Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
7 Recreation
Center Sites
To Be Improved
Work on $500, 900
Program Expected
To Stdrt Soon

WOIk lb CApCCIcu W NC Sudl ICU
soon on a $500 900 program to i'm
prove the Districts recreation CEN
ter sites, under a special program
announced late yesterday by the
Commissioners as means OF some
what eounteracting loss Of play IA
cilities due to defense construction
or military occupation of play areas.
Financing for the program is to
come out OF the original $2,500,0 900
Lanham Act appropriation for the
District. officials Of the Federal
Works Agency are said to have
Endorsed the plan and formal ap-
proval is anticipated promptly.
The plan was developed at recent
session between representatives OF
the Commissioners. the Board OF
Education and the ONCE Of National
Capital Parks, who are In control OF
the city's recreational program,
directed by Milo r. christensen,
co-ordinator.
Defer Equipment Purchases.
None of the 100000 fund is to be
spent for recreation equipment, but
District officials voiced hope that
with grading Of the sites, now not
in shape for play use, 1t will be
found possible later to provide at
least some measure Of equipment.
The seven areas to be graded and
sodded or seeded are:
1. The future stadium site, In
Anacostia Park, Section T, at the
end of East Capitol street. Ofdcials
said this large and undeveloped area
"offers opportunity to replace a great
number of play field facilities which
were lost in the central area due to
temporary Office building construc-
ton in the parks. Now a refuse
dump, it will require clean NIL to
establish turf cover. Its develop
ment will put in operation portion
of the proposed Sports Center at the
end of East Capitol street" The new
District Armory, nearby. now is used
as an office building and a tenn
porary building for 1000 workers is
being erected in part of the area:
In Langston Area.
z. Langston Recreation Center,
Benning road at Anacostia Park.
This is described as the largest
colored unit offering opportunity
for city-wide use and is in an area
where there is a concentration OF
schools, near the site of the Spingarn
High School, and near the Langston
housing project and other defense
housing under construction or pro-
posed. Il
3. Southwest Recreation Center,
Eighth and II streets S.W. While
relatively small and not suitable for
city-wide use, officials stressed 1t is
the most sizeable recreation area in
Southwest Washington. 1t Is near
the new Jefferson Junior High
School and officials added that pro-
posed defense housing In the area
makes its development imperative"
On an inspection trip three months
ago. the Commissioners found 1t
brick-ridden, hole-spotted area, un-
fitted for the purpose for which the
District spent considerable funds for
land purchase.
To Improve Randall Center
4. Randall Recreation Center,
South Capitol and H Streets. OFF,
Gals said it had been planned for
a long time as a play area for the
colored. Recent occupation Of the
Lincoln Playground by the Navy
Yard makes development OF this
area a critical matter.
5. Hillcrest Recreation Center,
Alabama avenue and Thirtieth
street Sc. This project is now I'M
developed and is near completed
and proposed defense housing pro-
jects. There are no other public
recreational facilities in the area
and the initial improvement planned
was said to be only Of the most
fundamental character to make the
tract disable.
s. Oxon Run Recreation Center,
at Fourth and Mississippi avenue
Sc. This area is undeveloped and
Is In a southern Anacostia area
accessible to expanding defense
housing of more than $500 units,
existing and proposed. The proposed
initial work is to make the area at
least disable.
7. Banneker Recreation Center.
Completion of grading.