Evening star., 1935-04-28
SOUTHWEST LACK
Of RECREAT|ONAL
FACILITIES SCORED
Program for Improvement
Is Drawn Up and Ap-
proved by Citizens.

Regarding child welfare as most
important factor in any community,
a report has been submitted to the
Southwest Citizens Association by
Harry S. Wender. chairman of the
Law and Legislative Committee on
recreational facilities in Southwest,
with a suggested program for i'm
provement.
In his report, Wender said rec
reational facilities in the area have
been neglected shamefully for years,
hut that an opportunity now pre-
sents itself for the association to
adopt a definite program for recrea-
tional development worthy of ac-
complishment.
For the last IS years practically
nothing has been spent for recrea-
tional purposes in Southwest, except
for the erection Of a fence around
Hoover playground last season, Wen
der said.
He added that Hoover playground
Is the only white playground in
Southwest at the present time, and
although it is used by a large num-
Der of underprivileged children, rep
resents perhaps the most disgrace
full recreational center in the city
in appearance and equipment. The
playground is lacking in all kinds of
athletic material such ss bats. balls
-.
Field House Needed.
It is felt that a large modern
field house in which the children
might play in the Winter, is greatly
needed This building was promised
the section some time ago. Pointing
out that its presence would act as
deterring factor in child adolescent
delinquency. Wender said its use as
a gymnasium should be stressed be-
cause indoor games cannot be played
in Southwest due to the absence of
such facilities, even in public schools
Because of the denial of the use
of swimming and wading pools in
southwest, deaths by drowning have
appalled, residents for years because
boys have sought relief from the bis
tering Summer heat by swimming in
the Potomac River
In an effort to convert Hoover
Playground into a recreational CEN
ter sufficiently large to meet demands
of this section, Wender recommended
that immediate steps be taken to OBJ
tain the land adjoining it.
He pointed out that at the south
east corner of Second and N streets
southwest. there Is small area oc-
cupied by shacks and a vacant lot
which adjoini the playground. On the
east side of the playground is the
filled-in bed of the old James Greek
Canal, which for years has been used
as a public dump.
In his report Wender said that if
the new Jefferson Junior High School
Is not built on the site occupied by
the old one, the old buildings should
be razed and the land converted into
recreational uses.
The following program as submitted
by Wender lists the projects in their
relative order of importance. 1t was
unanimously approved at meeting Of
the Southwest Recreational Council
at which representatives from the
Fairgrounds Department., Council Of
Social Agencies and the Southwest
Citizens Association were present.
Program Drawn Up.
I. On the Hoover playground: In
stallation of wading pool, construc-
ton of tennis courts and backStopS,
replacement of sand in sand box.
sliding boards. balls, bats, tennis
racquets: construction OF new field
house, recreation hall and gymnasium;
purchase of shacks and vacant lot ad-
joining the playground at the south
east corner of Second and N streets
southwest, the transfer of the former
James Greek Canal property adjoin-
ing Hoover playground on the east
from the Jurisdiction of the architect
of the Capitol to the Fairgrounds De-
partment of the District. and the pur-
chase of the abandoned brick yard and
present automobile dump adjoining
the playground on the south.
2. The playground area at proposed
Jefferson Junior High School at Sew
enth and H streets southwest: The
grading, developing and equipping Of
this area for utilization by the Play
grounds Department.
8. Replacement Of swimming pools
in Potomac Park: Construction by
the National Capital Parks Office of a
modern swimming pool in East Po-
tomac Park If and when the old
municipal swimming pools are de-
molished.
4. Development of old Jefferson
Junior High School site: Upon COM
pletion of the new Jefferson Junior
High School it is recommended that
the old school be demolished and the
property be turned over to the Play
grounds Department for utilization as
o recreational center.
The Southwest association was
strongly in favor Of such a program
and Endorsed it in a resolution.