The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-31
Parks Occupied All Day for
Various Sports During Past
Seasons.
THOUSANDS OCCUPY COURTS
More Than Eleven Hundred
Used Henry Park for Sport
During One Day.

washington .is waking up to the
Possibilities OF Uncle Sans recreation
facilities In th's city 10 the fullest
extent. The list OF fields and places
for various activities offered by the
Government includes tennis, golf.
baseball. football. hurting. soccer,
polo. and croquot
As q measure OF the popularity OF
tennis alone. figures show the sport
twice as popular during the past year
as IN 1915. Alive to the excellent
courts provided by the Office OF Pub.
lie Buildings and Grounds in the city.
tho racquet wieiders literally swamped
the office for permits.
once Supplies Data.
Figures were supplied by John F.
Bethunc, OF the Office of Public
buildings and Grounds, who Issues
permits for the various activities In
Uncle Sans big playground in Poto-
mac Park and the smaller parks.
Various estimates show. that up.
ward OF 10000 persons play tennis In
Washington. or these e4.3sf took
their exercise In Potomac Park, Gar.
field Park, Montroso Park, and Henry
Park. During the past year nineteen
courts were In operation from June
90 October 1 In Potomac Park. Twelve
were used In Henry Park, three In
Montroso Park and one In Garfield
Park.
-Four thousand seven hundred and
afty-six permits were issued to tennis
players In tho yarioys parks and
these permits stood fofthe use OF the
courts from sunup to sunset.
September Popular.
with the heat OF August gone and
September weather giving q chance
for activity. the tennis players got
right into line. The nowiedge that
permits could be obtained spread rap.
idly until the courts were populated
all day long. In Henry Park alone
the twelve courts found lilo perJonH
playing on one day. the high-water
mark OF the season.
II 10 pointed out that next year the
demand for courts viii be even
greG ter. judging from the Increased
activity during the last month when
permits were issued.
Golf came In for some considera.
tion. The three-hole practice course
in Potomac Park engaged SIS per.
sons. during the year 125 permits be.
ing given to play. There were five
permits issued TO cricket teams 90
use the Potomac Park course.
Dianiesd On Use.
All OF the baseball diamonds In To.
tomae ana other parks were In use
all OF the time. From June I TO Sep.
tember 30 four organised leagues used
the white Lot Eilipse. twenty.six per.
mits being issued to twenty.six teams
from the use OF the diamonds.
In all 127 permits were issued 60
various teams for diamonds on the
Monument Lot. Eight permits were
given out To groups OF individuals
numbering nifty who wished merely
10 exercise with tossing and catching
baseball.
The permits issued for the Monu.
ment Lot diamonds included those for
the Washington high schools which
staged a part OF their championship
series.
Active for Football
Eighteen permits allowed 100 play.
ers 20 engage In football practice ON
mits were issued TO eighteen teams
for regular games.
No figures can be gotten for the
number OF football players who used
the Potomac Park fields. but Il Is es.
timAted that more than twelvs hun.
dred men and boys either practiced
ar played gridiron games there last
fall
Six permits were Issued for the
grand old Irish game of hurting and
rive permits allowed $50. players L.
engage In either practice or games ~
soccer football. Polo came In for its
share OF attention again this season.
regular matches and practices being
staged.
Croauet Not Dead.
Twenty-Five permits were issued to
those who played croquet during the
summer. IL Is surprising TO note the
popularity OF the game which years
ago was all the rage. During the
past year l3s different players took
part In croquet games In Montrose
Park alone.
In the case OF Potomac Park dis
lance from the center OF the city
proved no bar to those who had once
found their way. The long walk
from the car line was no hardship TO
the estimated thirty odd thousand who
took full use OF the privilege Offered
by Uncle Sam,
MoHAWks MEET.
The annual meeting for the election
of officers of the Mohawk Athletic