Evening star., 1942-05-19
RecreationFund
OF 0f$1,4o0,00o
Allotted Here
Money Would Be Used
To Replace Facilities
Token for War Effort

Plans to provide adequate recrea.
ton facilities for the growing Capt.
tails war population have cleared
another hurdle with approval by
the Federal Security Agency Of Lam
ham Act allotments totaling 1,40O,-
600 to develop land areas within
the District and nearby.
Before the funds can be allocated,
however. they must be approved by
the Federal Works Agency and the
War and Navy Departments, under
q recent change in procedure.
The allotment includes a request
for $500, 900 made by the District
for development Of recreational land
already owned by the city to re-
place softball baseball diamonds,
tennis courts and other facilities
taken by the Federal Government
in the last few months for defense
purposes.
Park Areas Included.
A $500 900 item is a request from
the National Park Service of the
Interior Department for develop
ment Of park areas in and around
the District with bride paths, picnic
grounds and trails for the use of
a war population kept near home
BY tire and gasoline rationing.
Omcials are optimistic that the
War and Navy Departments will
clear the projects. since practically
no critical materials are involved in
developing recreational facilities.
The major selling job, 1t is believed,
will be at the r. w. A.
While the two programs carried
under separate items, they have been
carefully dovetailed by District and
parks ofncials to prevent duplication,
and the development work, 1t is un-
derstood, would be done under
auspices Of the Once Of National
Capital Parks. Much OF the work Is
simple grading and filling, it was
indicated.
From Original Act.
OF the $500. 900 sought by the Dis
trict, $500, 900 is requested from the
original Lanham Act passed last De-
cember which included 81 $500 900 for
the District. The Lanham Acts seek
to relieve areas where housing or
community facilities have been over
taxed by the influx of war workers.
The remaining $500. 900 is sought
from the pending Lanham housing
bill for the District. which Is await
ing Senate action. The $500. 900 for
the park service also is sought from
this fund.
Neither Federal nor District ON
cials are able to predict what the
final appropriation under the hous-
ing bill will be, for the House
made heavy cuts In the $50, ,o0o, 900
authorized by the act. Ofncia1s be-
lieved there is q possibility the
Senate will restore the House re-
ductions of approximately $2o.000.-
600, which would throw the meas
ure in conference.
Recreation Leaders Problem.
Meanwhile. District recreation
lC2QCIS al ldICu Will VIC PAOblCAi
Of an ever increasing population
seeking diversion on facilities re-
duced by the defense demands Of
the War and Navy Departments.
Detailed priorities on development
projects have been established and
as soon as the money is made avail
able, officials indicated they are
ready to prepare replacement facil-
tiles on lands purchased in some
instances years ago with Capper-
Champion Act funds.
Conferring yesterday at the F. S.
A. on the requests were Charles P.
Taft, assistant director of the r.
S. A. health and welfare service;
Milo Christensen, acting District
recreation director; Donald L. Klein
of the National Park Service and
Robert G. Cubbon, field representa-
tive for the District In Mr.. Taft's
ofdce.