Evening star., 1944-11-26
365-Acre Park
Program Urged
For Alexandra
Survey Also Fovors
Expanding Present
Recreation Facilities


Recreation Facilities
Acquisition of 365 acres of park
space and development of five ma
jor community playfields In Alex
andria In addition to expansion of
existing recreation facilities is rec
in q comprehensive re-
port just completed for the city by
the National Recreation Associa-
ton.
Declaring that Alexandria must
take steps to insure recreational and
park development If it hopes to COM
pete with other areas in attracting
the most desirable types Of resi-
dents, the report outlines a long
range program designed to provide
for the needs Of an estimated popu-
lation of $4,000 within 20 years. The
result OF six months survey of the
city, the report fills 118 pages and
was presented Friday night to q
joint meeting of the City Council,
the Board of Education and the
4dAuAIlk commission.
Close Cooperation Sought.
Recreational facilities are proyid-
ed for all sections of the city and
the program is designed to be car
ried out by close cooperation of the
City Government, School Board and
Planning Commission under a De-
partment of Recreation.
The report shows that compared
with seven other cities of similar
size in metropolitan areas, Alex
andria's per capita operating ap-
preparation for recreation Is 43 cents
to $l.05 for the others.
At present Alexandria has only
IS acres available for recreation.
and those are not fully developed.
There are 81 acres devoted to play
grounds, 10 to playfields, 20 to spe-
c1ahzed recreational facilities and
only 8 to parks.
The recommended minimums call
for one acre of park space for each
100 OF population and one acre of
playground space for each 800 per-
sons. As an example of Alexandria, 8
inadequate facilities, it was noted
that the city has no municipal ten
MS courts, while one for each 1000
persons Is the recommended mini
mum.
Provides for Swimming Pools.
The recommendations, illustrated
with maps, call for the acquisition
OF 365 acres in the neighborhoods
OF Timber Branch, Taylors Run,
Hunting Greek and Four Mile Run.
the extension and development of
all existing play areas, construction
OF an additional swimming pool in
the northwest area of the city, of a.
swimming pool for the colored pop-
ulation and modernization of the
existing pool, acquisition of small
play areas in key locations and fu-
ture acquisition of the two USO
buildings as well as use of the
schools for indoor recreation.
The five major community play-
fields recommended included spe-
cif1c plans for their development
and use.
In the northeast section of the
city Mr.. Allen recommends the clos
ing of Pitt and Royal streets near
the existing playground known as
Portners; construction of four tennis
courts, a golf driving range, a con-
crete area for roller skating. ice
skating, dancing or handball, a soft
ball and football field, facilities for
badminton and croquet, a play
ground for preschool children and
f1eldhouse.
School Play Area Planned.
The development of the Potomac
View playground on South Lee street
involves acquisition of additional
land, construction of a comprehen-
sive play area in addition to a mu-
nicipal yacht basin and boathouse
In conjunction with an area for a
municipal restaurant and dance
floor.
The plan for the development of
the George Washington High
School area suggests a complete
play area with modified golf
course, outdoor bowling, another
restaurant and dance floor, facili-
ties for all outdoor activities for
adults and young people, as well as
a recreational building.
The city also was urged to ACQUIRE
f1ve acres adjacent to the municipal
stadium and to establish a complete
playfleld with two baseball and foot
ball fields. a wading pool, apparatus
area for children and bleacher
stands to seat 5000 to 5000 persons.
in addition to reconditioning of the
old almshouse for use as a field
house and indoor recreation building,
Play Area for Colored.
Proposals for play areas for the
colored community include develop
ment OF the existing Fairgrounds at
the colored schools and construction
OF a large playfield at North Fayette
and Madison streets to include facili-
ties for adults and children as weIl
as a swimming pool. DEVELOPMENT
is also planned of the area set aside
for recration in the new colored
housing project bounded by Pendle-
ton, Wythe, Fairfax and Royal
streets.
Mr.. Panyburn estimated that 20
neighborhood Fairgrounds in addi-
ton to the five large playfields would
meet the city's needs, and suggested
that a capital budget for recreation
be set up with balanced program
OF expenditure between acquisition
and development.
He further suggested expansion of
the Recreation Department and
appointment of an advisory COM
mittee on recreation to consist of
three citizens at large, one member
of the Board of Education and one
OF the Planning Commission.
1t Is also suggested that acquisi-
ton and planning of new public
schools and public recreational IA
cilities be undertaken comparatively
by the city and the Board of Edu-
cation and that all elementary and
secondary schools be designed for
community recreation use in order
that the maximum value be realized
from the buildings.