Evening star., 1943-08-15
Welfare Association
AGREES 10 Transfer
dc. Recreation Areas

The Welfare and Recreational
Association is ready to transfer
management of the public recrea-
tional facilities now operated by
the association to the District De-
partment Of Recreation, according
to Arthur j. williams, association
president.
Mr.. Williams statement, released
last night, was in answer to action
taken Tuesday at District Recrea-
ton Board meeting. when a COM
mittee was appointed to consider
taking over the operation CT six
swimming pools, four golf courses
and bicycle and boat concessions.
Contract to operate bike and boat
concessions along the Potomac Riv-
er and the East Potomac, Takoma,
Anscostia, Mckinley, Francis and
Banneker Pools is held by the
Welfare and Recreational Associa-
ton until 1947. Contract to cper-
ate the Langston, Anacostia, Rock
Creek and East Potomac Golf
Courses, now held by S. G. Loeffier
Operating Co., expires January /.
Would Waive Rights.
Although the Welfare and Recre-
ational Association contract does
not expire until l947, Mr.. Williams
announced the association will
waive its legal rights II the Interior
Department is agreeable and the
other interested agencies so recon-
mend.
Turning these units over to the
District government would relieve
the association of a substantial
drain on its resources" Mr.. VIII
liams said I'm the five-year period
ending with 1912, that loss totaled
| $27, 500.
There has existed the impress
sion that the association has re-
allied large profit from the opera
ton OF these units, but the fact is
that the swimming pools and other
recreational units in question coll
lectively have been q source of loss
to our organization ever since their
operation was assumed. The public
golf courses are not included in
these figures. inasmuch as they are
not operated by the association"
Mr.. Williams pointed out that the
association is "nonprofit distribut-
ing organization whose net income
can be used only for financing neces-
sary expansion and to make. up
deficits from Improbable units
operated in the public interest"
Loss Listed on Pools.
| The losses cited, Mr.. Williams ex-
planned, have been incurred for the
most part from the operation of the
swimming pools and tennis courts.
The bicycle and boating concessions
in East Potomac Park normally
have shown a profit.
Mr.. Williams pointed out that In
view of the fact that the associa-
tions cafeteria division has had to
be expanded to four times it's pre-
war size, the organization will be
relieved of considerable amount
OF responsibility and also reduce
demands on its reserve funds by
turning over the swimming pools
and park activities to the Depart
ment of Recreation.
Unless the Welfare and Recrea-
tional Association and the interior
Department, with whom it made the
contract, both agree to nullify 1t,
the Recreational Board would be
obligated to respect the 19z7 con-
tract. Since the contract for the
lease of the golf courses expires in
December, the Recreational Board
will be able to take over their opera
ton the first of the year. 80
Under the present set-up, revenue
from the pool, boat and bike conces-
sions goes into the Federal Treasury.
Only revenue from the golf courses
comes to the District treasury.