Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-30
ChiIdren's Bureau and District
Heads Working on Compre-
hensive Plan.
CONGRESS MAY BE ASKED
TO PROVIDE LEGISLATION
Results of Local Study Will Be
Shown as Part of Fairgrounds
Exhibit at San Francisco.

Establishment of a department of
recreation, which will supervise on
comprehensive scale Washingtons So
cial and reereational activities and
provide adequate means of diversion
for grown-ups, as well as for the jul
venile population of the city, is sought
by the federal children's bureau and
the District Commissioners Congress
may be asked to provide the neces-
sary legislation early during the COM
ing session.
For two months the local Fairgrounds
department, under direction of Super
visor E. S. Martin, has been making
survey of the recreational activities OF
the Capital. Twenty-Five persons have
been engaged in the undertaking and
fully a month more will be required for
completing it
The results of this study, which will
be the basis of ANY legislation to be
sought, will be shown as part OF
the Fairgrounds exhibit at the san
propriated $1,000 for the playground
exhibit and a portion of this money
has been expended by the children's
bureau in making the local survey
Need of Survey Emphasized.
phasized in the last three annual re-
ports of Supervisor Martin and the
Commissioners were quick to accept the
opportunity to take up the work in
conjunction with the children's bureau
E. b. Detroit of Chicago, who will
be in charge of the playground exhipit
at San Francisco, and DR.. r. A NC
kenZie, professor of sociology IN ONO
State University. have co-operated Win
dirAR I'M
while Capt. Powell, assistant engineer
commissioner of the District, also has
given valuable assistance, particularly
in directing the preparation OF recrea-
tional maps.
With the object of ascertaining what
the Capitals recreational facilities are
and what they should be, the play
grounds workers conducting the sur
vey have made inspections OF moving
picture theaters, poolroops and all
forms of social diversions which are
slated to come under the supervision
of the proposed department of recrea-
ton.
$4,000 Letters Seeking Information.
Fifteen thousand letters have been
sent to children, social center workers
and others asking for information as
to opportunities for play and diversion
In addition, there have been sent to
partment $500 circular letters contain
ing twenty-four questions concerning
their opportunities for recreation ana
inauiring how they employ their leisure
time.
This information is desired in connec-
tion with the plans under consideration
for providing recreational facilities Tor
Washington's adult population Estao-
Ushment of reading rooms. gymnas1umS,
swimming pools and other forms OF Oh:
version for grown-ups Is contempla ted.
Some Of the questions asked Interior,
Department employees are:
What outdoor recreative activities do
you engage in?
ercise?
How often do you attend moving pic-
turs shows?
Are you satisfied with the quality of
the pictures? If not. specify why not.
Asked to State Needs.
Do you have sufficient opportunity
for recreation and social life?
Do you think that more opportunities
should be provided? If so, state what
these opportunities should be and
where they should be located to suit
your needs, the needs of children and
the needs of government clerks gen.
orally.
II is stated that while the object of
the proposed department is compre-
recreationai facilities. the department
will in no way interfere with the play
activities now supervised by the pup
lie schools and the office Of superin,
tendent of public buildings and
grounds
More than 400 photographs have been
taken in connection with the survey
and will be sent to San Francisco as a