Evening star., 1934-05-04
Finds Capital Lacking in
Public Recreation Space
To the Editor Of The Star:

AZ sLo AoAto3 VI 4u0 6S8Es
We recently moved here from the
Midwest, and what little we have seen
OF the vicinity leaves much to be de-
sired In the matter Of free parks for
recreation. To be sure, there Is Rock
Greek Park and the Mall, which in
themselves are quite unsurpassable;
yet 1t would take q Gandhi to visit
them ip old sloppy tattered clothes and
dare to take q nap on the lawn.
Count these out and there seems to
be no others to which we Of the
poorer element can find surcease from
our daily burden Of toll. When one Is
used to ample State parks, swimming
beaches, sandlot base ball diamonds
and level wide-open Fairgrounds for
the youngsters wherein there Is plenty
Of elbow room for all, 1t Is not 50 very
easy to give these up for the con-
gested park areas Of the city proper,
nor for the narrow, dangerous and
twisting drives through an equally
congested ravine which bears the un-
mistakable sign Of having been con-
verted into park, being, as 1t were,
unsuitable for q real estate develop.
ment.
In some ways our stay so far has
been huge disappointment, for there
Is an underlying current or feeling
of oppression hanging over the city.
There seems to be q hurriedly smeared
veneer covering all that Is drab and
ugly, and all that Is rotting down to q
lethargic state; yet all of which finds
vent here and there throughout the
city. Just imagine-after hearing of
wide streets, many trees and parks
taking drive down South Capitol to-
ward the river and finding q huge
area of level ground just q mere
trash heap and yet 80 close to the
Nations Capital. Or perchance is
this to be construed as a symbol of
that section of American life which
crops up here and there through the
beautiful "dog" we put on? Be that
as 1t may, to Us from the level coun-
try this would be veritable treasure
spot for those parks and Fairgrounds
to which we are accustomed. And
you can believe me, you will find in
such parks a freer and more com
plete abandon to play than that we
nave SO lar lOuuO.
Perhaps you will consider us a
slight bit fanatical in our demands or
homesick for that which we have
known, but, II SO, 1t Is probably due
more to ignorance Of existing condi-
tions than to anything else. It is
possible that in and around WASH
ington there are those spots we are
seeking wherein we can enjoy the
open ground, the cool waters and the
association Of like-minded people, but
through unfamilarity we have not
been able to contact them.
OF course you must remember that
we are Of the poorer element, specifi-
cally university graduate and a
common Government employe who
makes Just sufficient to keep the
family together through these trying
times, and particularly so in this city,
where living costs run from 10 to 80
per cent more than in equal sized
cities Of the Midwest. Then too, when
you add In our expense for the educa-
ton Of our boy, all because of silly
health law, it leaves nothing in the
way Of cash to support our recreation.
But of course this is no draw back II
we are able to contact those places
which are free to the public and
which contain that element of free
dom which we and every one else
in the universe are trying to find.
M. r. DICKE.