Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-25
Recreation Program FORCES Ahead Despite Handca ps
By cambridge CriSt.

Washington's "all-out offensive" to
provide recreation for its tens of thous-
ands of war workers is gaining mo-
mentum. Some of the favorable fac
tors cited by recreational officials are
these:
/. Recognition that war workers need
recreation plans as well as servicemen.
z. Increase in facilities such as the
Walsh Club, Banneker Center, the col
ored war workers club about to open at
the Lincoln Congregational Church, and
the facilities at the Federal housing
projects.
3. The recent formation of a Fed
eral Recreational Committee, organized
through the Committee on Employees
Services of the Council of Personnel Ad-
u1inistration.
There have been, of course, some set
backs as we'll. On the so-called casual
ty' list of recreational areas withdrawn
for housing, highways and other defense
and war purposes were a large number
OF tennis courts, Softball fields and
hockey ground. Some land was regained
recently in West Potomac Park when
the Army relinquished its half of the
Army-Navy parking lot on what used
to be the polo field.
Undoubtedly a major setback was
the failure of the application last VIM
ter to the Federal Works Agency for
more than $35OOOO of Lanham Act
funds for 18 war worker clubs in vari-
Gus parts of the city. In my opinion"
Representative Lanham, Democrat of
Texas, author of the act, said in March,
cit is clearly beyond the purpose of the
Lanham Act, as it refers to the District,
to provide recreation for workers here"
The task Of helping war workers find
recreation and something to do with
their leisure time is being attacked on
number of fronts by such organizations
as the War Hospitality Committee of the
Metropolitan Civilian Defense, the Dis
trict Recreation Department. Jewish
Community Center, the YMCA. the
YWCA and United Service Organizatio
clubs.
Co-ordinated Program
The hospitality committee is "respon-
sible for co-ordinating social and recre-
alton service rendered to servicemen on
leave, war employees and residents of the
District" It's operating agency is Rec
reation Services, Inc Subsized operations
of Recreation Services, Inc. are handled
by the Recreation Department, including
Banneker Service Club, Walsh Club and
the Womens Battalions, composed of
thousands of Government employees who
60 to dances at nearby military posts.
AS for outdoor recreation in the sum-
mer, recreation officials report that the
heaviest demand is for swimming pools.
The Recreation Department operates
three pools-Georgetown Rosedale and
Dunbar tcolored)-and the Welfare and
Recreational Association has pools at
Anacostia Park, East Potomac Park
Mckinley, Takoma, Banneker and Fran
els Schools, the latter two being for
the colored.
War workers also use pools at the
Jewish Community Center, the YMCA
the YWCA, Glen Echo Amusement Park
and the Meridian Hill Hotel for Govern
ment women has its own pool. According
to Robert R. Ayres, deputy general man
Association, more than $4,000 people
used their pools last year Officials ad-
nit that the pools are very crowded this
year.
For those inclined to tennis, the
Recreation Department has 70 courts
and the association has 40 courts. Work
is proceeding on additional courts a.
East Potomac Park. Both the depart.
ment and the association report de
cided" drop in tennis this year, however
presumably due to transportation diff.
culties. Several weeks ago the depart
rent said that the number of applica
tons for their courts had dropped 81
per cent this year compared with last.
Rounding out the outdoor facilities
the Welfare and Recreation Association
rents bicycles in East Potomac Park ant
canoes, paddle and row boats on tn
Tidal Basin. The National Capital Par
Office has arranged camp fire program
on Saturday evenings in Rock Creel
Park, Sunday afternoon hikes and natur
walks, bird walks on Sunday mornin
and camera stroll6 on Sunday afternoons
usually alternating with historical tours
The popular mule-draWn barge trips Oh
the old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal hav
had to be abandoned for the time bein
because of the damage to the canal b
the flood last fsI
Under this city-Wide division, the Rec
reation Department operates communit
center programs at Central, Roosevelt
Thomson, Mcfarland and Brightwoo