Evening star., 1922-03-27
MODEL EQUIPMENT
OF D. c. PLAY SITES
A|NDERED BY SPACE
Washington Can Boast of
Only One Ground That
Is Model.
DIFFICULTY IN ABSENCE =
] OF WELL LAID PROGRAM
Advisory Council Expected to Be
Appointed to Survey Possibility
of Enlarging Work.

Cramped in various corners and
lots of the city as they are. there is
little opportunity for the planning
and erection of equipment for what
is considered a model. modern play
ground for city children. OF the
twenty-five municipal Fairgrounds
there is only one that can be con-
sidered a model. 1t is the Rosedale
ground at 18th and Kramer streets
northeast, However. when the pro-
posed new plaza playground is COM
pleted, the municipal Fairgrounds
department will have another model
added. but this will be on loaned
grounds.
One of the chief difficulties which
have stood in the way of developing
of Columbia is the lack of any well
laid program for the purchase of
playground space. While plans have
been mapped out and those who have
been interested have appealed to the
appropriating authority, the only an
swer is a small appropriation now
and then which permits of the pur-
chase of some Isolated piece of
ground-isolated SO far as its fitting in
with general scheme Of Fairgrounds
to suit all parts of the city is con-
cerned, it was pointed out.
-. Survey of New Sites.
In an effort to bring some orderly
arrangement looking to the care O;
all the children OF the city on some
playground space. it is expected that
the Commissioners will consider this
week. at a board meeting, the ques-
ton of the appointment of an advis-
ory council to survey the city and
map out parcels of land which should
be purchased In order to give the
kiddies of the capital city a place to
play near their homes. A number of
names are to be suggested to- them,
and it is expected that they will Sc
lect an active committee to begin
work In a short time.
The rapidity with which the city
Is growing makes 1t imperative that
quick action, be taken on this recon-
r1endation of the children's bureau
that such an advisory council should
be appointed. Unless purchases are
made quickly there Is q great pos.
of young District of Columbia will be
In q worse condition from the stand
point Of Fairgrounds than the little
kiddies OF today.
yea to have all of the school play
grounds kept open during the coming
summer in. order to provide play space
for the children in the sections in which
they are located. Under the present
arrangement the school Fairgrounds
are only open for short period during
the summer while the SCHOOLS are in
session for those pupils who have GER
tain studies to makeup before they are
promoted.
Closing Declared Handicap. -
The closing of, the school Fairgrounds
for any part ofthe summer at a time
when the children are roaming the
streets and in great need of having some
supervised play space is declared to be
q serious handicap to the playground
movement. This, Of course, is no criti-
cism Of the school officials. 1t is a mat
ter Of law. as the fundsiare provided to
keep them open and supervised for the
winter school period and the short sum-
mer school period.
However. last year the Commits
sioners made an appeal to the
citizens for fund to keep some of
these Fairgrounds open. and the
result was that the Grover Cleveland,
Fairbrother. Jefferson, Emery. Arthur.
Slater and Garfield school play
grounds were kept open.
Returning to the point of the
model playground and what it should
have, experts say that every play
ground should be equipped for the
such small apparatus as slides.
teeters and swings. A space must
be left for circular and singing games
and for simple folk Iances and
dramatic play.
Equipment for Older Children.
For the older children there
should be slides. swings, giant
strides, travelling rings. ocean waves,
parallel bars and horizontal bars
The larger grounds should contain
all the things mentioned above. and
In addition have base ball diamonds,
tennis courts. schlag fields. soccer
fields and basket ball courts
However, Washington has but one
playground now which boasts Of all
these privileges considered so neces-
sary to meet the play demands of
children of all ages. One of the prin-
cipal needs of the city right now is
playground space for young boys and
girls of the city who do not finish
their school courses here. but leave
for various reasons and go TO work
Consideration of the playground needs
of the Capital city, 1t was pointed
out. should not fail to take into con-
sideration this large portion of the
child population.
The need for Fairgrounds for these
little workers also brings up the ne
cessity in Washington of having the
Fairgrounds lighted until about $3.50
o'clock each night. in order to per-
NIT these people to obtain the fullest
enjoyment out of the Fairgrounds
At the present time there is no pro-
vision for lighting the local play
grounds. and they are closed with the
arrival of darkness each night. The
necessity for closing them at dusk
does not permit Of their full use. and
robs the children, particularly the