Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-09-10
DC. Recreation Board
Approves Plans 10
Convert Brown School

Conversion OF the E. v. Brown
School into combined recreation
center and branch library serving
the Chevy Chase area was a step
closer today following District Rec
recreation Board approval OF plans
submitted by the Municipal Archi-
tect's ONCE for alterations to the
school.
The building will be operated by
the Recreation Department with the
Public Library occupying the south
side of the school, located at Con-
necticut avenue and Northampton
street NV.
In other actions the Recreation
Board:
Agreed to consult motion picture
theater owner before undertaking
its free movie program next year.
To Meet ON Playground.
Authorized its representatives to
meet members of the Washington
Committee, Southern Conference for
Human Welfare, to discuss provision
Of playground space for colored chill
dren living near the Park View
School, Warder and Newton streets
NV.
Action Of the board on the
free movies appears to end a
controversy that began this sum-
mer, when A. Julian Brylawski,
president Of the Motion Picture
Theater Owners, charged the free
playground shows represented "un-
fair competition" to commercial ex-
hibitors.
The theater owners had been
asked to sponsor $40 free shows for
the public recreation and education
program, at total cost of $3,s75.
Misunderstanding" Cited.
Harry S. Wender, Recreation
Board chairman, said Mr.. Bylaw
skis objections had been the prod
uct of compromising of misunder-
standings" He said they would not
have arisen at all II the theater
owners had fully understood the
boards intentions and had con-
suited the board directly before
taking their grievances to the Dis
trict Commissioners in q public
hearing.
A motion adopted by the board
provides that the superintendent
be directed to present the full re-
port of his plans for a motion pic
ture program for next season for
the consideration of the board, and
that the Motion Picture Theater
Owners be invited to confer with
us through their representatives be-
fore this program is put into effect,
and that the Commissioners be ad-
vised of this action"
Racial Controversy Raised.
Controversy over the racial policy
of the board was renewed in the
discussion of the Park View play
ground problem.
A letter from Southern Confer
ence members living in the area
petitioned the board for a hearing
on the matter, pointing out that
areas composition is changing from
white to predominantly colored.
A board member confirmed the
groups contention that the nearest
colored playground is many blocks
away. 10 spend the boards limited
funds on providing duplicate facili-
ties for the two racial groups, in
stead Of permitting both to use the
Park View playground, was described
by this member as lacking in COM
mon sense"
Mr.. Wender expressed the view,
however, that the board would not
change its rules on a single play
ground. 1t would require general
change in policy, he declared.
Matter "Under Study"
The board did. however, agree to
notify the group that the provision
of colored play facilities somewhere
in the neighborhood was under
study" and expressed willingness to
name q representative to confer
with the citizens on the matter.
Other action taken at the board
meeting included approval Of plans
submitted by the Municipal Archi-
tect's once for alterations to the
z. v. Brown School.
The board was notified that hear
ings on the boards budget for the
fiscal year 1949 were scheduled to
start September "a.
Board members were informed
that the Corporation Counsel's Of
foe has issued an opinion that the
owner of private property on which
recreation program is conducted
is not liable for any injuries when
the playground equipment is not
under Recreation Department SUI
OerViSi0n