Evening star., 1940-06-10
Fairgrounds Open
July |, Continuing
Daily Until Dark
Summer Supervisors
Being Trained; Program
! Like Lost Years

When summer Fairgrounds are
opened July l activities there will
continue until dark instead of until
6 pm, as in past years.
This is the most important new
feature Of the 1910 summer recre-
alton program of the District Com
munity Center and Playground De-
partment, Lewis R. Barrett, District
Co-ordinator of recreation, said to-
dav.
This year approximately lis play
grounds, or about the same number
rs the last two years, will be open.
Mr., Barretts Office is whipping the
program into shape in preparation
for the time when summer play
ground funds for the l940-41 fiscal
year will be available.
This week colored summer play
ground supervisors are receiving a
course Of intensive recreation train
ing. Next week white supervisors
will receive a similar course.
The program includes all activi-
ties which have been offered to the
public in the paSt-free swimming
instruction at the park swimming
pools, street showers, all forms of
latra and interplayground sport
contests, as well as City-Wide tour
r3mcnts. arts and crafts and other
activities.
More Emphasis on Crafts.
City-Wlde programs for older boys
end girls and adults are being eX-
panded considerably. Likewise, there
is to be more emphasis this year on
non-spOrt activities such as arts
and crafts.
This is because there are many
youngsters who do not shine in
athletic events or are physically un-
able to take part.
The 81 Wading pools and two
small swimming pools on year.
round Fairgrounds are to open
June 10 as their opening does not
have to await funds appropriated in
the l940-4l District Supply Act.
This summer will be marked by
an intensified W. P. A.-Traffic Ad-
visOry Council program, announced
last week, to stimulate development
Of backyard Fairgrounds and ed
uCate children in traffic safety by
means Of travelling Safety TOwn"
exhibit and lectures by Boy Scout
and police units in the city's in
habited alleys.
A typical Backyard playground
I-r honro 1lnd - H,,yNn.-+rlr7;+y-
House, 78 7 street, and another on
Hobart place NV. between Georgia
and Sherman avenues.
c. c. c. and W. p. 4. Helping.
Children and parents are to be
shown how they may construct such
Fairgrounds out Of old lumber and
odds and ends of equipment.
Meanwhile c. c. c. enrollees ana
w P. A. workmen are working on
development of recreation facilities
throughout the city.
Taft and Chevy Chase recreation
! Centers have been literally trans
formed by the combined c. c. c.
Nv. p A. work, with the Office of
National Capital Parks contributing
literally of plants and .opsoil. Other
places at which the development
. program has been concentrated are
Turkey Thicket. Petworth. Rose
. Park Fairgrounds and Takoma and
T7rneker recreation CenterS.
Mr.. Barrett estimated today that
more development work had been
accOr7 riiShp6 since last SIMMER
, when the combined program was
worked out, than III the p,ecedlng
several years. This has been per-
mltted largely he said. by a change
IN policy on the part Of the Office
sof National Capital Parks. which
has released c. c. c. enTollees and
funds with which to purchase build
ing material for use on Fairgrounds
end recreation Centeys.