Evening star., 1922-04-14
SCOUTS HUNT PLAY
SPACESF0R YOUNG
FOLKS IN CAPITAL
Playground Workers Also
Show Children Many Games
and Supply Equipment.
YOUNGSTERS HELP FIND
SEVERAL new LOCATIONS
Montrose Park and Iowa Avenue
Plots Opened for First
Time Today.

Scouts of the Fairgrounds depart
ment of the District are securing the
city Tor Fairgrounds for the children
These workers are in various sections
watching the little children and their
places Of congregation. Finding of a
little group of children on a lot is
unusually the means of starting a
real playground.
All children want a place to play.
SO that they can have plenty Of free
dom without the danger of being run
over by vehicles. which is ever pres
ent when they have to play In the
streets. Here's just a little inside tip
for the children on how to get a place
to play. Find a good lot in the vicin-
lty OF your home and. if there is no
objection from the owner, get your
gang and get on IL. Start playing.
Playground Scouts Busy.
Pretty soon one Of the Fairgrounds
scouts will find you. have a talk with
you and show you lot of games
These scouts are real playleaders and
they want the children to have a
place to play just as much as the chill
dren and their parents. From these
little beginnings have started some
OF the big Fairgrounds. Sometimes
tne playleader or scout will direct
the play for a few hours, then as the
crowd enlarges. the number of hours
Is increased, and pretty soon there is
a fu!I-hedged playground. When the
playleader first comes he brings a Lin.
tie equipment. such as balls, bats.
croquet games. etc. These are usual
~ left In the neighborhood, for there
IS always some youngster willing to
snow appreciation by taking care of
the property.
While a number Of the local play
grounds were obtained in this way,
they nave been lost to the children
-nnaiiy for the reason that Congress
WSuid NOT appropriate money with
whicn TO buy the property and make
the Fairgrounds permanent. =
Games for Small Grounds.
There are number Of games which
can be played on small lots, and for
which the Fairgrounds department
will furnish the equipment through
the Fairgrounds leader, depending on
one or more of the children to take
care OF the property. For the larger
children. there are Quoits, ropes for
Jumping, tennis racauets. balls and a
net, volley ball net, basket ball
equipment. Indian clubs and wooden
potatoes for use in potato races.
For the kindergarten children the
play leader carries scissors. paper,
sewing cards, checkers, dominoes and
bean bags.
As part Of the general movement
for new Fairgrounds in the District,
the municipal Fairgrounds depart
o1
section of Montrose Park as a play
grounds site today. While some op-
position has been developed to the
use of the park. the Fairgrounds de-
partment. having obtained the per-
init from Col. Charles O. Sheriff., off,
grounds. decided to formally estab-
lish the playground today, on the firs.
day Of the Easter holidays.
Miss Stevens Director.
Miss C. Stevens was appointed di-
rector and took charge Of the grounds
today. The first equipment also was
placed, and this included a kinder
garten set Of tables and benches for
the little children. Other equipment
which the Fairgrounds department has
on hand will be sent out as quickly as
possible in1S WILL include volley balls,
croquet and some of the small equip
ment mentioned above.
The Iowa avenue playground, on the
old nursery property on Iowa avenue
northwest between Upshur and Allison
streets, also was formally established
today. Miss JacQueline Whiting was
appointed director and formally took
charge Of the Fairgrounds. The work
of providing the equipment will begin
Immediately, with the idea Of permitting
the children of the Piney Branch and
Petworth sections to obtain the fullest
use Of the property at this time when
they are on a vacation from schools.
The scouts Of the Fairgrounds de-
partment are looking over the northeast
section Of the city with a view to OBJ
tanning q playground to take the place
Of that at Sth and L streets northeast,
use Of which has been withdrawn. Ef-
forts were made to have Congress pur-
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