Evening star., 1922-04-12
D|SCOVERAPL0T
TO STOP BUILDING
NEW PLAYGROUND
Objections Hold Up Money
Promised for Space Per-
mitted in Montrose.
ADJACENT NEIGHB0RHO0D
BEING CANVASsED TODAY
Opposition, Fearing for Beauty of
Spot, Believed in Mi
nority.

! Forces are working to prevent the
establishment of a playground in
corner of Montrose Park Those who
| have worked for months to obtain au-
| thority from the Office of public build
ings and grounds for a playground
here for the small children have dis
! covered movement to prevent the
donation Of funds with which to equip
the Fairgrounds.
The permit for the use of the
grounds has been issued by Col.
| Charles o. Sheriff.. officer in charge of
public buildings and grounds. Unable
to stop the issuance Of the permit.
these forces. which would deny a
small space in which little children
could enjoy themselves during their
idle hours are working to prevent Its
equipment
! However. those who have been
working diligently for the establish
| ment of this playground. particularly
| the Parent-Teacer Association of the
their efforts shall not be nullified just
when the playground is about to be-
come a reality.
Members of the association started
out today to obtain signatures to a
petition. which would point out that
the playground is not Objectionable
and would not in any way mar the
beauty of the park. Before night
they hope to have the signatures of
many influential peoplel of George
who are seeking to prevent the estab-
lishment of the playground, it was
said today, are in the minority. and
little difficulty is expected in obtain
ing many signatures to the petition.
$1,000 for Equipment.
| With the receipt of the permit for
| the use of the ground the Parent
Teacher Association had expected
| from a certain source. not yet made
public. a donation of nearly $1,000
for use in equipping the grounds with
apparatus for the snal1 children. The
proffer of the money has been tenn
porarily held up. it was said. because
those who objected to the play
grounds had gone to the people who
convince them that the establishment
Of playground there would mar the
beauty of the park. So far they have
been successful Din causing a delay.
But those working for the play
ground say that they will convince
the persons who control the donation
that the small playground will not
in any way affect present beauties of
the spot. as everything will be done
to retain the natural beauty and at
the same time place it at the disposal
of the children.
However, if they are unsuccessful
in their efforts in this direction. it
was said that they will obtain money
from other sources They are certain
that they will finally win the plot for
the children
Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes. director of
| municipal Fairgrounds. said today
that as soon as the big playground on
the Union Station plaza is completed
the vicinity of New Jersey avenue and
c streets Mrs. Rhodes inspected the
plot on c street between New Jersey
avenue and 1st street northwest. sew
that the little children were prevent
ed from playing games on it. as they
had been allowed to do heretofore.
Kept Away by Traffic.
1t was pointed out to the director
of Fairgrounds. however. that even
with the opening of the big play
grounds on the station plaza it would
be difficult for little children to get
there. owing to the several car lines
they would have to cross and the
number Of streets bearing a large
volume of vehicular traffic going to
and from the Union station.
The children's bureau experts who
made an investigation of the play
grounds situation here pointed out
the necessity of having small plots of
land in all parts of the city not more
than a quarter of mile apart for
the exclusive use of the little chill
dren who could not go alone to the
big Fairgrounds unless escorted by
their elders.
Mrs. Rhodes said that she would
take up the question of providing
for these little children in the vicini-
ty of New Jersey avenue and G..
street by increasing the facilities on
the small plot at Sd and c streets
northwest.
Nothing has been done as yet in the
matter Of the establishment of a
playground on the old District nurs-
cry property on Iowa avenue north
west between Upshur and Allison
streets, Mrs. Rhodes said. However,
she informed a reporter for The Star
that she would take the matter up
today with Commissioner Oyster with
a view to having the plot turned over
to the Fairgrounds department. When
this is done a supervisor will be as
signed and the work Of laying off the
playground started.