Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-29
WASHINGTON NEEDS
NEW Fairgrounds.
EDUCATORS AFFIRM
Deplorable Lack Impressed
on Congress by Men From
All Over Country.

Fairgrounds are a real necessity as
an adjunct to an efficient educational
system such as the National CAPITAL
should have, educators from all parts
OF the country have informed Con-
gress. Any consideration given. to an
improvement Of the local school sys-
tenn. they pointed out, must take into
account the physical development of
the little children. and it must be
continued throughout the school
period.
These educators came to Washing
ton recently to testify before the
Joint congressional committee consid-
ering the school situation, and each
one, at some length. told the con-
gressmen of the absolute necessity OF
providing adequate playground space
for each school building. Intensive
study periods with no opportunity for
children fair chance to 20 out into
the world when their schooling is
completed. They pointed out tina,
their bodies should be developed.
Inese witnesses before the commit.
Tee asserted in emphatic terms tina,
L DuTCna8<
Of additional ground for more and
larger schols here much atten-
+ uon must be given to the allotment
OF a large space OF ground adjoining
the building itself in order that the
place to play.
Play Is necessary for young and
old. 1t was pointed out. but the chill
dren need it more than the grown
people. However, the latter, it was
asserted, insist on their play. too.
various resorts in order to get rest
and amusement away from their daiIy
tasks. This. they said, was but meet
ing natural demand found even
stronger in the young people than in
the grown-ups.
Funds Too Limited.
Appropriations for playground pur-
poses in the National Capital have
been, in the past. too limited, accord
ing to the experts who have made a
study of the local playground situa-
ton. For the fiscal year of 1922 it
was but $1S0.620. divided as follows:
Department Of Fairgrounds, $141,220;
school Fairgrounds. $9.400: office of
public buildings and grounds, $50, 900.
Commenting on this comparatively
small appropriation, the report of the
experts said that il Washington is
to reach her goal of providing en-.
larged recreational facilities to NEE,
the needs of her children the money
expended will have to be greatly in
creased. A recreational program for
the children of the District might
well be planned to cover a period OF
five years. The study of the facilities
now available. the possibilities of in.
creasing their usefulness and the
needs of the different sections which
indicates that such program, if II
is to be at ELL adequate, must include
additional appropriations.
The experts recommended an in
crease for the next fiscal year of at
least $2o3,95o. This recommendation
appropriation of 100000 to be dis
tributed over a f1ve-year period for
the purchase and equipment of new
Fairgrounds. or an appropriation of
$25,000 for the provision of bathing
beach for the colored.
. Use OF Appropriation.
Recommendations for the expenditure
of the increase Of $203.950 include the
following: For grading. surfacing and
draining grounds. and repairs. $25,ooo
for building Of five field houses. $50, 900 F;
for six additional swimming pools. in
connection with existing facilities-two
of which would be for colored, $780,
600 for lighting Fairgrounds, $4,000 :
for increased salaries, as follows: Su-
pervisor. from $500 to $4,000; director
of girls activities, from $1,000 to
81 300; director of boys activities, from
$1,000 to $500: playground directors,
twenty-five on yearly basis of $1.400, to-
tai $4,000, instead of twenty-five for