Evening star., 1935-02-26
ROOSEVELT URGES
UNIFIED FACILITIES
FOR DISTRICT PLAY
President Lauds Program
for Greater Results in
Letter to lckes.
RECREATION MEETING
is OPENED BY DELAN0
Allen, Quinn and Finnan Are
Present at Session This
Afternoon.

President Roosevelt considers uni
fication of recreational facilities here
of great Importance, he stated in let
ters sent to officials involved in call
ing a meeting for that purpose, 1t was
disclosed today as Frederic A. Delano,
chairman of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, called the
first session to order.
In a letter directed to Secretary
Ickes the President characterized the
program as designed to secure one
third greater results than are now
being accomplished as ''an achieve
ment worthy of our earnest EFFORTS.
Allen Represents City Heads.
President Roosevelt sent similar
letters to the president OF the BOARD
OF Commissioners of the District and
the president of the Board Of Educa-
ton. AS a result of this correspond
ence. Commissioner George E. Allen
represented the District Commission
ers at this afternoons meeting
Henry I. Quinn was the spokesman
for the Board of Education, and Z.
Marshall Finnan. superintendent OF
the National Capital Parks. repre-
sented Secretary Ickes. The meeting
was held in the office of Mr.. Delano'
who is vice chairman of the National
Resources Board.
President Roosevelt's letter folioWs:
"Mv dear Mr.. Secretary:
my attention has been called to
the fact that the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission has
recently made a rather exhaustive
survey of the possibility of co-opera-
ton among the three agencies con-
cerned with recreational activities IN
the District of Columbia. l request
therefore that you appoint repre-
sentative to meet with representatives
of the Board of Commissioners and
the Board of Education and notify me
of such appointment. will then ask
these representatives to meet with
the chairman of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, the
Hon. Frederic A. Delano. and endeavor
to formulate unified recreation Sys-
tenn.
II am informed that the recreation
survey of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission states that
under proper unification the same
properties and the same size staff
could secure one-third greater results.
Surely this is an achievement worthy
of our earnest efforts.
Tr.un.x,nt fnr district
"I consider this movement of great
Importance to the District of Colum-
bia, The Federal Government and
District government have been spend
ing millions of dollars in the acquisi-
ton and development of park and
recreation properties. 1t is highly de-
sirable that a method of adminiStra-
ton be evolved that would provide
maximum human use of these proper
ties, thus making a greater contribu-
ton to the health and happiness Of
our citizens.
Il am sending similar letter to
the president of the Board of Com
missioners and the president of the
Board of Education.
Very sincerely yours,
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT"
The report to which the Chief Ex-
ecutive refers is that prepared by Le-
bert H. Weir of the National Recrea-
ton Association, who undertook a
study of the situation here, looking
toward a more unified and effective
recreational administration"