Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-13
NEW PLAYGROUND
WILL Be OPENED
ON NURSERY SITE
Children of Piney Branch and
f'etW0rth Sections Will
Be Benefited.
OYSTER GIVES APPROVAL
TOUSE D. C. PROPERTY
Work Will Be Started Immediate
ly-To BE Fully Equipped and
Have Supervision.

Children Of the Piney Branch and
Petworth sections of the city are to
have a playground, with base ball
diamonds. seesaws. slides. Stag bail
courts and everything that is
needed to make a modern play space.
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes. director of
municipal Fairgrounds. today an
nounced that Commissioner James F.
Oyster had given his hearty approval
of the use of the old District nursery
property. on Iowa avenue northwest
between Upshur and Allison streets.
for a playground for the children of
that section.
Commissioner Oyster. Mrs. Rhodes
said. was in hearty accord with the
suggestion, and declared that by all
means the children should be allowed
to play there. and that the necessary
supervision should be given. While
the Jurisdiction of the Fairgrounds
department has not been made, the
word has been given to go ahead, and
that is enough so far as the children
are concerned.
VIII Be Opened Mt Once.
It will be put in commission as a
=
tomorrow . play leader will be as
signed there to direct the play of the
children. This play leader also will
make q study of the section with a
view to determining what apparatus
is necessary and the number Of chill
dren to be accommodated. The ap-
paratus will be put in place in a short
. time. The Fairgrounds department.
according to Mrs. Rhodes. has a
saws, basket ball apparatus, swings.
etc, which has been taken from
grounds that have been closed. This
can very easily be placed at the new
Fairgrounds. she said.
Boys commandeered this unused
property simultaneously with the be-
ginning of the base ball season. They
mapped out their own diamonds and
just went ahead. Small children
played there, too. when they saw
the big boys on the property. but
yfaton. and following suggestions
from The Star. Mrs. Rhodes took the
matter up with. Commissioner Oyster.
with the result that IL II TO be play
The Piney Branch citisens' Associa-
tion Is planning movement to raise
funds to make a complete playground
out of 1t. The need Of playground
for this section is very great. as there
are thousands Of children there who
have no place but the streets and
their front yards In which to play.
While the playground will be open
all the time. supervision will be main
tanned during the regular" play
am. to s pm. on school days; Q am.
to 4:30 pm. on Saturdays and from
10 am. to- pm. during school vaca-
tions.
Montrose Park Developments.
Opposition to the proposed Montrose
Park playground is rapidly being
overcome. it was learned today, as a
result of the efforts of the Parent
Teacher Association of the Jackson
School. Certain residents. it was stat
ed, have come forward with offers of
donations If the association is una BILE
to obtain the $1,000 expected. The
principal objection to the plan to put
playground there. it was said, was
the fear that 1t would becbme an eye
sore. Those who are promoting it
say. on the other hand. that it Is to
be Just the opposite.
Mrs. L. D. Smoot, president of the
jackson School Parent-Teacher As
ISOLATION. said that she was going to
have conference today with a prom
1nent landscape architect. and have
him draw up plans for the play
ground, having in mind the retention
of the present natural beauty of the
park. Nothing is to be done, Mrs.
Smoot said. that will in any way de-
tract from the scenery.
1t Is proposed to put in the plot a
small wading pool. with running wa
ter. for the little children. The de-
sign of 1t would be In keeping with
the surroundings. as also would be
the sand boxes which it is proposed to
install The swings it Is planned to
attach to the trees in such a manner
as not to injure them.
Grass to Be Protected.
Even the grass is to be protected.
Wherever there Is apparatus. small
cement platforms would be laid, with
the grass growing right up to the
edge of them. and the children would
be trained not to step anywhere ex-
cept on the concrete. This, it was
pointed out, would prevent the play
ground from becoming an eyesore. =
Every piece Of apparatus that is in
stalled would be selected for its good
appearance, with the idea of keeping
the park beautiful. OF course. 1t was
pointed out 1t will take longer to
eqaip 1t in this manner. but those in
charge are just as desirous of pre-
serving the beauties as are those who
are objecting to the playground be-
cause Of the fear that it will become
an eyesore.
~rh rr-