumsy
and inadequate, replaced with modern
steel and iron apparatus.
The Gallinger playground Is now the
finest in the city. The large playground
for colored children at Fifth and w
Streets Northwest, the Howard play
ground. Is now one of the best-equipped
recreation centers in the District.
The Cardoza playground. at First and
I Streets Southwest, is another Of the
rearranged and provided with up-to-date,
modern apparatus during the past two
years. The place was newly graded last
added. This track contains six laps to
attractions Of the splendidly equipped
recreation center.
The Bloomingdaie playground, the
largest and finest in the District. was
added only during the past summer and
belongs entirely to the recent era in play
ground activity It contains twelve ten
mis- courts and all kinds Of apparatus.
Training for Instructors.
AS many as 150 instructors have been
trained in the classes provided by the
playground directors Most of these are
women. although several men hold i'm
portant positions with the playground de-
partment as teachers on the recreation
grounds. OF this entire number Of In
struetors who have itted themselves fer