Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-09
RECREATION SPOTS
IN D. c. NUMBER 392
Twenty-Five Parks and Res
ervations Opened During
Past Year.
THOUSANDS ENJOY
ATHLETIC GROUNDS
Col. Harris Tells Of Development in
All Sections of the
Capital.

the District of Columbia, according to
the annual report of Col w. w. Harris.
engineer officer in charge OF public
buildings and grounds. These have a
total area of about 1892 acres, and
twenty of them were opened dur
ing the last year. More than 100000
trees, shrubs and plants were set out
in these reservations.
AS an illustration of how these rec
reational facilities are taken advan-
tage of, the report shows that in f1ve
and one-half days of last June 1886
players used the tennis courts in the
Potomac and Henry parks alone.
There were 202.65S visitors to Wash
inrton Monument, 17s.737 of whom as
cended in the elevator and 2s.S2l
walked to the top. Since the Monu-
ment was first opened to the public,
October 9, 1883, there have been 4,4is'-
754 visitors.
DAYS last year there were 39.016 visit
ors. an average of $50 persons for each
of these days.
Would Pay Park Police More.
Col. Harris renews his recommends
ton for increased compensation for
the park police, and suggests that they
he placed on the same status as re-
CARDS pensions as the metropolitan
police.
II is suggested by Col. Harris that
the tidal basin in Potomac Park be
named "Twining lake" and that the
extreme southern point of East Poto-
mac Park be named "Hains point, IN
honor, respectively, OF MAJ. IWini ~.
Corps of Engineers, who originated the
project for the tidal basin for nushlng
the Washington channel. and or Cen
Hams. who put the plans into execu-
ton.
"It is the purpose of this Office" says
Col W w. Harris, ito make the parks a
source of enjoyment to the maximum
number of people. and 1t. therefore, De
comes necessary for the park Watchmen
to enforce the park regulations IN
tactfuI manner and without losing the
good will of those for whose enjoyment
the parks are in existence. for con-
certs and other public gatherings spe-
cial details have been made to handle
the crowds and to protect government
property with uniformly good results.
Many Places for Games.
As showing the extent to which the
public parks are used by the people OF
the District for recreation and pas
times. Col. Harris says there are now in
use sixteen base ball diamonds. thirty
five tennis courts, one croquet court,
one practice golf course, one hockey
field, one polo field. one soccer field. one
cricket field one hurting field. one pole
vault and high jump ana one proad
lump These were all maintained in
good playing condition during suitable
weather throughout their respective
playing seasons. Base bags. pitcher
plates and home plates were provided
for base ball. Foul lines and playing
lines were marked out daily on all dia-
monds, courts and fields. Tennis nets
were provided for the tennis courts. All
grass was cut to proper height on the
golf course. polo fields. cricket FIELDS.
base ball diamonds, etc.
The growth of the popularity OF these
recrea tional facilities and their use by
the public Col Harris says. are shown
By the fact that in June. 1915. the fol-
Potomac Park. 1872 permits for 1000
players: Henry Park. 3S9 permits for
200 players: Montrose Park, "a per
mits for 400 players; Garfield Park. II
permits for 80 players. Golf-Potomac
park, IS permits for 40 players. Crick-
et-Potomac Park, one permit for
cricket club Hurling-Potomac Park.
one permit for hurting team. Croquet
I-Montrose Park, two permits for
groups of players. Base ball-White
ing three organized government de-
detrimental leagues: Monument grounds
land Potomac Park, seventy-one per-
mits, including two organized leagues.
During the last eight days of June
l35s6 players used the tennis courts in
Potomac and Henry parks. and two and
one-half days in that period the courts
were closed account of rain. A
quarter-mile running track and shot
nut circle were provided in the Monu-
rnent grounds for the public outdoor
athletic meet Independence day, 1915.
Fairgrounds for Children.
| In addition to these facilities for out
door sports, the following government
| reservations were opened to the use OF
children for playground purposes; reser-
walton 1876 at Virginia avenue and 10th
| street, southeast: the southwest corner
of Garfield Park; the western end OF
reservation 10. on 9Th street, between X
| and l. streets southeast. reservation 109
! at the intersection of Virginia avenue and
| 18th and ID streets northwest. and VIII
| low Tree Park. between Sd and AZ and
/ Il and G streets southwest.
| During the last fiscal year twenty-fiy
reservations were added to the number
| OF parks and reservations in charge o,
Col Harris Office, making the total number
at present 1872. The total area Of these
reservations is about 1.192 acres. the area
| OF the different reservations varying al
| the way from $50 square feet to 1913 acres
| The total park area was Increased by
| 10000 square feet or 3.216 acres by the