Evening star., 1915-01-12
PLAY starvation
PREVALENT HERE
Monday Evening Club Hears
Results of Survey of
Capital.
MODEL RECREATIONAL
SYSTEM RECOMMENDED
Efforts to Be Made to Obtain Funds
From Congress for More
Fairgrounds.

There is a Cond1t1On OF play StarVa-
tion here that few realize. according
to representatives of the District gov
ernment and federal children's bureau,
who have been conducting a recrea-
tion survey for Washington. Last
night they presented to the Monday
Evening Club recommendations based
on the results of the investigation,
which it is hoped the club later will
urge before Congress to the end that
appropriations may be made fors the
establishment in the capital of a model
recreational system.
Edgar S. Martin. supervisor of the
District Fairgrounds; L. b. De Groot,
former superintendent of the South
Park playground system Of Chica go,
who represented the childrens bureau
in the conducting of the survey. and
DIR. F. A. Mckenzie of Ohio State Uni
versity, who represented the District
in the work, addressed the meeting,
which was held in the ballroom of the
New Willard Hotel. Miss Julia
Lathrop, heal of the children's bureau,
presided.
While the report of the survey has
not been completed, and many recon-
mendations that are to be made have
not yet been worked into tangible
form, the recreational experts gave as
surance that the reforms to be pro-
posed will, If approved by Congress,
result in the establishment of a practi-
cally new playground system in WASH
ington.
An Instantaneous Survey.
DR.. Mckenzie outlined the work of
the survey. pointing out that four big
groups of facts had been collected con-
cerning population, physical properties
pIantS nf the nrpSpnt SVSfem-
cia1 conditions and public opinion. He
declared that the investigation had de-
veloped conditions that exist in the
fifty-three health districts of the city
and showed just what are the needs
of the residents of these sections.
One of the features of the inquiry
was the conducting of an instantaneous
survey, when record was made of how
$4,000 children were employing their
time at a given hour. The majority of
the children were on the streets. One
hundred and seventy-three Of the num-
Der, of whom fifty were girls, were
engaging in fights at the moment the
survey was made, he stated.
The speaker told of the sending of
blanks to children which contained
questions as to how they spend their
forms of diversion. Replies received
have been made a part of the survey
records, as have also those received
from 1850 clerks in the Department
O. -. - rio~. WHO We're asked for in
formation as to how they utilize their
unemployed time. The latter informa-
tion was desired inasmuch as it is
planned to provide healthful recrea-
tional facilities in Washington for
adults as we'll as juveniles.
DR.. Mckenzie stated that the various
subjects covered by the investigation
and the recommendations to be made
concerning each will be fully described
in separate chapters in the report He
said the report would point out what
improvements are most needed at the
present time. while the document as a
whole would serve as the basis for the
forming of public sentiment in favor of
playground development A recon-
mendation for the conversion of James
Creek canal into play park would be
contained in the report, DR.. Mckenzie
said.
Describes Chicago Fairgrounds.
Mr.. De Groots address consisted al
most entirely of a description of Chi
cago's Fairgrounds. By means of ster-
eopticon slides he was able to give the
club members a good idea Of the extent
to which Chicago has developed it's re-
creational institutions for both young
and old The reason this city has spent
s15,000,0o0 in the last ten years on
Fairgrounds is because the people there
prefer to vote bond issues for improve
ments of this character than some
others, he said
Although not going into the details
of the local survey, MIR. De Groot said
that if there Is anything Washington
needs it is the equipment of it's play
grounds with swimming pools. He
said there are almost no places here
where boys can play ball and that this
is a condition which could be given i'm
mediate attention. The speaker scored
the fishwalk, hesitation and other
forms of modern dancing and declared
that the Fairgrounds should attempt to
overcome This dehaucherY in dancing,