Evening star., 1938-08-24
359,@0 IS ASKED
To MEET DEMAND
ON FAIRGROUNDS
$150,960 Increase Souqht
by Miss Baker for Adequate
Recreation Service. .
PUBLIC INTEREST CITED
TO JUSTIFY ESTIMATE
National Capital Parks Request
$l,390,22S to Care for
Expanding Domain.

Declaring the recent amazing growth
in public demand for recreational
facilities has forced it to take re-
sponsibilities far beyond it's capacity
Tor effective service. the Department
OF Fairgrounds today submitted to
the District Commissioners 1910
budget estimate of $3.50 060. an in
crease Of sl50,96o over appropriations
for the current fiscal year.
Requesting the addition Of more
than so administrative and clerical
employees the department estimated
1882 $50 would be needed for personal
services. This would be an increase
OF S5l.460 over the sum appropriated
for this purpose for the 1889 fiscal
year
Miss Sibvl Baker. supervisor of the
department, said the increase in de-
mand for recreational opportunity ap.
parently was due to several factors
the recent growth Of the city'S popu-
latlon. the constantly growing interest
among girls as we'll as men in athletics
and games of all kinds; the variety of
program offered; the demand of adult
groups for recreational facilities: de-
velopment of pre-school and nursery
play programs and the intelligent pro-
fessional work of the playground staff
directing the recreation program.
New Fairgrounds Proposed.
Miss Baker said it is proposed to
open three new Fairgrounds next
year-one at Third and Ingraham
streets NV, another at center re-
Gently acquired by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission on
Thirteenth street Sc, and Turkey
Thicket, a large area near Tenth street
and Michigan avenue NE
The Commissioners also have re-
ceived the 1910 estimates of the Ma
tional Capital Parks office, calling for
appropriations totaling 81 l,390,22S. an
increase of more than so per cent
over the present appropriations.
The parks Office requested the sum
of 100 for salaries for ll8 sd-
dltional employes-l5 additional
park policemen and lol more persons
for the public parks and Fairgrounds
under jurisdiction of the division
and for increased pay for promoted
employees.
Among the additional parks en-
ployes requested are foreman gar
deners, s gardeners, II assistant gar
deners mechanics Is minor mechan-
les. assistant foreman of laborers
and % junior laborers.
1000 for Columbia Hospital.
At the same time. the Commis-
sioners received a 1910 budget esti-
mate of $4,000 for repairs to the Co.
lumbla Hospital and Lying-In Asylum.
The appropriation in recent years has
been only $4,000, but new freight
elevator, TO cost $4,000, is requested for
the next fiscal year
The hospital is virtually self-sup-
porting. but the District supplies an
appropriation each year for general
repairs.
In the parks estimates, It was
pointed out land purchases and acoui-
sitions in the last seven years have in
creased park acreage approximately
IS per cent. The maintenance ap-
preparations during the same period.
however, have increased only IS per
cent, 1t was said
In requesting the large increase in
playground personnel and additional
, Fairgrounds, Miss Baker told the Com
miSsioners:
This program will give the city 50
Fairgrounds under the Department of
Fairgrounds next summer. With this
staff and six part-time recreation
leaders at large and the help of the
Works Progress Administra ton. the
department will be ready by next
July to do its part in furnishing a
comprehensive program of attractive
play opportunities for the children"
Assistants Asked.
The new employees requested include
4 major center directors; l senior
playground director, playground di-
rectors assistant playground direc-
tors, IA playground assistants for 2
months each and ! other assistants
for 3 months each; caretakers and
l director of colored activities.
Provision for senior stenographer
to serve as secretary to the play
ground supervisor also was requested.
The total requested for operation of
the departments recreation centers
is an increase of s46694 over the
present appropriation for this purpose.
For general maintenance, repairs
and Improvements, supplies, medals.
trophies, incidental and contingent ex-
penses, the department asked for the
sum of 100000, an increase of Sl9. 200.
A total of sl6600 is sought for swim
ming pools under the departments
Jurisdiction.
For improvement of various NUM-
cipal Fairgrounds and recreation cen
ters. the sum of 100000 was re-
quested OF this amount. $4,000 would
go for supervision. $4,000 for ma
terials, $4,000 for plans and s22,0 900 for
labor
Miss Baker also included in the esti-
mates an outline Of Swear play
ground improvement program to cost
S2,0l3 900.