Evening star., 1947-06-22
Areas Here
NeedS4,766,200.
Board Reports
Three All-Yeur Pools,
81 New Structures
Are Recommended
Report on Recreation
Calls for S4,766,2O0,
Asks Three New Pools

washington needs to spend $4,-
766, 200 on its recreation areas to
correct urgent deficiencies" in the
playground system, a five-year
progress report by the District Rec
reation Board said yesterday.
The board adopted the report at
its fifth anniversary meeting Tues
day. Copies will be distributed soon.
Salient points in the improve
ment program include:
/. Construction of three all-year
use swimming pools as a part Of
the physical education program Of
the school system.
2. Construction of 81 additional
field houses and shelters, and re-
modelling of IL buildings.
8. Land improvements to 50 areas.
The report, which deals largely
with the progress the board has
made toward an adequate city play
system, states that operating ap-
preparations for recreation have
more than doubled since 1912 when
the board took over District recre-
alton. They have gone from less
than 100000 year in 1943 to more
than $850,000 this year.
Fairgrounds Better Attended.
Funds for playground improve
ments have gone from $25 900 to
$15o,0 600; the number of Fairgrounds
has been increased from less than
1870 to more than $50. and attend
ance at play areas has improved
Is per cent since the first year OF
board operation.
New play programs have been
developed by the board, including
summer day camps and youth pro-
grams such as teen-age centers, the
children's theater, one-act play
tournaments, a civic orchestra, a
girls choral club and Explorers Of
Washington" a program of chill
dren's tours through interesting and
historic washington buildings and
activities.
The report recalls the role played
by the board during the war when
it gave major support to the Com
missioners' War Hospitality Com
mittee, whose Banneker Service
Club, Hearthstone Club, Volunteer
Camp Shows and other activities
helped ease. wartime tension il, the
Capital. .<
Much Work Is Recommended.
But, the report says, there is
tremendous backlog of projects that
should go forward. Structures,
pools, multiple use paved areas,
night lighting, grading, drainage
and planting are all needed pro-
jects on many of the old units
and on all units yet to be started"
The report traces the develop
ment and organization of the board
how it was created by Congress in
1912 after civic campaign to do
away with the old three-way system
of play management In the Capital
Fairgrounds under the Colnmis-
sioners, community centers under
the Board of Education and all park
programs under the Office of Ma
tional Capital Parks, local field
branch of the Federal Governments
National Park Service.
1t points also to the fact that full
unification of the old system has
not yet been achieved, but that
progress is being made.
The Capital cannot become the
recreation model it should be for
the Nation, the report says, until
all sections of the city are ade-
quately served with play areas and
the board has full responsibility for
"all phases of recreation as intended
| by Congress"
| The last remark is aimed at the
National Park Service, which has
not turned over to the board SWIM
ming pools and other park recrea-
ton facilities the latter feels it
should manage to have fully uni
fed recreation program.