Evening star., 1942-02-19
Funds Sought
For Emergency
Recreation
Board Of Education
Given Program for
Expanding Facilities

Expanding Facilities
An emergency recreation plan
calling for funds to expand the IA
cilities and program offered by the
Community Center and Fairgrounds
Department was submitted to the
Board of Education yesterday by
Acting Co-ordinator Of Recreation
Milo Christensen.
The plan seeks:
l. A deficiency appropriation of
$34,500 to be made available by
April to expand the present pro-
gram and use Of facilities for the
thousands Of defense workers and
service men seeking free or low
cost recreation here. The amount,
it was indicated. would cover the
period between April / and June
80, the end Of this fiscal year.
2. A supplemental appropriation
to the .1943 recreation budget to per-
init operation of recreation centers
in various school and recreation
buildings beyond the opportunities
which would be available under the
$281 800 estimates now before Con-
gress.
Would Develop 80 Units.
3. An appropriation Of $1,129, ,75C
for the Office of National Capital
Parks to improve and develop 80
recreational units of the recreation
system as planned by the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission in 1929. The land in these
cases is already acquired and wants
funds for development to replace
many facilities now being Withdrawn
from the recreation system by the
Federal Government for defense
purposes.
4. Appropriation of $125,0O0 in
Federal funds to the park Office
to develop recreation centers on
Daingerfield Island or Arlington
Farms.
The Department Of Community
Centers and Fairgrounds is now un-
der the joint control of the Board of
Education and the Commissioners
as to program and personnel but
many Of the facilities used. especially
in the outdoor months, belong to the
Parks Once. A bill is now await
ing Senate action to place the en-
tire program and facilities under
n couova har
Cites Heavy Demands.
In presenting his plan, Mr.. Chris
tiansen said funds now available to
the department are wholly made
quate to meet the heavy demand
for increased recreation. The
greater portion of the appropriation
was spent during the early part of
the hAcal year, he continued, be-
cause the heaviest program load
falls turing the summer months
when school is out and swimming
pools are IN operation.
There remains, therefore. he de.
clared in his report accompanying
the plan, "a limited amount Of
money to carry on recreational op-
GRAFTON for the last half of the fiscal
year."
Increased rates Of pay for Gus
todians became effective January 1
under the Ramspeck Act, Mr.. Chris
tiansen continued, thus lessening
the number of custodians that can
be employed and hence the number
of centers that can be operated.
Substantial increases in the cost
Of supplies and materials, in many
cases as much as IS per cent. he
added, have diminished the purchas-
Ing power of the remaining funds.
Conferences with personnel chiefs
from various Government depart
ments have indicated to recreation
ofhcials an extensive program and
facilities need. At the same time
with spring approaching, numerous
tennis courts, athletic fields and
other areas have been taken over bv
the Government for various defense
purposes.
Az ASCPA0CCmCHk SCnLcTS.
To replace these areas, Mr.. Chris
tlansen Is seeking the DEVELOPMENT
OF the 81 centers, Is to replace with
drawals, and calling for expenditure
OF $685., $50, and the remainder to
meet increased population demands
The Is replacement centers would
be:
Sport Center on East Capitol
street, $138,750; East Potomac Rec
reation Center, $4,000; Banneker
Recreation Center, s25,0O0; Bright
wood Recreation Center, $50 900:
Langston Recreation Center, 500
COO; Mount Vernon Highway-Dain-
gerfleld Island, SIPS, 900; Southwest
Recreation Center, $4,000: Randall
Recreation Center, $4,000; Ana
costa D. Recreation Center, $85, 900;
Hilcrest Recreation Center, $22, 900;
Oxon Run Recreation Center, s16,-
900; Fort Chaplin Center, $4,000;
Eastland Gardens, $4,000; Turkey
Thicket, 5000, and Takoma Cen
ter, $4,000.
The II centers to be developed to
meet increasing population require
ments would be:
Midcity Playground, $4,000; Nc
Kinley lexington Recreation Gen.
ter, $4,000; Dunbar Second Center,
$4,000; Columbia Heights Second
Center, $4,000; Francis Center, $45,-
600; Rosedale Playground, $4,000;
Southeast Recreation Center, $15,-
900; Rose Park Playground, $4,000;
Sherwood Playground. $2S 5000;
Hoover Playground, $4,000: Ray
mond Playground. $4,000; Virginia
Avenue Playground, $1,000;
Georgetown Playground, $24 900; Ely
Place Playground. s19,500; Congress
Heights, $21 900; Trinidad Recrea-
ton Center, $4,000, and Phoebe
Hearst, $20, 1000. This totals $685., 900.
Naval Project Change
To Reduce Evictions
By the Associated Press.
LEONARDTOWN, Md, Feb. 49,
A 1,000-acre reduction in the size
of ~. v1royac<o<l Novx, nrou;,, n