Evening star., 1945-03-22
D. {. Declared
Far Behind in
Recreation
Planning OfficioIs
Shocked by Meoger
$685., 500 Budget
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

~ ASASASOAN GNAs oAAxIA AMI
Federal planning officials were
shocked today when they compared
the meager budget allowances ap-
proved for the acquisition and de-
velopment Of recreational areas in
the District with billions of dollars
newly authorized in other munich
palities for similar programs.
Compared with a $35, ,299 ,305 pro-
gram for the City of Detroit, Thomas
G. Jeffers, city planner of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, said that the Budget
Bureau has approved the outlay of
only $696,500 for the District Recrea-
ton Board during the l946 fiscal
year.
He carried the comparison a bit
further by reminding that since
1880, under the Capper- -Cramton
Act, the District has expended only
$4,000 900 out of the SIG, 1000, 900 au-
thorized for park and playground
acquisition.
Far Behind Other Cities.
I'VE are way behind other cities
in developing recreational centers.
as these figures indicate" Mr.. JEFF
fers told the planning commission
at the opening of it's monthly meet
ing. He outlined for them formi-
dable programs authorized by De-
troit, Chicago and Los Angeles as
examples of what other cities are
doing for the present and postwar
periods.
The Planning Commission today
approved the recommendation of the
Recreation Board that the Jamaica
Playground for colored residents be
renamed the Stead Playground in
memory of the late Mary Force
Stead of Washington. This tract on
Church street, between Sixteenth
and Seventeenth streets NV, is
being acquired by Norman c. Brown,
land purchasing officer of the COM
mission, who reported progress in
the negotiations.
The playground is being renamed
in honor of Mrs. Stead in recogni-
ton of property she willed to the
Recreation Board which will brir-
it an annual income of between
$4,000 and $4,000 for an indefinite
period.
Interested in Other Cities.
Since the Planning Commission
is the Federal agency charged with
the acquisition of park and recrea-
tlonal areas in the District, the
commission was particularly inter-
eSted in learning what other cities
are doing during the war to develop
their recreational programs.
Chicago is now planning a bond
issue Of 100000 a year for the
next 10 years to provide new play
grounds in each ward of the city,
Mr.. Jeffers revealed. Los Angeles,
on the other hand, has a program
Of 30 projects to cost $9,515, 900.
While these cities are much larger
than even the Metropolitan Area
Of Washington, planning officials said
their programs indicate they are
far more conscious of present and
future recreational needs than Fed
eral officials here in Washington.
Mr.. Jeffers pointed out it must be
realized that the District has ac-
quired only $4,000 in park land
since 1890.
Preparing New Program.
The District Recreation Board Is
now preparing its new program.
The 1896 500 approved by the budget
includes s636,500 for operating ex-
penses and only $4,000 for capital
outlay and improvements.
Before the commission recessed 1t
approved an amendment to the
zoning regulations to control the
height of relevision towers which a
number of radio companies are
planning to erect in the District.
This recommendation will be SUBJ
mitted to the Zoning Commission.
While details were withheld, the
amendment is designed to permit
towers to be erected under certain
specifications of the zoning Com
mission, applicable to individual
cases. Television towers require a
great height, however, it was ex-
planned, and would be ineffective if
the height were confined to the ex-
isting zoning regulations.
Plans for further development of
Theodore Roosevelt Island as a rec
reatlonal area and a progress report
on mass transportation program
being worked out to serve the North
west Triangle section also were being
considered by the planners.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, chair
man, will report on the zoning
changes affecting the new George
town University Hospital, now being
built on Reservoir road at the foot
OF Thirty-ninth street. Congress re-
Gently enacted bill authorizing
| heighth Of ITO feet for the building.
The Planning Commission at its last
meeting had approved plans for the
hospital, subject, however, to its
conforming to coming regulations.
The commission is going on a
field trip during the afternoon and
will visit the Roosevelt Island and
the Georgetown Hospital site, as
we'll as number of other improve
ments about the city.
Other Inspections Planned.
They also will visit the Army Man
Service plant near the Dalecarlia
Reservation, for which a $4,000. 900
expansion program has been au-
thorized, and a numbef of recently
developed recreational centers.
These include the Turkey Thicket
on Michigan avenue NE, the Kelly
Miller at Forty-ninth street and
Washington place NE. and the
Anacostia Park Center. While in
the Eastern section the planning
officials also will inspect the parade
ground on the site of the proposed
National Stadium.
i Sites for a colored elem entary
school and white junior high school
also will be inspected on the trip.
These sites have been recommended,
but have not yet been acquired, and
for this rason the locations were not
disclosed.
4 Tomorrow morning Secretary
Thomas S. Settle will report on the
status of the District of Columbia