Evening star., 1943-08-25
Recreation Unit
Drops Plans TO
Take Over Pools
Boord to Continue
Inquiry Into Operation
Of Courses, However

Inc District Recreation Board
has dropped plans for taking over
public swimming pools now oper-
ated by the Welfare and Recrea-
tional Association, but will continue
It's investigation of operation of five
public golf courses by S. G. Leof-
fier. Inc, 1t was announced today.
The board also has reapplied to
the War Production Board for per-
mission to build 10 Fairgrounds
financed by the Federal Works
Agency but vetoed last February by
the WPB on grounds of need else
where for the building equipment.
The board met yesterday to hear
the results of its special commit
tees inquiry into the standards
and operation" of public recreation
facilities operated by the associa-
tion and by Mr.. Leoffler. Harry S.
Wender, chairman of the board and
of the special committee, said A. E.
Demaray, associate director of Ma
tional Park Service, told the COM
mittee he personally does not favor
termination Of any of the welfare
associations contracts These con-
tracts for swimming pools, boat, BIZ
cycle and other concessions are all
made between the association and
the Interior Department and will
run till 1947.
Leoff1er's Contract to Expire.
Mr.. Leoffler's five-year, contract,
however, expires January l. The
board was warned yesterday by
Irving S. Root, superintendent of
National Capital Parks, and Wal
ter l.. Fowler, District budget Of
ficer, that only Mr.. Leoff1er has the
equipment to handle the 60 holes of
golf now offered to the public.
Operation by the Recreation Depart
ment might be very expensive, Mr..
Fowler said.
''This is an involved and tender
subject" c. Melvin Sharpe, repre-
sentative of the Board of Education
on the recreation board, declared.
He urged thorough investigation of
the details before the recreation
board attempted to keep new FIVE
year contract from going to Mr..
Leoffler. The present operator has
indicated, Mr.. Root added, that he
wants to raise admittance prices to
the golf courses to keep from losing
money.
Conference Scheduled.
Other moves made by the board
yesterday to offer increased recrea-
tional facilities to the community
included:
Scheduling of conference with
the Park and Planning Commission
to discuss buying recreational facil-
tiles in the downtown area, and
agreement with the National Capt.
tai Housing Authority to operate
recreational programs in housing
projects at the Frederick Douglass
Dwellings, Barry Farms Dwellings, |
Knox Hill Dwellings, Langston,
Carrollsburg Dwellings and High
land Dwellings.
Money to build or improve total
Of "A Fairgrounds was granted to
the District by FWA last winter.
The War Production Board ruled,
however, that only IA of the play
grounds, those actually replacing
recreational facilities lost to Gov
ernment agencies, could actually
continue to be built. Milo F. Chris
tiansen, recreational superintend-
ent, told the board yesterday that
WPB had consented however, to
review need for the 10 vetoed play
grounds. Applications have already
been submitted to WPB.
The District corporation coun-
sci, Richmond B. Keech, was asked
by the board yesterday to clarity
existing legal opinions on the per-
manency of arrangements made by
the Interior and other Government
departments to turn areas over to
the District group.