Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-08
18C|ub Centers
Planned for DC.
War Workers
Commissioners Agree
To Ask FWA for
Grant Of 1881 900

The Commissioners today agreed
to ask the Federal Works Agency
for q grant of $3.50 for q recre-
ational project to include 10 club
centers for war workers of the
Metropolitan Area.
In their application to FWA the
Commissioners point out that the
war activity has forced a demand
on the community which 1t cannot
meet without additional assistance"
1t is urged that the activities
planned in the project will directly
contribute to the mental and physi-
cal fitness of war workers by pro-
viding opportunities to participate
in activities which relieve physical
and mental strain"
Need Of Recreation Cited.
Lack Of recreation facilities tends
to send people back to their jobs
tired, dull and tense; heavy turnover
OF Government employees Is cost
ing the Government considerable
money" the application adds.
Specifically, the application asks
for Federal assistance for rental or
purchase of recreational facilities in
the District of Columbia or Metro
politan Area" One center, it was
pointed out, already has been do
mated by Mrs. Evalyn Walsh Nc
Lean and 1t was said that 1t is AN
ticipated" that other offers will be
made.
OF the 10 centers, the statement
said, ut is anticipated that three
centers will be donated or subsi-
died; seven buildings may be rent
ed and seven centers will be pur-
chased. The statement said it is
planned to rent, purchase and re-
condition houses and store buildings
or other facilities which might be
available.
Membership Fees Planned.
In the club centers, it was said,
it is planned to have a system of
membership fees, receipts from these
dues being expended to improve the
club centers or for promoting and
sponsoring activities or supplies and
materials not authorized in the
project
I'm addition to the club centers
1t is requested that supplemental
assistance be provided the sponsor
to carry on activities which were
made available by the WPA in the
more heavily populated parts of the
city where there are many war
worker families the Applicant
continued.
THE District Recreation Depart
ment,' it explained, lis now operat-
ing IS recreational units, including
81 school community centers. These
are all financed by public funds,
with supplemental assistance by the
Works Project Administration. Re-
quests are bling made for recreational
leadership assistance by parent
teacher associations, housing author
tiles. citizens and civic associations"
Extra Help for Some Areas.
1t Is MANNED. it was said. that
additional assistance may be made
available to those sections of the
city in which the war effort has
directly affected the social and
economic life, and that these SUD-
Elemental services total $4,000.
Milo F.. Christensen. creation
superintendent, explained today that
after the request had been made by
the commissioners to the FWA it
was necessary for it to be sent for
certiflcation to the Federal Security
Agency and then back to be pro-
cessed by FWA.
Certif1cation, he explained. is an
overall" survey of the project.
while processing is a check of the
details. Mr.. Christensen said there
IS real need for these centers. par
ticularly lin highly congested room
ing house areas" He said he thought
these war worker center clubs should
be OF the informal type" where war
workers could drop in to sew, write.
read or "just sit"
The breakdown of the request
OF the city heads follows: prelim-
mary expenses, $500; construction
cost, rent value and recondition.
$l06, 600; construction cost, purchase
and rental, $4,000; equipment, in
Guiding used station wagon, s64, 900:
contingencies, $4,000: engineering,
architectural and other technical
services, $1,000; legal and admins
trative costs, $500, and miscel-
laneous, $4,000.