Evening star., 1934-11-27
|. H. Weir Sees Need for
Central System in Devel-
opment in D. c.
TRAINED EXECUTIVE HELD
VITAL TO ANY PROGRAM
Boards Would Include Group OF
Citizens Serving in Ad-
visory Capacity.

sociation, as consultant to the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission. suggested four plans.
The report, laid before group OF
interested citizens assembled in the
conference room of the planning
commission in the Navy Building,
urges that whatever plan is adopted
there should be trained executive
In charge and the system should be
fortified by strong citizens group.
Asks Recreation Department.
Under one Of the plans submitted
the Playground Department OF the
District Government would be abcl-
ished. its duties being transferred TO
a recreation department under the
National Capital parks and the boaro
of Education. In the report TINS IS
called plan 4. The others are:
Plan /. A Recreation Commission
annointed by the Commissioners OF the
District.
Plan 2. A Recreation Commission
appointed directly by the President OF
the United States.
Plan 8. A Recreation Department
under the District Commissioners.
The first two plans differ only in the
appointing authority.
Would Hold Mine Members.
Under either of these plans Weir
suggests that the Recreation ComDfs-
sion comprise nine members, OF which
three would be ex-officio, one repre-
sent the public schools, one the Ma
tional Capital parks Office, one the
District Commissioners and the other
six would be selected from "outstand-
ing men and women of the community,
two of them to be representative OF
the recreational interests of the col
ored group"
The report further said:
"These six members should serve
without pay, and be appointed for
terms of say six years each, with the
membership of one expiring each year
"The Recreation Commission should
have general governing authority, sub
ject to budget appropriations. It's
duties should include the right by
agreement with the public agencies,
controlling properties both within and
outside the District of Columbia to
make use Of all areas suitable for
recreational use where such use will
not conflict with the primary use OF
the properties"
"Details Not Set Forth.
Detailed organization of the new
unified Recreation Department should
be left largely to the commission itself
and its superintendent, the report set
forth. The report recommends that
the present staff workers be kept en-
ployed, as far as possible, fitting them
into the unified system.
The Recreation Commission should
be responsible for all public recreation
services, including those now admin
istered directly by the District Play
grounds Department, the Community
Center Department of the public
schools, the National Capital Parks
once and the Welfare and Recrea-
ton Association and other conces-
sionaires of the National Capital parks
Office, the report held. The report
continued:
ut is assumed that If this plan
for recreation commission is adopted,
1t will be an indication of the willing
ness of these public agencies to con-
sent to the use of their properties by
a recreation organization set up on
this cooperative basis and to turn
over to such a cooperative set-up the
administration of the activities which
they now carry on"
Plan 3 Asks Department.
Speaking of plan 8, Weir said that
If the governing authorities decide
that they do not favor recreation
commission and that the recreation
program should be responsibility OF
the District Commissioners, the Re
creation Department to replace the
present Playground Department, is
suggested.
"This alternative would, in our
opinion, much more genuinely serve
the needs of the District if it included
provision for strong advisory board
or committee representing the differ
ent Government departments, the cit
izens Of the District of Columbia and
various community groups con-
cerned. -
In order to increase the likelihood
that such an advisory committee
might continue to manifest real in
terest, the committee should have
certain definite responsibilities which
should include the right to have its
own recommendations and comments
on the recreation budget, so that the
opinion of the advisory board could
be given full consideration by the diff
ferent authorities passing on the
budget.
"It should be recognized that this
plan for a recreation department un-
der the District Commissioners will
provide for the unif1cation SO much
desired only if in the adoption OF this
plan by the governing authorities, the
agencies concerned are willing to turn
over the use of their areas and build
ings for suitable recreational purposes,
and to abandon their own operation
of recreational activities by turning
them over to the Recreation Depart
ment"
Plan 4 Urges National Control.
Speaking Of plan 4, which contem-
plates a recreation department un-
der National Capital Parks and the
Board of Education, the Weir report
asserts:
"If it is decided by the governing
authorities that responsibility should
not rest with the District Commits
sioners and that a commission form
of administration is not favored, 1t
is suggested that all recreation service
in the District of Columbia be CO.