Evening star., 1942-09-09
Army 10 Returf
Half PoIoFi
For D. {. Games
Navy Will Retain
1l-Acre Section
For Parking

For Parking
The Army by next year will have
returfed most of It's half of the
parking lot on the old polo field for
softball diamonds and football fields,
1t was announced today.
The War Department Is glad to
cooperate" Secretary Stimson
wrote Recreation Board Supt. Milo
F. christensen, "in turning over
this area for recreational purposes
in order to provide the necessary
space for the relaxation of many
war workers in the District of CO.
lumbia."
In line with an agreement with
the District Recreation Board, the
Public Buildings Administration and
the Once Of National Capital Parks,
Secretary Stimson wrote, some Of
the asphalt laid for the parking lot
Will be left for tennis and badmin-
ton courts. The Navy will retain
Its approximately IL acres of the
lot for parking.
announcement COnnrmed.
The Stimson letter confirmed the
announcement made by Mr.. Chris
fiansen at Recreation Board mee..
ing yesterday of an informal agree
ment with the War Department for
return Of their half Of the field. Re-
moval Of the asphalt, the superin-'
tendent said, will coincide with ex-
cavation for a Government girls
dormitory in West Potomac Park.
/. The top soil taken away for the
dorm1tory, he explained, can be used
to I'LL in the polo field, while the
parking lot asphalt can be used for
roadways about the new building,
In one of its first moves to simp-
lily the activities of the city's many
recreation agencies, the board yes
terday decided to turn over funds
for maintenance and repair of play
grounds direct to the National Capt.
tai Parks Office on a quarterly basis
rather than have the NCP bill them
for each separate repair job.
The move will cut bookkeeping in
half, it was explained by NCP Direc-
tor Irving G. Root, a member of the
board. Mr.. christensen empha-
sized that the shift in the accounts
ing system, would in no way lessen
the boards control over the main.
tenance OF the Fairgrounds.
The board also decided to ask the
Board Of Education to. agree to put
some OF. the areas in which both
boards are concerned under the same
type OF agreement with the NCP.
Wender Heads Committee.
The f1ve members of the board
present ut the meeting In the
recreation Office at 314o SIX
teenth street NV. appointed Harry
8. Wender, chairman, and WAL
ter =. Fowler as members Of q
committee to inquire into policy In
other parts OF the District govern
ment with regard to granting leave
OF absence and job protection to
employees leaving board employ for
war work not actually under the
armed forces.
TWO area directors of several
years experience with the board.
William Temple and Milton Larry.
applied for leave of absence to serve
as American Red Gross directors
outside the continental limits of the
United States.
Mrs. Alice G. Hunter, board Sec
retary, contended that since the en-
ployes were to be exposed to dam
gers OF military service they should
be granted the same job protection
Afforded those actually joining the
Army or Navy.
Its a question of where to draw
the line" declared Mr.. Root, who
made the motion to set up a COM
mittee OF inquiry into District policy.
Mr.. Christensen contended that
recreation work in Washington is as
much war service as with the SOL
diers themselves. He prophesied a
number Of applications by employees
to serve with all types of war agen-
cies II these men were granted lob
protection.
Sees Agency Bled White.
II a policy was set up to grant
all leaves of absence requested by
those going to other agencies, Mr..
Root declared, "the recreation de-
partment will be bled white and
will degenerate into a second rate
training school,"
Mrs. George A. Garrett declared
that too much protection of jobs Of
employees on leave with agencies out
side the actual armed forces would
not be fair to new employees who
took their places. The problem is
further complicated, she said, by the
fact that many women also will
probably be applying for leave,
though they have not the same
incentive as the men subject to
selective service.
The board will be polled On the
question OF policy as soon as Mr..
Wender and Mr.. Fowler have made
their recommendation
Mr.. Christensen revealed that the
boards $235, 900 appropriation from
Lanham Act funds to grade and
otherwise to improve Fairgrounds
had so far not been started because
no contractors have bid on the Jobs,
They are on too large a scale. he
said, to be attempted by the NCP.
I