Evening star., 1941-05-11
Development Plan
Provides for 13 New
Recreation Centers
All Areas Of City
To Be Represented in
$3,42S, 700 Program

Nearly half the s3,428, 700 proposed
for development of recreation CEN
ters in the recent facilities develop
ment program made public by Act
ing Recreation Co-ordinator Milo
F. christensen would go toward
building up and equipping 13 areas
not operated at present.
Under the program which goes
next 10 the Commissioners, 81 l,569,-
100 is planned for opening these
areas, eight of which are in the
Anacostia- -Benning section, where
the city's population growth from
national defense activities has been
heaviest.
At least half the new areas desig-
mated for development, however. are
IN the last half of the 36-project
priority list, the bulk of the effort
apparently being concentrated on
improving areas now in use.
Many of the proposed develop
ments such as those planned for the
Turkey Thicket, the Southwest Rec
reation Center, the Banneker Gen.
ter and others, have been sought
for years by active citizen organiza-
tions in those communities.
Approval OF the program in prin-
ciple has already been voted by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and has been under
consideration of the Presidents Rec
reation Committee, which suggested
development of priorities emphasiz-
Ing capital improvement rather than
maintenance.
to 10 Years to Complete.
Mr. Christensen said the plan
would take to 10 years to complete,
depending on the amount of money
appropriated. He said he would like
to see it done in five.
Two possible sources of funds, he
suggested, were the Overton- Hunter
formula which would increase the
Federal payment to the District, and
the Lanham bill which would ap-
propriate sl50,000,000 to relieve COM
munities whose facilities have be-
come overtaxed by defense popu-
lation. The District, as a defense
center, would share in this.
Priority order of the 13 centers
to be opened would be as follows:
East Potomac Park, Brightwood,
Fort Chaplin, Hillcrest, Trinidad,
Anacostia section c, Ely Place
Playground. Northeast, Randle
Highlands Playground, Hillcrest
School Playground, Massachusetts
Avenue Junior High School Play
ground. Luzon Avenue Playground
and Eastland Gardens Playground.
Improvements Listed.
The amount and character of !
improvements planned at each is:
East Potomac Recreation Center,
S435, 900. Grading, $1,000; plant
ing, s11 900; field games and track |
facilities, $1,000; surfacing area,
$40 900; approaches, $4,000; utili- !
ties, $500; structures such as field
houses, ETC., s105,O00; night lights,
$1,000; spectators facilities and
miscellaneous, $1,000; rerouting
and reconstruction of 18 golf holes
and remodeling nine holes, $4,000;
complete field house at existing golf
course and swimming pool, parking
areas and approaches, planting and
miscellaneous, $4,000.
BrightWood center. 1884 900. Grad
Ing, sl1,000; planting, $4,000; field
games and track facilities, $4,000;
surfacing, $1,000; approaches, SAL
600; utilities, S11,00O; structures
such as field house, $4,000; night
lights, $4,000; spectators facilities
and miscellaneous, $4,000
Fort Chaplin, 100000 Grading.
s28, 900; planting, $500; field and
track facilities, s9,5OO; surfacing,
sl1 900; approaches, S5 900; utilities,
$500; structures, $4,000; fencing,
$4,000.
Hillcrest Center Work.
Hlllcrest Center, $4,000. Grading.
$1,000; planting, $4,000; field games
and track facilities, s6,7OO; surfac-
ing, S9,500; approaches, $4,000; utili-
ties, $4,000; structure, $500; fenc-
ing, $4,000.
Trinidad Center, S105, 400. Grad
Ing, S39,500; planting, s8,5OO; field
and track facilities, s6,7OO; surfac-
ing, $3l 900; approaches, s8500; util-
itles, $500; fencing, Sc, 900.
Anacostia Center section C for
colored, S280,2O0. Grading, $500; |
planting, S28,OOO field games and
track facilities, s8,500; surfacing,
S56,000 approaches, s44,5OO; utili- |
ties, $1,000; structures, $4,000:
night lights, $1,000; spectators ia
c1lltleS and miscellaneous, $500.
Ely Place Playground, s23,6oO.
Grading, $500; field games and
track facilities. s1,7OO: surfacing.
S6700; approaches, $4,000; utilities,
$4,000, fencing, $3,400.
Northeast Recreation Center, for
colored, S58,2OO Grading, s22,5OO;
planting, $500; field games and
track facilities, s6,7OO; surfacing,
$1,000; approaches, $4,000; utilities,
$4,000; fencing, $4,000.
Randle Highlands.
Randle Highlands Playground.
Sl7,4O0. Grading, $1,70O; planting,
$1,000; field games and track facili-
ties, sl,700; surfacing, $500; ap-
proaches, s1,700; utilities, s1,1OO;
fencing, $4,000.
Hillcrest School Playground, $18,-
800. Grading, $4,000; planting, 81
300; field games and track facili-
ties, $l,7o0; surfacing, $500; fenc-
ing, $4,000.
Proposed Massachusetts avenue
Junior High School Playground,
$50 500. Grading, s22,500 planting,
$4,000; field games and track facil-
ties, s6,700; surfacing, $4,000; ap-
proaches, $500; utilities, $4,000;
fencing, $4,000.
Luzon Avenue Playground, $44 400.