Evening star., 1942-01-18
Play Chiefs
Mourn Loss
OF Properties
u. S. Takes Many
For Defense as
Demand Rises
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON, Jr.

purposes has District recreation Of
flcials worried sick over what they
will do when the warm weather rolls
around and the swollen wartime
population, kept close to home by
the tire shortage and wartime
hours, wants some place to play.
Already softball fields, tennis
courts and the like with an esti-
mated 1912 use of more than $50 900
participants-based on 1941 use
have been withdrawn from the
recreation setup for anti-aircraft
guns and searchlights, water de-
fenses and temporary buildings. If
the golf courses at East Potomac
Park are taken over soon as antici-
pated, the estimated uses lost will
go over 100000.
Withdrawal of the properties has
been gradual and hence unnoticed
by any except the recreation officials
who were forced to yield them, and
since they are outdoor properties,
the loss will not be felt by the gen.
eral public until warm weather ar
rives.
Shortage Pains Due in Spring.
It is not that the recreation Of
ficials are unwilling to see the Cap
ital properly defended against at
tack. The burrows in the brow OF
Acting Co-ordinator of Recreation
Milo Christensen come from the
thought Of the lines that will develop
at those recreation properties re-
manning by next spring. More peo-
pie will want to play tennis on fewer
courts. More people, unable to get
to nearby beaches, will want swim
ming facilities.
The real headache Of the situation
is that despite present and antlc-
ipated Withdrawals Of land for nee
essary defense purposes, the District,
either through the Board OF Educa-
ton the Commissioners or the Once
of National Capital Parks, has acres
upon acres of undeveloped land al
ready bought and paid for-needing
only money for development to be
thrown into use. But there Is no
such money. A glance at the ac-
companying map will show the dis
tribution of these undeveloped hold
mgs.
Battle Over Control Bill.
While the Community Center and
Playground Department budget for
1943 now before Congress provides
| for no increase over the present
estimates, it should be said that
there is an understanding among
District financial chiefs ttha ADJUST
ments will be made if the pending
bill creating recreation board for
| the District becomes law.
At present, representatives of the
Board of Education, the Commis-
sioners, the Parks Office, the Senate
District Committee and even the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission are battling over two
proposed amendments to the bill.
While private conferences have
been going on between the leaders,
public hearings are planned some
time this month in an effort to get
the measure through.
To most recreation leaders and
many civic leaders interested in the
field, the important step toward
solution of tthe problem seems pas
sage of the bill. Without it things
will probably continue indefinitely
without improvement due TO recrea-
tion officials being now subject to
two masters-the School Board and
the Commissioners. With a strong
administrative board the feeling is
that much could be accomplished
toward getting the needed funds
and putting on program of i'm
preSslve proportions.
OF course, proponents of the bill
readily admit it is imperfect in some
ways, but point to the fact that it
was drawn in a spirit of compromise
between the three agencies who
never before have been able to get
together. There must be a bill,
some say. Changes shown by ex-
perience to be desirable can be made
later.
Plans Are Ready.
Meanwhile, plans for the develop
ment OF undeveloped land are wait
ing only the appropriation to be put
into effect. Items have been broken
down into groups Of priorities and
any sum made available could be
used where most needed at once.
The actual properties withdrawn
from the system in the past two
months, and shown on the accom-
panying map, are:
Lincoln Recreation area. Sixth
and L streets Sc, the upper part
OF the area including two horseshoe
courts, two tennis courts, football
field, softbal field and basketball
court, for Navy storage purposes.
Polo Field (West Potomac Park =.
including one lacrosse field and
eight softball fields, for parking.
Third and Maryland avenue area.
including seven tennis courts, for
temporary building construction.
Fourth and Maryland avenue area,
including two Softbal fields, for
temporary buildings.
Anacostia area, section c, includ-
ing two baseball fields, two football
fields, four horseshoe courts, one
softball field and four tennis courts,
for barracks.
Many Tennis Courts Go.
Twenty-sixth and Constitution
avenue area, including two softball
fields. for temporary buildings con-
struction.
Tourist Camp area at Fourteenth
and G streets S.W., including "a
tennis courts and softball fields,
for defense barracks.
Jefferson Memorial area CWest
Potomac Park, softball fields,
for memorial construction.
Georgetown Playground, Thirty
fourth street and Volta place NV,
including 2 tennis courts, for a
water depot.
Mcmillan Playground, at First
and Bryant streets NV, including
2 softball fields, 2 tennis courts and
| hnycochoo rn,1r&e f1r 10