The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-02-19
GREAT PLAYGROUND
FOR POTOMAC PARK
Col. Harris Sends to Congress
Plans for National Recrea-
ton Spot With Stadium.
(continued from FIr.t Pare.l

Continued from First Page)
20 be Travelled to Chesapeake Bay and
most heads OF families. The capacity
OF the small municipal bathing pool has
not been sufficient, he, says. to accom-
modate the more than 100000 sporgons
who desire to use II every season. The
hold Inadequate.
For Recreation Field.
There 10 a rare opportunity, Colonel
Herts says, for Transforming the large
fat area. east Of the railway embank-
ment below the Tidal Basin, and COM
monty called East Potomac Park, into
2 public recreation tield. This area
being separated from the latter BY the
railway and Highway bridges. There
afe 1876 acres in West Potomac Park.
"a acres in tho tract surrounding the
Tidal Basin. and s27 acres In East po-
East Potomac Park was transformed
from IAN unheaithful. disease-breoding
mud fiat to it's present promising con.
dition," the report says, as an incident
TO the sanitary and harbor requirements
.'Even in the very inception Of the
project." he adds. at was foretold that
a splendid park addition to the city
would be the result. This purpose mas
been fostered by Congress from tne
The work OF retaining the fats last
ed thirty-one years, and since II wea
turned over TO the chief OF engineers IN
1914 It has remained idle Colonel Harts
make use OF this valuable tract
The plan Of Improvement he submits
TO Congress IN a. follows:
The existing thirty-foot circuit roao
running along the borders Q, ths p snr
slight changes I'm Its location being ex-
pected only at the location for the pros
pective boat harbor on the Washingtor
channel SIDE and where the road passee
beneath the railroad tracks In enterine
the park.
For Large Stadium.
eat the northeast corner OF thu
grounds near the main entrance tn
plan provides for the erection Of a U
shaped stadium, located IN such man
ner as to command a full view OF tn
entire field, the river beyond. and. II
the distance the rolling hills OF Virginii
and Maryland. The stadium itsel
would be OF sloplng earthen banks. ant
will be inconspicuous from the Whit
Houss and the Monument grounds. II
central portion In to be equipped Wit
fixed concrete seats. and would have Al
actual seating capacity OF 600. while OF
| the surf slopes OF the two wtnga or tn
U-shaped structure temporary woodel
seats can be so placed as to accommo
date maximum seating capacity Q
1900 On special occasions OF the gath
ering OF large crowds wooden temporar
seats can be placed at the open end o
| the stadium 30 as to expand this seat
ing capacity TO about 1000. Passage
ways through the center OF the stadiur
| from the railroad terminal at the rea
/ OF the stadium. and be arranged so a
to give convenient space for locke
rooms, toilet rooms. and like conven
fences for players and spectators. with
In the stadium angle lie the runnin
\ track, one-thind mile long. and a 20
yard straightaway dash. while Its shap
permits the games OF baseball and foot
ball to be played before large audiences
At each end of the wings are perma
nentiy located football practice fields
these are In turn again adaptable I
other sports when football IL not In sea
son.
The large parade ground Of sixt
acres which the stadium faces will cor
veniently accommodate thirteen base
ball diamonds.
Large Wading POOL
To the east OF this large field an
parade ground. set In a grove of over
hanging trees, is located a children
wading pool Of about three-fourths acr
In extent.
''In an extension OF this large grow
would be located the various playgroun
apparatus for the use OF others OF ii
younger element-swings, slides, san
courts, handball courts, and races an
wrestling.
ITO the east and west Of the wadIn
pool there woulS be arranged capaciou
swimming pools, each pool having a.
area q about one and three-tourth
acres In extent. They are to be cor
structed with sand beaches. having
gradual increase from wading depth I
point opposite where depth of abol
twenty feet OF water will be availabl
for diving. These pools will be supple
purified by approved methods Of treat
ment. The need for the wadinG an
swimming facilities Is probably NOR
insistent at the present time than 10
any other form Of outdoor recTeation,
paratus for refltration and for Il
chemical treatment OF the water {
be used will necessarily be Unstable
in connection with the pools.
The two lighthouses are TO contai
age, locker room. shower baths. toll
and retiring rooms, and workin
quarters for the attendants.
Place For Small Boats.
"a short distance south OF the gro,
of pools the plan shows an artihci
indentation on the Washington chai
. mel side of the island. which is II
tended for small boats. The wat
area in this indentation will be su
hcientIy large to give a safe al
convenient landing and shelter Z,
I bcaSs oi moderate size. 49,. !.