Evening star., 1938-11-15
County Urged
To Establish
Recreation Unit
Honrohon to Report
To Arlington Board
At Next Meeting

The proposal of establishing a rec
reation department as new division
OF the Arlington County (Va) gov
ernment has been placed before
County Manager Frank c. Hanra-
han for study and report at the next
County Board meeting.
It was referred to Mr.. Hanrahan
at yesterdays board meeting after
being submitted by R. j. Brown,
president of the Cherrydale Parent
Teacher Association and the Cher
rydale Boys Club.
The PIT. A. groups resolution has
received the Endorsement OF the Ar
lington County Safety Council, the
Arlington Council of Parents and
Teachers, and is approved in prin-
ciple by the County Planning Com
mission, the members of the Vir-
ginia League of municipalities Ito be
applied throughout the State), Miss
Sibyl Baker, director of Fairgrounds
for the District, and the National
Recreation Association.
Financed by County.
The request asks that a depart
ment of recreation be set up as
functioning division Of the county
government and be maintained by
annual budgetary allotments.
The PIT. A. Council asks that 1t
be empowered to name a committee
to represent 1t at a County Board
meeting when the matter is consid-
cred. Copies of the resolution have
been sent to each local parent
teacher association.
Endless quotations from Ncog-
nized authorities could be given to
show the desirability of and virtual
necessity for outdoor recreation for
children" Mr.. Brown said.
Charles Reed, field manager of the
National Recreation Association, has
completed a survey of the county's
needs, Mr.. Brown said, with the fol-
lowing findings: A need for an in
dependent recreation department,
financially independent. supported
by taxes and not by public subscrip-
ton: facilities for trained paid lead
ership, assisted by trained volun-
teer leadership; the establishment
of year-round, countrywide rec
reational program.
Cites Assembly Act.
Mr.. Brown cited an act Of the
Virginia General Assembly to en-
phasize the legality of the proposal
permitting use of public funds for
recreational purposes.
While the National Recreation
Association estimates about SIS per
capita is necessary for adequate
facilities in each community, no
such complete program is being
sought Immediately by his group.
Mr.. Brown said. 1t is urged that
steps be taken to organize the de-
partment and sites purchased for
Fairgrounds before property values
increase.
The board deferred scheduled
hearings on zoning ordinance
amendments until November % at
8 pm. in the Court House. These
amendments include one which
would limit row-house construction
to three-unit buildings widely op-
posed by organized citizens). and
the Chew amendment" specifically
prohibiting this type of dwelling
anywhere in the county. The latter
measure has been Endorsed by many
citizens groups.
Action Postponed.
Action on requests by Bessie
Christian and L. R. Eakin to rezone
certain lots in Radnor Heights from
residential A to B zones was post
poned until the November % meet
ing.
A proposal submitted by Board
Member William P. Ames to start
immediate steps to straighten WASH
ington boulevard at the southwest
corner of the Washington-Lee High
School grounds, was shelved until
the next meeting.
A request to construct sidewalks
on TWenty-third street south was
denied because such construction
was not allowed in the present
budget.
David A. Calabrese's low bid of
$27, ,352.75 for the Ballston- Virginia
Highlands sewer project was ap-
proved and must now be approved
by the Public Works Administration
There were three other bidders
whose price ranged up to $31 ,136 40.
County expenditures for the first
half Of November were reported as
sec, ,991 IS, of which $l6,32864 was