Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18
PLAYGROUND SITE
SYSTEM IS URGED
Recreation Body Favors City,
wide Development in
Report.

The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission was asked yesterday,
in a report submitted by the recreation
committee, composed Of representatives
Of various interested agencies, to sane
ton q city-wide program Of playground
and recreation center development,
under which IS centers, from 10 to 20
acres each, would dot the city, with
supplemental smaller Fairgrounds for
smaller children. AS contemplated,
where possible, recreation centers would
cluster around schools or libraries. The
commission turned this report over to
its landscape architect, G. l.. Wirth,
for study of the cost and administrative
features, and arranged to transmit
copies to the interested organizations
for study and comment.
The recreation committee, headed by
Mai. L. z. Atkins, Assistant Engineer
Commissioner, considered co-ordi-
mated program of land acquisition; the
method of administrative control over
these lands, where more than other au-
thority Is involved, and a proposed
legislative program to carry these rec
concentrations into effect. The report
and its accompanying maps, which
were not made public, will be sent to
the Board Of Education, the Playground
Department, the District Commission
ers, the trustees of the Public Library,
the United States engineer ONCE, the
ONCE of Public Buildings and Public
Parks and others for examination and
report.
DR.. H. B. Learned Of the Board Of
Education and DR.. George F.. Bower
man. representing the trustees OF the
Public Library acted as spokesman
when the commission held its third
days session yesterday.
Referring to proposed purchase, the
report had this to say:
Much of the land included in the
proposed recreation system Is already In
public ownership. The committee rec
ommends the early acquisition Of the
remainder Of the sites indicated, and
suggests that the purchases proposed
to be made by different authorities In
the same area be timed together to
avoid one agency increasing the price
for another agency"
The recreation committee, formed as
a. result of a request Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission.
at its meeting July IS of last year, and
with Maj Atkins at its head, comprised
these members: DR.. Learned, S. E.
Kramer and Miss Sibyl Baker, repre-
senting the Board Of Education: Mrs.
Susie Root Rhodes and Richard Tenny-
son, representing the playground de-
partment; DR.. Bowerman and Miss G.
w. Herbert, representing the trustees
of the Public Library: E. D. Hardy OF
the United States engineer office; Capt.
E. N. Chisolm, jr., representing the
office of public buildings and public
parks, and Charles w. Eliot, I'd, city
planner, representing the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission.
1t was organized August 16 Of last year,
Capt. Chisolm acting as secretary and
vice chairman.
Representative Simmons, Republican,
of Nebraska appeared before the COM
mission yesterday and suggested that
the commission utilize part If its funds
to purchase some Of the little triangles
formed by the intersections of streets,
instead of having the District appro-
priation bill carry all the funds for this
purpose. Under the present plan, the
District appropriation bill carries some
$4,000 for the purpose of purchase of
these little triangles The suggestion of
Representative Simmons was taken I'M
der Amusement by the commission and
q report is expected to be made at the
June meeting.