Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-05-29
Recreation Head
Says He Lacks
Power 10 Do Job
Nine-Member Board
Would Aid Situation,
Subcommittee Told
By JOHN w. THOMPSON.

BY JOHN w. THOMPSON.
Acting Co-ordinator of Recreation
Milo F. Christensen today told the
HouSe District Committee Recrea-
ton Subcommittee he did not have
under the present setup the powers
recreation head should have.
The members are conducting
hearings on two plans to revise Dis
trict recreation structure. One would
create a nine-member board The
other would establish a three-man
executive department.
Then the word co-ordinator is
just a word and has no meaning?"
asked Representative Hebert, Demo-
crat, of Louisiana, conducting the
hearing in the absence of Chairman
Hunter of Ohio.
Mr.. Christensen agreed. It have
some powers he said. "but not
nearly enough for the job"
He said he thought the nine
member board bill would improve
the situation.
Opposed to Leasing Properties.
In connection with leasing of pub
he properties, Mr.. Christensen, in
response to direct question from
Representative Hebert. declared:
IT am opposed to it."
He said he thought the facilities
should be operated by public recrea-
ton officials, but added that prac-
tically there were some problems in
public operation of being able to
turn back some of the receipts into
the properties.
The acting co-ordinator reviewed
the history of recreation in recent
years before his coming here last
February. He is on leave from the
National Park Service.
ut looks to me-" observed Repre-
sentative Hebert, las though you've
/ been handed a hot potato"
!, A weakness of the present system,
Mr., Christensen continued, is that
1t takes several weeks to get even
one person" approved. The system
|: Is now jointly controlled by the
:, commissioner and the Board of
! Education as to supervised recrea-
4 ton and the National Capital Parks
Office controlling unsupervised play.
\ Warns Against Amendments.
) The Park and Planning Commit
I-N.e should be represented, he said.
' He warned against Gripping the
n treasure with amendments and
urged its passage as is.
A number of citizen representa-
'hves also approved the bill, all
tsastimony being directed at the
zimmerman proposal.
dOther witnesses were George A.
war en- of Midcity Citizens Associ-
stion and Logan-Thomas Circle As
eDcia3 ton; Mrs. Warren A. Gardner
M the Neighborhood Councils, Miss
Sihyu Baker, director of Community
Cen ters in the Recreation Depart
men-t; Leon Pretzfelder, Connecticut
Ave nue. Citizens Association, and
Hugo Wolter representing the Mon
day Evening Club, the Federal En-
ployeS Council and the Council of
Social Agencies Recreation Division.
Area Wanted in Midtown.
Mr.. Warren, as first witness, said
there was no big recreation center
M tlhe midcity area. There are fine
park! and play areas in the suburbs,
heSsaid, but virtually nothing in the
mid town section. He supported the
bill for the nine-man board or some
similar legislation.
Mr Warren asked only one park
on the board, and that some
repr esentation be given to the COL
orea. community. Mr.. Hebert said
It could not be constitutionally in
serA I'd in the bill.
MRS. Gardner said there was only
q ha If acre of recreation ground for
some 5000 children in the first ward
sectsnn. She urged establishment of
The aecrea ton Board as rem
edy," for the present setup and as
an et ,onomy.
Mi, IS Baker said recreation was
norm al human function and the
Cove rnment should play its part in
camN ing it on. AS a professional
recrez ton worker, she emphasized
inrpoi lance of a good staff in the
prom, >tion of comprehensive pro-
gram, :
ASystem Held Inadequate.
spd aking of the nine-member
board Miss Baker said the present
system is inadequate from the point
of vie W of the recreation worker.
She u rged establishment of a merit
SYSTEM, but opposed limiting the
staff. to District residents. With
comt,e tition from all sides. she said,
a mere competent staff should re-
suit. \
The eRecreation Department is
finders taffed now because of lack
of fun ds, she continued, but added
that even without limitations as to
District residents. it is hard to get
an eff cient staff.
Mr.. .Pretzfelder said his organiza-
ton was heartily in favor of the
ndf1e-rr lember board.
Gem ralization of responsibility in
recrea ion is essential in the District
now, lAr Wolter told the subcom-
mittee. He agreed with Miss Baker
that d re staff needed strengthening
In both the public and private
recreai ion field.