The Washington herald., 1913-10-12
Eleven Large Centers Distributed Throughout Sections Ar.
Supervised by Competent Instructors Attendance
Rarely Falls Below $500.

/ men ttosplldi permitted the use ON
land belonging to them adjacent to me
hospital The Treasury Department
assigned certain pieces OF land belonging
to the Federal government for temporary
use Fairgrounds. Through the courtesy
Of Mrs. Allison Nailor the New York
Avenue Playground adjoining the Homsau.I
pathic Hospital at First Street and New
York Avenue Northwest was turned over
for use to the playground authorities
The property at Fourteenth Street and
Columbia Road was turned over to the
Playground authorities for use through
the courtesy of Herbert A. Gill, the akgent
for the property, and this playground was
later moved TO Fourteenth Street anA
Park Road to property loaned through
the kindness of William Mattingly
In May, 1873. Postmaster General Frank
II. Hitchcock, who was deeply interested
in the welfare of the children, became
president of the Washington Playground
Association, superseding Mr.. Rudolph,
who was compelled to give up the posi-
ton on account Of other interests which
| took up his time.
In spite of the inauspicious beginnings
of this year the results achieved were
excellent. The energy displayed by every
one concerned in playground work, and
the fact that each official and employe
seemed to take the situation to heart and
try 10 do the very best possible, is de-
clared to be the reason for the really
| striking success Of the playground move
ment this year in the face of discoTae-
ing conditions at the outset.
Then municipal Fairgrounds were in op-I
Grafton during the year 1853. Because 'oe
insufficient funds, none Of them opened
until June 26 An important change was
made in the method of operation, and
unlike previous years, the grounds were
| kept open from O'Clock in the morna1
until dark each day, except Sunday. ThiS{
/ involved additional expense, but it in
creased the usefulness of the grounds
/ and made them more accessible for
children to play according to their own
pleasure and the convenience of their
parents.
The list Of Fairgrounds this year was
the same as now except for Blooming t,
| dale and Mount Pleasant. which have
been added since, and included the ground
at Fifth and L Streets Southeast, which
has since been discontinued.
! Arthur c. Moses was unanimously elect
| ed president of the Washington Play-I
ground Association in October, 1910. The
plans outlined in the past were enlarged
and more effectively carried out than
| ever before. The total attendance atI
| the Fairgrounds was greatly increased
during this year. and the daily atten- |
dance. also. was changed The play
ground at Fifth and l. Streets was dis
! continued. and there we're only nins
places open during the period July /.
/ 1910 to June 30, 1911.
! During this period the work was put
upon a strong basis, and the situation
was cleared for the splendid results which
have characterized the past two years.
Books Also DIstributed.
During the year 49,. branch lbra1ea'
were opened on the Georgetown. Mbfnt|
! Pleasant. and Virginia Avenue play
grounds. Books were supplied from thsI
children's library of the Public Library,
and a librarian was put in charge Of tho
distribution Of the books. Between al
and 100 books were placed in the hands
of the children on each playground
| through this means g
The institution OF weekly entertainI
ments given on the Fairgrounds on Ger
tain evenings added greatly to the in
terest OF the work The entertainmentS
were well attended by parents of thsI
children, and the work was apparsntlF'
greatly appreciated. Music, folk dances,
and stories presented dramatically by the.
| children, proved entertainment which,
| made distinct features for many of thsI
Fairgrounds during the summer.
Regular periods were set apart on alII
| the grounds for story telling, and Il
teacher was assigned for this work
These features proved especially popular,
and it was no uncommon sight to see
! fifty or more children gathered about al
| teacher listening to the stories.
| Industrial work, consisting of en-.
broidery. basketwork. and other work
with rafia and reed was carried outI
| throughout the summer months on all
the Fairgrounds
The present needs for the playground
work and the suggestions for the futureI
are contained in the following expression
by officials of the Fairgrounds here: !
There should be a field house with
every well-equipped playground for Slderi
! children. and a shelter in every play-l
srouBd for small children. In some To-
cation, there should be field house.
with swimming pool and shower baths
a reading room and library, auditorium
| for lectures, socials, dancing. and thsI
| like. club rooms and free gymnasium|
as necessary adjacent of the pied
grOnnd work
| 4 feature of the work that has been
carried out to some extent on some of
| the Fairgrounds is childrens gardening, !
! This has been justly beneficial, and Isl
destined, il is declared. to become IoneI
OF the most popular features Of the mover
ment.
! The most recent addition L. the playI
ground work of the District Is that done
! in connection with the Boy Scout move
ment- This work is so recent that It isI
pretty well known Officials Of the play-I
grounds point with considerable pride toi
the results achieved in this work and
/ the benefit to the boys provided in their
activity about the District. The splendid
results provided at the camps Of thsl
| scouts during the summer OF 1872 and
| 1918. are commented on as showing what
/ can be accomplished in this activity.