The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-20
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC~J. HAsKIN. Director.
Washington, D. G.
WASHINGTON's PUBLIC COUNTRY
CHR

the opening here a few days ago OF
the public golf course in Potomac
park another step was taken in the
development of what is perhaps the
nearest thing in this country to a pub
lie country club, where all the resi-
dents of a city may enjoy free OF
charge the advantages which are asso-
ciated with such an institution.
Nearly every city of more than a
hundred thousand inhabitants in this
country now has some sort of park
which is used as public playground
but the development of Potomac park
and the plans for its future show how
much may be made of this idea where
circumstances are favorable and the
planning is intelligently done.
Lincoln park in Chicago is typical
of a number of parks in great cities
where there are some facilities for
amusement. But these cities were so
large before they began setting aside
space for the purpose of play that
lthey have never come anywhere near
catching up with the public need
There is no pretense of meeting the
demand for recreation, and as a re-
suit of the overcrowding few of the
recreational facilities are in first class
condition.
| But in Potomac park there are
more than six hundred acres for a
lpopulation of about four hundred
thousand Not all of Washington can
play at once, of course, but probably
all of it that is capable and DESTROYS
of taking exercise can find an oppor-
tunity to do so in the course of a week.
For in addition to two large groups
of tennis courts. which are never
crowded except for a few hours IN
the evening. this great park contains
several baseball diamonds, a football
hfieId. a soccer field. a cricket field.
I, fA1I arl1 a
UT contains ten \or twelve miles or
I bride path and a bathing beach.
There are now plans for several more
groups of tennis courts and even for
a croquet field.
Facilities for All.
The object of superintendent Gillen
and the other enthusiasts who have
created Potomac park is not mercy
to provide an opportunity for few to
get exercise, but actually to meet the
city's need and TO meet it with facili-
ties Just as high class as those of any
private country club in the nation.
This high ideal has been pretty we'll
realized in the matter of tennis. The
courts in Potomac park are probably
as good as any clay courts in the
country, andt have received the ap-
proval of champions. They are ex-
cellently drained and always kept in
absolutely first class condition. They
present most pleasing contrast to
the typical public tennis court with its
ragged net. Inadequate back stops.
and insufficient space behind the back
line.
IN the matter of baseball and foot
ban.stoo, the local teams have been
taken care of without much difficulty.
In fact the two great drawbacks to
most public recreation grounds
crowded conditions and makeshift
facilities-have been so far avoided
with remarkable success.
The same principle is followed in the
golf course. About three hundred ap-
plications have been received so far,
and it is believed that about $50 play
ers can go over the course in a day.
As all will not want to play every day,
the present course will probably serve
the needs of those who have SO far
applied But beyond a doubt the
number of applicants will rapidly in
crease. 1t isS therefore, planned to in
crease the course from nine to eighteen
holes as soon as possible.
A Public Club House
! The idea of providing high class
! facilities is here carried out too. There
are probably no finer putting greens
| in the country than those of this pa b.
lie course, and in every other way, il
is a course that has received the praise
of experts. Furthermore a field
! house" has been provided which is to
all intents and purposes a country
| club house, where each man who plays
golf can get locker and a shower
bath. This field house is an attrac-
tive bit Of architecture and a firs!
class establishment in every way. The
new tennis courts are to be placed
near it. and dts facilities will then be
extended to tennis players as well.
i This idea of a public country club
tNr 1T L
to the imagination. 1t is easy to sec
how it might be developed into a CEN
ter of community social life.
In putting the golf course into use
the management of Potomac park has
regretfully departed from its tradi-
! tional policy in one respect. 1t makes
a charge of 25 cents for each game oil
golf played by each individual. Super
intendent GiIlen says this is necessary
because it costs at least ten times as
much per player to keep up a goli
| course as to keep up any other kind
of recreational facility and the thing
would be impossible without >his small
tax. The tax II also designed to make
the individual realize that he is en-
| ioying a privilege which is worth
something. The psychology of the
thing. according to Mr.. Gillen, is that
il the player pays something he will
incliAe to be more careful of the
! course.
One of the most interesting facts
about Potomac park is that it was
dredged from the river Back in the
seventies, all of what rs now park was
either river or marsh. In the making
of a navigable channel to Georgetown
a sea-waIl was built and the area be-
/ hind this filled with the dredged ma
terial. This began about 1884, but
the development of the park as e
place for recreation has taken place
almost wholly in the last ten years
There is abundant room for further
development and a splendid plan for
such development has been perfected
by Gillen and his associates.
Nation Controls Parks
The parks of Washington are
strangely enough, controlled by the
war department, of which the park
management is a branch. The orig
iinal theory of this arrangement seems
to have been that the parks are ar