Evening star., 1941-09-15
30 Recreation
Cenfers Depend
On DC. Budget
156 Additional Units
Are Envisioned in
Long-Ronge Program

Inlrty major recreation centers
will be developed for immediate use
and plans for completion of 1856
recreational units as part of the
ultimate recreation system of the
District will be carried out. if the
budget requests of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commis-
sion are approved. Irving c. Root.
superintendent of parks, revealed
today.
The parks Office asked for 81 600
600 in the l943 budget to begin work
on the 80 units marked for i'm
mediate completion. and proposed
that legislation similar to the
Capper-Crampton Act be adopted to
provide S18000,000 to expedite COM
pletion of the 156 units.
Under the plan. according to Mr..
Root. the funds would be advanced
by the Federal Government. to be
authorized without interest by the
District over a period of 80 to 20
years, Ito enable District residents
to enjoy the benefits of a modern
recreation system without the neces-
slty of greatly increasing the tax
burden"
Accords With Program.
Mr.. Root made it clear that the
areas proposed for development are
not confined to lands within the
National Capital park system. but
included all areas within the pro-
posed District recreation system.
This is in accordance. he explained,
with the program developed by the
Committee for the Coordination Of
Plans under the directions of the
Presidents Recreation Committee
and approved by the Board of Edu-
cation, Community Center and Play
ground Department, National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
and other interested agencies.
The budget item was submitted
by the parks Office, the superin-
tendent said, because all the agencies
concerned agreed that the National
Capital Parks is best equipped to
plan, develop and maintain the
areas. While in use, facilities would
be supervised and operated by Dis
trict recreational authorities, he
added
The first 80 units would be ready
for early use, Mr.. Root said, and
would include grading and surface
ing of field game areas, conStruc-
tion of tennis courts and facilities
for other court games. running
tracks, baseball and softball dia-
monds, football and soccer fields.
erection of fences and backstops. and
provision for lights, water and san
itary facilities.
Would Be 10-Year Program.
Construction of more expensive
facilities, such as swimming pools
and field houses, according to the
superintendent, would be delayed
until funds were made available for
development of the entire recreation
system. which could be accomplished
within 10-year period if legislation
to make available the full $4,000, 900
needed were enacted.
I'VE do not propose an ambitious
land-acquiring program, but con-
template the development of lands
most of which already are in public
ownership" Mr.. Root explained.
The superintendent declared that
development of an adequate recrea-
ton system for the District has
Jagged far behind the program for
the improvement and expansion Of
other municipal facilities and that
the National Capital suffers greatly
in comparison with other progressive
American cities. He pointed out
that during the 10-year period from
1880 to 1910. no appreciable funds
were appropriated for recreational
developments, despite the fact that
the population of the District in
creased more than 33 per cent.
Mr.. Root also recalled that services
of c. C. c. and w P. A. workers no
longer are available for improve
ment of recreational facilities in the
District and that P. w. A. funds are
not being allotted for such purposes.
Major recreation centers proposed
for development were listed by him
as Anacostia Park, Banneker Recre-
alton Center. East Potomac Park.
Langston, Brightwood, Mckinley
lexington, Takoma. Southwest. Ran
die, Columbia Heights, Francis, Fort
Chaplin, Hillcrest, Trinidad, South
east, Turkey Thicket and Northeast
Recreation Centers. Minor units in
clude Dunbar, Rosedale, Mid-City,
Rose Park, Lincoln, Sherwood,
Hoover, Raymond, Virginia Avenue,
Georgetown, Ely Place, Fort Dupont
Park, Congress Heights and Phoebe
Hearst Fairgrounds.