Evening star., 1935-03-15
MUNICIPAL POOLS
NEAR MONUMENT
REMAIN FOR A TIME
Flood of Protests Brings
Decision to Wait Until
New Tanks Built.
CASH FOR CONSTRUCTION
is SOUGHT BY FINNAN
Legal Backing for Swimming
Sites Already Exists-Loca-
tions Considered.

In the face of vigorous protests
against the demolition of the old
municipal swimming pools, on the
ellipse west of the Washington Monu-
ment, C. Marshall Finnan. Superin-
tendent of the National Capital parks.
decided not to begin the work today
as previously announced and proposes
to ask Congress for funds to construct
new pools in another location. This,
he explained. will be requested through
the House District Committee and the
Appropriation Committee. He esti-
mated that a swimming pool would
now exists to build two more.
I'VE have held off the demolition
until We can find out if it is possible
to secure funds, either through the
P. w. A. or Congress. to replace the
old municipal swimming pools" said
Mr.. Finnan at noon today.
The park superintendent empha-
sized that he is going ahead with the
tearing down of the maintenance
buildings used to store the tools OF
park workers and also the building
occupied by the Welfare and Recrea-
tional Association of Public Buildings
and Grounds, Inc.
Many Oppose Demolition.
Mr.. Finnan's telephone was kept busy
all day, he said, by citizens protesting
against the depriving of small chill
dren of swimming facilities by de-
stroying the pools.
Requirements of modern facilities
should be made Immediately, said Mr..
Finnan, and he revealed that there
are number of potential sites under
consideration to serve the community
that the obsolete pools now do.
Another reason for the proposed
demolition of the old Municipal
Swimming Pools, he explained, was
that the United States Engineer
Office plans to construct an earthen
line of buildings housing the pools.
Congress, some years ago. author
lied construction of six swimming
pools, but failed to appropriate
money. Four now have been built.
Two at the Takoma and Banneker
Recreation Centers, were put up last
year. This leaves two yet to be con-
structed Mr.. Finnan would not re-
veal the sites that were being con-
sidered for the new pools, inasmuch
as land would be bought by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Repairs Made on Pool.
One of the two pools slated for DEM
clifton near the Washington Monu-
ment caved in couple of years ago,
said Mr.. Finnan, but was recondi-
toned under the Emergency Works
program.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary Of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, who is also acting as tenn
porary secretary of the District of Co.
lumbia Recreations Commission. Just
formed, said today that the question
of demolishing the old municipal SWIM
ming pools never officially came be-
fore the recreation body.
Mr.. Finnan took up the matter with
Commissioner Allen as an aside. said
Mr.. Settle.
The park superintendent, questioned
on this point, said later that he would
take full responsibility himself for
ordering the demolition, which was
slated to begin today.
Mr. Finnan said yesterday the au-
thoritieS thought the old build
ingS have become an eyesore, fire.
traps and an interference of vision
between the washington Monu-
ment and Lincoln Memorial. The two
small swimming pools have no filters
and no sanitation system. Formerly.
he explained. they we're fish ponds.
Although located on Federal prop
erty, the pools were let out by permit
to the District government, whose
Playground Department operated them.