Evening star., 1947-02-10
13 Steps 10 Develop
Recreation Urged in
Alexandra Survey
Bv Robert C. Rojlinos
By Robert c. RolIinas

Thirteen major recommendations
for improvement Of recreation In
Alexandria, which were made by the
National Recreation Association In
1914, should be carried out as soon
as possible, according to the social
survey report released today by the
Council of Social Agencies.
Describing as excellent" the long
range recreation plan in which the
recommendations are made, the
recreation section of the social sur
vey report declares:
1.-THE city officials are to be COM
mended highly, not only for having
the plan made, but also for having
it done at the beginning Of opera
tion of year-'round program"
While the plan covers the fields
Of both public and private agencies,
most of the recommendations relate
to public recreation under the City
Recreation Department, the report
points out
Two Recommendations Stressed.
OF the 10 recommendations, at
least nine have been carried out to
some degree, the report said. Two
which have not been acted on, the
survey declares, should be given
consideration at an early date. The
two are:
/. Organization OF Citizens Ad-
yisory Committee for the City Rec
reation Department consisting of
five members-one designated by
the Board of Education, one by the
Planning Commission, and three
appointed by the Mayor with ap-
proval by the City Council.
2. Addition of an assistant direc-
tor to the staff of the City Recrea-
ton Department and an increase in
the salary of the director.
Specific recommendations for the
City Recreation Department which
are in line with the recommends
tions of the long range recreation
plan include:
Maximum development of facili-
ties, especially outdoor areas for the
use of self directed groups, during
the next two years; provision of
more play places for preschool chill
dren; consideration of establishment
of white and Negro craft centers;
consideration of the need for a
downtown recreation center; provid-
ing more technical help for the di-
rector, and giving more information
to the public.
Groups Asked to Assist.
"All groups of Alexandria inter-
ested in recreation should assist the
Mayor, City Council, city manager
and City Recreation Department
with the plan in every way possible, "
the report says.
Organization Of a Recreation Co
ordinating Committee to "f1t into
the local pattern of community Or
ganization for private and public
recreation" is recommended by the
report.
The report recommends that the
total number of girls and boys par
ticipating in the Girl Scouts, Camp
Fire Girls and Boy Scouts be in
creased to the maximum for present
personnel and be increased still
more if funds for additional work.
ers are available. In case the needs
and demands for funds are too
great and services rendered by all
three organizations are satisfactory
consideration should be given to
discouraging the expansion of the
agency which costs the most per
member" the report states.
Additional staff members are
urged for the Alexandria Boys Club
and a recommendation is made
that the proposed boys club for
Negroes be made branch of the
Alexandria Boys Club or part OF
Hopkins House, settlement house
for Negroes. The proposed club
for Negroes should not be a separate
agency, the report emphasizes.
YWCA Program Suggested.
Better facilities are recommended
for Hopkins House and affiliation
with the National Federation OF
Settlements is suggested.
Regarding the Young Women's
Christian Association, the report