The Washington herald., 1913-03-18
RECREATION FOR
| Children URGED
Monday Evening Club Com
mittee viii Confer with
Commissioners.
NEW OFFICERS WANTED
A Director Of Public Recreation, with
Two Assistants, Suggested to
Handle Problem.

Public parks and reservations should
be thrown open to the public. and they
should be made available for baseball
games. tennis. football games. and bas-
ket-ball games. and other athletic con-
tests. There should be more swimming
pools and bathing beaches in the Dis
trict in connection with the Fairgrounds
so the children would not have to go
considerable distances. School buildings
should be built SO they could be used as
branch libraries.
These suggestions We're made by f. s.
Martin, superintendent OF Fairgrounds. at
the meeting of the Monday Evening Club
at the Y. NJ. c. A. the topic under
discussion being "a Bureau of Public
Recreation" Myron Jermain Jones pre-
sided, Rev. DR.. Van Schaick, the presi-
dent Of the club, being indlsposed.
Referring to the organization Of de-
partment OF recreation. Mr. Martin sug-
gested that the city should set aside
streets in congested districts for play
during certain hours of the day. Bath
houses. bathing beaches, boy scout
practice and campfire girl activities all
to come under the supervision of two
supervisors. Mr. Martin suggested a
supervisor to have charge of licensing
and physical and moral conditions OF
theaters. penny arcades. amusement
parks. dance halls. roller skating rinks.
bowling alleys, pool rooms. and other
such types of amusement
One Head Preferred.
Mr.. Martins plan proposes that all
Fairgrounds be operated under one head.
and that regulations for their conduct be
agreed upon between the superintendent
of schools and the superintendent OF
Fairgrounds. Mr.. Martin also suggested
that an expert be placed in charge OF
moving picture theaters. and that ab-
solute authority be vested in the Dis
trict Commissioners to annul all except
theater licenses without hearing.
Speaking on the topic. II. B. F. Mac
farland, former District Commissioner.
said physical beauty alone will not suf-
flee: indeed. health and EDUCATION are
more important. All the municipal fea-
lures must be alike developed to make
this the model Capitll. The efficient
supervisor of Fairgrounds. l..
& Martin has recommended and the
District Commissioners have approved
the creation OF a Department of Recrea-
ton. headed by a competent director 10
supervise both public and commercial
recreation. II this does not seem oesf
10 Congress 1t might create commits
Of public buildings and grounds repre-
sentin. the Federal government. mu-
ricipal playground supervisor represent
ing the District Commissioners. and the
OF schools representing
the Board OF Education. which would
bring into closer CO operation the oftlcia!
agencies. now happily working together
as best they can under existing laws.
Mr.. Weller Speaks.
Charles +. Weller. associate secretary
OF the Fairgrounds and Recreation AS
sociation of America, said that through |
cut America I'VE have been learning that
something larger than Fairgrounds Is
The problem to be solved Is
the whole leisure time problem. To meet |
such broad fundamental needs requires
a recreation commissioner who VIII 10
for the leisure time of the people what
the superintendent OF schools does for |
the hours of formal education or the |
of health for the problem |
Of sanitation and hygiene
the court at Nankir. There. amid scenes |
\ resolution was adopted that COM
rittee. consisting OF F. l.. Siddons and |
former Commissioner Mcfarland hold |
with the District Commits
soners, the superintendent of public
schools the superintendent of public
buildings and parks. and the superin-
tendent of Fairgrounds TO formulate and
complete plans to carry into execution
the plans and ideas of the club, with
reference to the establishment of play
and the enactment of law
by Congress appointing director'of pub
lei recreation with suitable assistants.