Evening star., 1914-04-11
WILLOW TREE ALLEY
To Be BEAUTY SPOT
Work of Converting SIum Place
Into Recreation Park
Under Way.
ONE SQUARE OF GROUND
FOR USE OF CHILDREN
Plan Calls for Playground, Includ-
ing Base Ball Diamond-May
Be Ready July 4.

Transforming the purlieus of Willow
Tree alley which formerly included
what probably were the worst slums in
the District OF Columbia. into a recrea-
tion park and playground, with attrac-
tive artistic surroundings, is a lob now
being performed by a large force of
Workmen under the direction of Col
Harris. the engineer officer in charge Of
public buildings and grounds 1t is the
nrst work of the kind ever undertaken
in this vicinity. and is an experiment
IN public welfare activities. Consider
able interest In being displayed by
pooifc-spfrfted citizens in the enter
prise. and Its advocates predict that it
VIII be a powerful and material fac
tor In the movement for the moral
Improvement and well being Of the
Immediate community.
The new park will be UNIQUE in that
II is located in the interior Of a square
OF ground in the heart of the city, and
Is surrounded entirely by buildings oc-
cupied either as dwellings OF places of
business. To that extent II will be Sc
ciuoed from the public streets, and
strangers passing by on the outside
existence " 80.
The square is bounded by and G.
streets and by Sd and 1-2 streets south
west. and the part devoted to public
use covers an area of about four acres
smut in on all sides by brick and frame
oui!oings. mostly of the two-story kind.
the only means of entrance are short
narrow alleys. opening on B, C and Sd
streets.
Plan of Treatment.
Landscape Architect Burnap designed
the plan of treatment and It was an
proved by the fine arts commission. the
District Commissioners and by Col Harts
the last named official being intrusted
with Its execution The plan calls for
recreation park and playground capable
or oeing maintained and regulated with
out much trouble or expense. The CEN
trail portion is to be kept open with a
base bail diamond of regulation size and
character as its main feature and in
ciuding back stop and observation seats.
etc Ample area also is allowed for the
usual open air gymnastic apparatus, in
cludins swings, giant strides, merry-go-
rounds, etc. Two small groves near the
west end of the park are reserved for
the special use of children. These will
pc PROVIDED with play tables and sand
boxes, with a modern drinking foun-
tain nearby Between the two groves
VIII be a good sized wading pool for the
juvenile population.
The setting for this well equipped play
ground viii consist Of belt Of trees ard
shruooery with a sunken garden of flow
ers on one side Tall Lombardy poplars
planted close together. will form high
screens At each end of the park and
similar trees will flank the main en-
frances from the street Along the out
er edge Of the two sides Towering trees
and shru5oery are to be planted includ-
irg a good allowance of evergreens. All
the Planted area is to be inclosed within
an Iron picket fence to prevent trespass
An effort is being made to procure the
Old fence around the Botanic Garden for
that purpose Encompassing the entire
area and Just inside the line Of the
private property abutting on the streets
v1u be sixteen-foot walk of Cement
from which there will be several en-
frances to the play ground. small ad-
mfnistraton building will be built at the
west end Of the park
Grading and Tree Planting.
Current operations include grading and
the planting of trees and shrubbery. Six
ty-nine poplars and twelve planes or
sycamore naples are involved in the
scheme. All are Of mature growth with
view to immediate shade and effect
They were all obtained from Potomac
Park. Some Of the poplars were taken
from the site of the Lincoln Memorial
o