Evening star., 1921-07-25
FOCHT PROMISES
PLAYGROUND FOR
EVERY D. c. Child
Chairman of House District
Committee to Introduce Bill
in Congress at Once.
PERMITS TAKING OVER
OF ANY VACANT LOTS
Credits Col. Livingston With New
Idea-Puts Plan Before
Commissioners.

SPlenty of Fairgrounds for the chill
dren in every section of the city is the
purpose behind a bill which Chairman
Focht of the House District commit
tee says he will introduce either to-
day or tomorrow.
I'VE cannot tear down big brick
buildings so as to get Fairgrounds
exactly where we want them adjoin-
ing school properties" said Mr.. Focht.
"and to meet this situation my bill
will provide for taking over any va
cant lot in any part of the city that
the District authorities desire to use
for a playground.
NO matter who is owner of the
property. I propose that we take it
over under act of Congress for the
use Of the children until such time
as the owner of the property can
proS& to us bona fide intention of
building upon that lot
Representative Focht said that he
has written to the District authorities
asking them to draft bill along
these lines so that it will adequately
cover any properties they desire to
use for Fairgrounds
He gives credit for the suggestion
Information furnished representa-
tive Focht shows that Washington is
tagging behind in providing play
ground facilities for its boys and girls
In Boston, where the playground idea
originated in the United States. there are
three times as many ycity-operat ted play
grounds as in Washington. it is said,
although its population is but slight
.ly more than half again as large. In
other Massachusetts cities the play
ground idea is well worked out.
Many other cities of equal or larg-
er population than Washington show
rapid growth in playslounds, 1t is
stated.
Fairgrounds In Other Cities.
In Minneapolis. which has pop
ulation about equal to that of the
District, there are twice as many
municipality operated Fairgrounds
Des Moines. with a population one
fourth of this city, has eighteen
Fairgrounds to compare with Wash
ington's twenty-five. Harrisburg. Pa.
whose population is one-sixth of that
of this city. has the same number.
Sacramento. Calf, with $4,000 in
habitants has just as many public
playgrounds as the National Capital.
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes. supervisor
of Fairgrounds. said this afternoon
that she had not been informed OF the
bin which Represent tatlve Focht pro.
poses to Introduce in the interest OF
providing Fairgrounds for Washing
ton children She expressed opinion
that the quickest and most satisfac-
tory way to meet the Fairgrounds
situation would be to authorize the
immediate opening up of the sixty
odd school Fairgrounds and the
setting aside of space in certain parts
for recreational activities.
Mrs Rhodes conferred with Com
missioner Oyster today regarding the
Fairgrounds situation, and is studying
the problems with a view to making
recommendations for comprehensive
development in her estimates for the
Fairgrounds department during the
next fiscal year
Mrs. Rhodes has pointed out that
seventy-two school Fairgrounds have
on them some type of play equipment
Few of. the school Fairgrounds are
large, and few are equipped to
great extent. However. she is of the
opinion they would make admirable
play centers where children can go
TO play in their immediate neighbor-
hoods.
One reason why all the public
school Fairgrounds have not been
thrown open to the children during
the summer is due to the lack of
funds with which to pay a corps of
leaders. Money appropriation for the
municipal Fairgrounds has been suf-
ficient only to maintain them. Funds
appropriated for the school play
ground maintenance have only been
sufficient to keep few of them open
during the session of the summer or
vacation schools. and then for only
half day.
Representative Focht's letter to the
Commissioners had not been received
this afternoon.