The Washington herald., 1913-10-12

wholesome standards OF physical excel
lence. A special button, marked Cham
pion," was awarded to all who attained
certain specified physical grades.
II will be observed from the list that
most of the Fairgrounds were attached
to schools. They were all smaller than
those now conducted. and the attendance
was much smaller. The results Of the
work were marked. however, and re-
ceived the commendation OF President
Roosevelt, in a personal letter. TO the
superintendent of the work. Special
mention of the playground movement
was also made in the Presidents annual
message 1t was urged that the work
be extended. and that small vacant places
should be purchased and reserved as
small park Fairgrounds in densely popI-
lated sections Of the city. which now
have no public open spaces, and are
destined to be built up solidly. All
these needs should be met Immediately"
Delegates Hold Meeting.
The feature Of the playground work
for the year 1906 was the convention of
delegates from all parts Of the country,
called to Washington on April Il to H. IN
order to form a Playground Association
Of America. Commissioner Mcfarland
delivered the address of welcome. ard the
delegates were received by the President
At the request OF the Commissioners Of
the District. a playground plan for the
city Of Washington was drawn up by
the association. This plan contemplated
as ideal. a playground Of not less than
thirty square feet for each pupil in con-
nection with every school and playground
OF not less than two acres for each school
Il
section OF the city.
The work carried on this year was
very similar to that of the year before.
The Industrial work had become so pOpu-
lar that a supervisor of the work was
engaged The athletic badge contests
begun the year before, were continued.
Whereas not boy qualified in the three
events the year before, twenty-five were
able to do so in 1906. The attendance
this year reached total of Sd6,3sl, the
average attendance a day on the munich
pal grounds being 22 children at each
ground, and on the school grounds, l69.
This was the first year that the play
grounds were kept open after the begin
ming OF school They were open from l.
O'Clock until dark on school days, and
all day on Saturday until February; they
were then closed until May !, when they
were reopened again for the summer.
During the hours of l to O'Clock, the
grounds were open to small children only
in haIf-time classes. There was a large
attendance between l. and ! o'clock on
most of the Fairgrounds, and a good at
tendance after o'clock.
In December of this year, in accordance
with the recommendation of the public
Fairgrounds committee, the Washington
Fairgrounds Association was organized.
Cuno H. Rudolph was unanimously elect
ed president of the association. 1t is
declared by Fairgrounds officials that MI.
Rudolph's assistance in the playground
movement, especially in securing aid from
both District and Federal government
officials. was greater than that of any
other man.
Through the securing of $1,000 for the
acquisition of new playground sites the
playground at Rosedale was purchased
The place contains about five acres and
cost $4,000. 4 second site, for colored
children, lying just north of the half
square already controlled by the Board
of Education, situated at First II, and
Streets, and containing little more
than an acre, was acquired for <l4,Ooo.
The maintenance and equipment for this
year amounted approximately to $l6,OO.
OF this amount Congress appropriated