Evening star., 1938-03-31
RECREATION BOARD
CREATION BACKED
BY TWO D. c. HEADS
Hazen and Allen in Favor
of New Body With Legal
Control.
SUBSTITUTE PROPOSAL
OF QUINN is ASSAILED
Commissioners Say They Strive
to Give Each Affected Agency
Due Recognition.

Breaking their silence on the sub
ject, Commissioners Melvin c. Hazen
and Georse E. Allen today declared
publicly in favor of the creation Of a
board of recreation which would have
legal control over all District recrea-
tional facilities.
They announced their support of the
King bill, or of one having a similar
objective, as they both voiced unal-
terable opposition to substitute plan
suggested yesterday by Henry I. Quinn,
member of the Board of Education.
Mr.. Quinn advanced proposal that
the Board of Education be given con-
troll over all so-called supervised"
recreational activities, leaving the re-
mainder to the office of the National
Capital Parks. This would result in
the school system absorbing the Dis
trict Department of Fairgrounds or
taking over all its present functions.
Allen Objects.
Commissioner Allen, who has super
vision over the Playground Depart
ment, said: Il am unalterably op-
posed to any such a plan as that In
the District Recreation Committee
work we have been striving for CO.
ordination, giving each of the affected
agencies due recognition of their
province. That is what want to see
made fully subject to legal authority
in the creation of board of recrea-
ton, which would effectuate real CO.
ordination in use of all our playground
facilities"
Commissioner Hazen voiced similar
sentiments and insisted he could not
approve plar to abolish the District
Playground Department and give its
functions to the Board of Education.
Mr. Quinn's proposal was dropped
suddenly into the conference between
members of the Board of Education
and administrative heads of the local
| recreation agencies at the Franklin
Building yesterday It received quail
| fed Endorsement from c. Marshall
Finnan. supervisor of the Parks Office,
and Lewis r. Barrett, co-ordinator Of
recreation.
At the same time Mr.. Barrett
warned the board against taking on
something that may react on your
educational program"
Quinn Questions Danger.
Mr.. Quinn. who said he has been
considering the plan for some time
and intended Ito fight for it," wanted
to know how his proposal would have
a bad effect on the educational sys-
tenn.
There is distinct danger Of incor-
| porating too much into the school
program" replied Mr.. Barrett. Citing
the close relationship between read
ing and education, the co-ordinator
asked Mr.. Quinn if by the same rea-
soning Libraries should not also be
under the School Board
When library programs contem-
plate the use of school properties,
then will advocate that" said Mr..
Quinn.
MIR. Quinn's suggestion was that the
present Department of Fairgrounds be
merged with the health and physical
education department of the schools,
forming a new department Of health
| physical education and recreation
Both Mr.. Finnan and Mr. Barrett said
they saw no objection to the plan pro-
vided the Board of Education assumed
entire responsibility for getting the
funds and successfully operating a
recreation system.
Miss Baker Noncommittal.
Miss Sibyl Baker, supervisor of the
| Playground Department, did not COM
ment directly on the proposal but did
say she did not favor the King bill.
The playground supervisor had been
outlining the work of her department
and making suggestions for co-opera-
ton when Mr.. Quinn first introduced
his plan.
Suggesting the merger Of her de-
partment under the School Board, the
board member and former member of
the District Recreation Committee
wanted to know why it wouldn't be
a good idea for efficient operation Of
recreation"
Il don't think it's fair to ask me
II I would like to be employed by the
Board of Education" Miss Baker said,
adding. however, the fear that If the
board took over recreation it would
be relegated to position of secondary
importance.
The Playground Department head
scored the transfer of funds from her
department to the Community Center
Department, saying it was the result
Of energetic effort" by some group
outside of the department
She indicated that satisfactory CO.
operation has been worked out with
the Park Office, but that little progress
has been made in relationship with
the schools since 1882.
Recalls Weir Plan.
Mr.. Finnan pointed out that Mr..
| Quinn's proposal was substantially the
one made by Lebert Weir of the Ma
tional Recreation Association after his
| exhaustive survey in 1888.
The parks chief said he thought the
Weir recommendation merited a lot Of
consideration because in his opinion
recreation and education were to be-
come even more closely linked to-
gether than they are now.
Doesn't this give logical support
to my plan?" interrupted Mr.. Quinn.
IF the Board of Education will
assume all responsibility" responded
Mr.. Finnan, II see no objection to it."
Robert Maurer, vice president Of
the board, asked II Mr.. Finnan IA
vored the present King bill.
Il do not" he replied.
Mr.. Barrett did not have time to
make his entire presentation to tho
board regarding the King bill and has
been invited to confer with the mem.
bers, probably at the next board meet
! ing Wednesday.