Evening star., 1924-11-18
SAYS PEOPLE LACK
INTEREST IN PARKS
Gel. Sheriff. Urges Residents
to Support Recommended
tions Before Congress.

WaShucton is Shamcfuily lacking
In public park facilities because the
citizens do not "NinCr interest in rec
roational activities Ia tn" extent Of
supporting tho recommendations made
TO Congress for park extensions aud
improvements, Col. &. @. ShcrIi, Su-
rerintendent of public buildings and
grounds, said at a meeting of the
Monday Evening club at the l'nivcr
sity Womcns Club, 1854 I street, last
night.
Outlining plans for public recrea
ton. Col. Sheriff. described the policy
as to granting concessions in parks,
the fees levied for the various recrea-
ttons, and the use to which receipts
from these resources are applied. The
physical standards of the city could
be greatly increased, he said, through
recourse to the present means of
recreation afforded by the numerous
parks and Fairgrounds,
Capital should BE Model.
The Nations Capital should be
looked upou as model. especially in
its parks, he said and if the citizens
would exercise their rights by de
manding extensions and improve
ments the work OF his office would
be simplitied. Improvements in every
section of the city, he said, are de
layed for years at a time, because OF
the lack Of interest shown by Con
Gress, which Is not sufficiently inn
pressed with the needs by the resi-
dents This failure OF the lawmakers
IS responsible. he stated, for de
;ay III the construction of n 100000
memorial to the Titanic victims to
6e placed at the foot of New Hamp-
shire avenue. and the money for which
has been publicly subscribed The
spot on which this memorial is to be
located will require public improve
ment before II can be started.
The office of public buildings and
grounds asked Tor an appropriation OF
s75O.0OO he said, and the amount for
park Improvement was cut 10 $4,000
At this rate, he said. Meridian Park
will be finished product in about 40
years. He characterized the narrow
roads and bridges in the parks as
menace to public safety and an impedl-
ment to the progressive spirit OF the
times. He said his office is au-
thorized to spend a million dollars
A. year 'if it can get it," He out
lined plans to establish a number OF
small community parks in different
sections of the city.
Recreation SeIf-SupportinG.
All of the citys parks, where ten
mis-, golfing and bathing are enjoyed,
and the tourist camp are self-sup-
porting. Concessions are granted L"
run them and the fees are regulated
by the Joint welfare service, which
was organized by Col Sheriff.. This
service has jurisdiction over con-
cessions in all public buildings and
grounds and is conducted at no eX-
penSe to the Government. .He said
that more than $4,000 of surplus con-
cession funds was turned over to
increase the number of tennis courts,
now totaling 81, and that $500, re-
ceived in the same manner, was used
in cleaning up and improving the
tourist camp. which accommodated
1881 cars last year. He said the
plans for improving Rock Creek golf
course would make it comparable to
The best in the country. Concluding,
he urged that civic bodies support
The efforts to have Congress say it
with money, and he would show re-
suits in more parks and flowers"
Miss Rhuda Miliken of the Women's
Bureau of the Police Department. dis
oussing Progress of Commercial
Recreation" said that the dance halls
and theaters have advanced finan-
cially but not morally. She deplored
the conditions allowed to exist at
public dance places. wherein girls are
employed to teach dancing, but in
stead arc allowed to dance with all
comerS,' for which they are paid
but or > cents d dance
Police Regulations Lacking,
Lack of police regulations and or
dInanCcs, she &tated, makes it almost
impossible to clean up the under
cover and public dance halls. The
police are powerless to interfere with