Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-21
WAR DEPARTMENTS PARK SYSTEM
ny FREDERIC j. HAsI<IS

OF Washington. In building public
park system. the military man has not
neglected tho practical for tho aes-
ihetic. III one corner arc a number OF
excellent tennis courts used by 1000
residents. TO whom arc issued on tho
average OF 200 permits Az month.
There is also n large bathing beach not
far from the Washington Monument,
with the best modern bath house ia
ciiities. Datronized daily BY hundreds
OF people. AS soon as tho public
schools close. the children mock 10 this
beach, where often they learn how TO
swim under the supervision OF the lits-
guards.
But as place OF recyeation. Po-
tomac Park has just started. Congress
has finally authorized tho building of
a huge amusement park, and work
has already begun on the construction
OF fourteen baseball diamonds. thirty
two tennis courts; two golf courses
with half-milc driving track; two
new swimming pools and facilities for
boating and canoeing. There is also
10 be big stadium. seating 10000
people, which. IL Is thought. will prove
Il great stimulus TO the public interest
IN athletic meets and competitive
HhiheHs " mic tHFIe are several COL
lcEcs here, only one INDUCES in attn
lctic competition to any extent and it's
seating capacity at a football game
Tor instance. IS very limited.
Open-tir Concerts Frequent.
The stadium Viii also DE used for
open-air concerts. which are one OF
the most prominent features of the
park system. Every day somewher
III the city there is a band concert.
from May TO October On Saturday
afternoons the Marine Rand plays in
The White House grounds, where tho
c!t'zen population forceathers and
hears operate and popular music. In
other sections Of the city tho Wash
inEton Barracks Band and the Cavalry
Eand hold free open-air concerts, so
that the Washlngtouian does not lack
music. The Cavalry Band has now
departed for Mexico. 70 that the hand
equipment this summer has been more
limited. but. even so. not one clear
day has gone by without 4 band CON
cert somewhere.
Another Improvement recently au-
thorized by Congress is the connecting
OF Rock Creek Park and Potomac Park.
which AT present are separated by a
section OF unimprovcd land used largs-
~ for ash dumps. This has been agi.
lated by the War Department for some
time' and now that the bill has passed
Congress. Colonel Harris. the military
executive In charge OF the parks hs.
already put his men to work at the
project. In his Office is a small relief
model OF this section as 1t is to look
when completed. showing neat groves
or maple trees, flower beds and wide
houlevards travcrslnI either side Of
kock Creek. II bears very little re-
scmblance to the way the place looks
now. with its small. muddy valley sur
rounded by clay hills whose sides are
married by tin cans and ashes and the
lack or grass. Some of the refuse has
already been removed, however and
the work of excavation and improve
ment is at last under way
Thus far the military man again set
an example to the rest OF the world
in the matter OF organization and ad-
ministration. From an unhealthy
swamp. the War Department lifted
Potomac Park and made it one of the
best recreation parks In the country
The 400 awkward squares and trj-
angles 1t has made cool, shady. Mower
ing GASES In tho midst of a hot asphalt
| city; and II has arranged that the peo-
pic should have music With this
record of efficiency to their credit il
Is TO he regretted that the soldiers
cannot nc put to planning city marks
ana growing flowers in every city in
the country.