Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-15
Model Fairgrounds for District
BY JOHN FRAZIER.

BY JOHN FRAZIER.
~ CARCELY a day passes that some
movement Is not set on foot to
make of Washington the model
city of the United States and of
the world 1t is not civic or
ganiaation. 1t is q Government body or
ouasi-public institution. II 1t Is not the
Chamber of Commerce, citizens body
or builder, 1t Is a committee OF Congress
or institution partly or wholly supported
by public funds or, as In this particular
instance. such a body as the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
Play has come to be part OF the LIE
of every individual, old and young, male
and female It Is inevitable that the
race, travelling at the pace Americans
do, should stop for rest, recreation and
body upbuilding. 1t is a pace too fast
to live and enjoy good health: Hence
the application Of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission to the
labor Of seeing that every civic center ,
| within the confines OF the Nationai
Capital shall have ample recreation IA
cilities. 1t Is not a new thought, per-
haps, but one well within the keeping OF
our times and civilization.
'It is designed that washington shall
| be the model for all cities within the
| United States. now and for all time to
| come" said Charles w. Eliot. I'd, CITY
planner, In discussing with the writer
the commissions plans for the worlds
greatest civic Fairgrounds IN Wasning-
| ton.
Chicago has the greatest array. OF
| civic Fairgrounds In America today.
| They have been built and developed
| along certain lines. washington pro-
poses such system for It's population
In Washington as In no other city,
youth is in the building, There Ii not
a Government department or bureau
that has not its quota OF young men
and young women. And these are sup
plemented by host OF stuoenss My
And in Washington the ideal civic
school atmosphere. Play means to
these young people more than exercise;
II means an outlet for physical energy,
necessary, If the right kind OF health
is to be had, morally, mentally ana
nhvsically. And for older people IL
means an opportunity to enjoy, per-
haps. something that was missed large
iy in younger years.
For children. ample playground Ia
ciiities are recognized as the greatest
devised. DIR. Philip Archibald Parsons.
noted socioiogist in American City de-
clares:
"There are two outstanding facts
which have come to us as result OF
the DEVELOPMENT of juvenile court
work. Organized and supervised recre- |
alton keeps down juvenile delinquency:
and vicious neighborhoods and gangs
are among the most prolific causes OF
youthful misconduct.
I'VE have only begun to provide IA
cilities for recreation under properly |
Supervised conditions Some program |
must be devised TO furnish diversion |
and wholesome recreation for every city |
child throughout the year. The mu-
niciualitv can 90 much farther than az |
present and 1t should be supplemented |
by group leadership organizations unti
every child has opportunity TO partici-
pate In the activities of a well Or
ganized and supervised group.
The field Of providing entertainment
and diversion for the youth and ADULTS
should not be allowed to remain in un-
disputed possession of commercial en-
terprises. The organization OF our
business and industrial life Is now sucn
that the leisure time OF most adults re-
nuires a very restricted and artificial |
form of recreation. The solidarity OF !,
social groups requires that they should
produce their own diversions 10 |
much greater extent than ut present |
The education that is being driven be- |
tween the young and the old by our |
system of education and separate |
amusements for the young and Tor
adults is threatening the very existence |
of our primary groups"
The National Capital Park and Plan |
ming Commission has made a particu-
lar and intensive study Of the small |
parks system OF Chicago.
THE grouping of such neighborhood |
facilities as the school, branch library, |
assembly hall, police station, etc. about |
an attractive park or playground area,
wherever practicable, appeals strongly
to the commission says Mr.. Eliot, "ootn |
because Of the. economy ana because o.
the strengthening OF community lie IN |
each neighborhood that must result |
therefrom. To be efficient and give the |
greatest return Of public benent Tor the
least overhead cost, such small PARK
should have a site of approximately 70
acres, q field house with adequate as
sembly hall, club organization, library,
reading room and indoor gymnasium
for men and women, childrens play
ground, wading pool, bathhouse, SWIM
ming pool. outdoor gymnasium, tennis
courts and fields for other atnletic
sports Experience shows that such ia
cilities receive their maximum use by
persons living within quarter OF a
mile and not debarred from access 10
them by any physical barrier, such as Q
street with congested traffic, a railroad
line, etc.
THE studies OF the commission SO far
indicate that between 10 and 20 OF these
small parks should and may be provided
throughout the District OF Columbia, In
many cases areas already acquired can
be developed to serve these purposes,
but new sites will be required. The cost
Of some will be high.
1.-THE need for such special recreation
facilities for children of school age mas
been appreciated and considerable pro-
vision made for them In the Fairgrounds
very efficiently administered under the
Commissioners OF the District Of Column
bia In connection with the school sys-
tenn. Some special facilities have also
been built up at certain high schools,
but even so, the larger children and the
young grown-ups are generally deprived,
by modern conditions OF city life, from
a useful and beneficial way Of employ
ing their surplus physical energy and
keeping themselves physically IN good
condition.
VERY considerable facilities for the
major sports have been built up by the
Once OF Public Buildings and Public
Parks; and as far as land suitable Tor
this purpose has been obtained by this
Office. the development OF golf courses,
base ball fields. tennis courts and all
sorts OF other similar sports has been
carried on to meet public demand. How
ever, these facilities, necessarily locates
| In the major parks, are convenient and
| accessible only TO small part OF the
| population; the time needed TO 60 to
them and return. and the large number
| OF regularly organized teams or players,
| which have constant use for them,
makes them a general municipal provi-
| sion for organized amateur sports,