Evening star., 1945-08-12
Recreation
Continued From First Page.)

ments next year at East Garfield,
West Garfield, Rose Park and Ran
dali Recreation Center Mr.. Root
said these would have to be can
celed from the budget estimates.
I'VE will ask for the appropri-
ations for these items in the Ma
tional Capital Parks budget and
make the same improvements" Mr.
Root said.
Decision Is Explained.
Asked later if it was not more
than a coincidence that the matter
arose at time when the dual rec
reation system was under fire by the
Interior Department, Mr.. Demaray
said the decision was made in his
office.
1--WE simply thought that it was
better business for us to ask ap-
preparations for improvements on
land under our control" he said.
Characterizing the step as an
other instance of "the Interior De-
partment attempting to apply ma
tional policy to local community"
a Recreation Department official
predicted National Capital Parks
would have difficulty convincing
Congress these appropriations
should not be requested by the Dis
trict agency directing recreation.
Harry S. Wender, Recreation
Board chairman, said he would ask
the board at Tuesdays meeting to
request written, concise statement
of the new policy given to us orally
by Mr.. Root"
This may be the first move to-
ward asking the Interior Depart
ment to assign to the District those
Federal lands now a part of the
recreation system, he said.
Should the Interior Department
refuse on grounds of its nonsegrega-
tion policy, the next step may lead
to Congress for Showdown" deci-
sion, Mr.. Wender said.
Broad Plan Outlined.
Milo F. christensen, superintend-
ent of the Recreation Department,
said the board had laid broad plans
for catching up on war-deferred rec
reation improvements.
In the four Federal areas where
the appropriations question was
raised, the board planned to build
shelter house, improve grounds and
landscaping and build a wading
pool and tennis courts.
East Garfield, Fourth and GI
streets Sc; Rose Park, Twenty
seventh and Dumbarton streets
NV, and Randall Recreation Gen.
ter, First and I streets SW. are for
colored persons. Randall is made
up of part District and part Federal
land. West Garfield, Second and
F. streets Sc, is white playground.
Mr.. Demaray said the appropria-
ton matter had not come up before
because he believed this was the
first time the Recreation Board had
sought to improve Federal land dur
ing the three years of the boards
existence
Hitherto most of the improve
ments have been made with Lanham
Act funds which were made avail
able to communities during the war
through the Public Works Admin
istration," he said.
Mr.. christensen said the District
Commissioners had been instru-
mental in obtaining Lanham Act
grants and that the District was re-
quired to pay back 40 per cent of
the funds.
Appropriation Made.
THE District also asked for and
was appropriated money for some
improvements on Federal lands,
such as basketball courts and play
grounds at East Garfield and a |
shelter house now under construc-
ton at Rose Park" he added.
Mr.. Root said it was feasible for
his office to ask for the appropria-
tions since National Capital Parks
draws plans, let's contracts, inspects
and maintains improvements on
Federal recreation lands.
"All the money comes from the
same place, anyway" he said, land
the Commissioners must approve
the budget as it does the Recreation
Board budget"
This, said Mr.. Wender, is one of