Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-07
PLANS HUGE PLAY
CENTER IN PARK
Langdon to Make East Poto-
mac Place for Every
Kind of Sport.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEtTLEY.

Office of Public Buildings and t'uhnc
Parks of the National Capital. under
the direction of James 6. LanSuoh'
city planner. The plan has been APP
proved by the Commission 'ot FINE
Arts. and is settled upon as the one
TO be used in the expenditure OF tuhds
as they become available at various
times.
COMPLETION of the project will estab-
lish this parkway as one of the great
est recreation centers of the country,
il is said, and will provide amusement
for thousands of men, women ana
children. designed as ii is 10 meet the
tastes of all. One of the important
features provides for the digging Oh
canal through the parkway ut about
lis center. While no specific appro-
priation is at present available, some
work has been done. Recently. When
earth was needed for leVelnS otlei
parts of the park, ditch. "hlcn
eventually will be the bed of the ca MAJ
was dug. and in the future, Wheh
earth is needed. II will he taken from
the line the canal is To follow.
Purposes of Canal.
The purpose Of the canal Will be
two fold. II will serve as drifting
mace for canoes and the unitarian
purpose of a washing stream TO cream
ont the Washington channel
The greatest change in the park Is
proposed for the western END hetWeel.
the proposed canal and the faliloau
embankment. where the noisy Spoits
will be located. One thing. however.
which stands in the way OF some ol
this DEVELOPMENT is the tourists camp.
j..
ing this camp. but Congress has d.
rected the erection OF permanent,
field house on the present site. rms,
il was said. will firmly establish IL.
Plans now are ready for this structure,
work on the erection of which VIII
begin within a few weeks.
II is the contention of those Ia
miliar with the park planning Work
that a tourists camp should never
be made permanent, but should DE
ready for prompt removal as the pop
ulation moves 1t should be kept al
WAYS on the outskirts of the city. Inc
sewerage problem of the tourists
camp is becoming serious. 1here nave
, been many complaints OF the gases
and odors at this point, but few know
that it is due 10 the dumping oil
sewerage.
In the northwest corner of the park
a seating capacity of $4,000. with pro
vision made for increasing the capac.
itv on special occasions. The rear OF
the stadium it is planned to frank
with trees. 1t could be used for base
ball games, track meets and other
sports AS an alternative proposltlon'
in the event that stadium is buill
elsewhere. it is planned to develop IN
this area great elliptical swimming
pool. surrounded by banked seats. for
aquatic sports If the stadium idea
is finally carried out, the plans pro.
vide for one-third mile and 22o-yard
running track.
Plan Foot Ball Field.
East of the stadium. it is planned to
put d foot ball field and then east oil
that three swimming pools. Ihese
would consist of two sand beach bath
ing pools of one and three quarter
acres each. with locker houses accom-
modating 500 bathers at one time.
The two bathing pools are to be
separated. according to the plan. A
small wading pool for children, flank
ed with "A tWO-acre grove haVlhS
swings and other forms of recreation
for small children, would also be pro-
vided.
In the area west of the proposed
canal provision is made for II base
ball fields, most of them provided with
shade for spectators, the backStops TO
he made removable. On the south
side of the proposed stadium would De
another foot ball field, which. with the
other one during the off season. could
be used for minor sports. "A bo-acre
parade ground, overlooked by the sta
dunn, also is provided for in this area.
In the vicinity of the canal and
abreast of the present golf field house
IL is proposed to cut away the land on
the Washington chanel side Tor
small boat harbor for the accommo-
datiun Of canoes and other small craft.
lighthouses would be created mere
and floats provided. The golf field
house there, according to the plans is
TO be Expanded to provide baths. lock
ers and ample porches.
On the east side of the park close
to the proposed canal. it is proposed
to build 10 croguet and three rogue
courts East OF the tieldhouse and
between it and the proposed tennis
courts provision is made for four
basket ball courts and east of them
would be 81 tennis courts. inclosed in
wire cages. \ cricket field also will
be provided near the river end of the
canal.
Hundred Acres For Golf.
One hundred acres in this eastern
section of the park is to be- given
over to golf, furnishing one 18hole
and one nine-hole course. On the
Potomac side of the golf course in this
area a half-mile straightaway race
track for horses is planned, and be-
tween the boat channel and the point
a soft driving road one and onehalf
miles long. These two roadways will
be inside the present riverside drive.
Three miles of bride path is planned
surrounding the entire area, and
three and one-half miles of park
drives, including both the riverside
drive and cross drives. one to follow
the bank of the proposed canal. Near
an automobile park 10 he located at
the point also is to he provided A
horse shelter.
Parking space for 500 automobiles
is provided in the vicinity OF the
stadium and abreast of the railroad
embankment, adjoining the foot ball
field. wading pool, lighthouses,
tennis courts and a straightaway
course for horses are planned
Provision is made for many groves
for picnic parties.
The shores of the proposed canal
are to be irregular. it's width will
vary from Is to $50 feet. it's depth
from to feet. And it's shores will
be SlopinE with concrete and gravel
edges.
AT the mouth of the proposed canal
in the Potomac River will be located
the proposed Navy and Marine Me
mortal. This site was selected sew.
eral days ago. and at the time of its
construction ii will be necessary to
change the line of the riverside road
way. At the same time the first part
of the channel for the canal will be
cut
\ number of changes in the pres