Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-09-22
Little New Work
In Budget Plea
For Recreation
S1,774,473 Requested,
Including S33 900 for
Chevy Chase Center
BY Jerry o'Leoy, Jr.

By Jerry o'Leoy, Jr.
The Commissioners today re-
ceived a $1,774,473 budget esti-
mate for fiscal 1850 from the
District Recreation Department,
with it's building projects re-
quest limited to $118,300 for stop
gap repair and conversion work
in existing recreation centerS.
Near the top of the list sub
mitted by Recreation Supt. Milo F
Christensen is a request for $4,000
to convert the auditorium of the
Chevy Chase Community Building
formerly the E. V. Brown School
into a disable and essential facil-
ity for recreation activities"
The auditorium, once used by the
District OPA for Offices, has not
been utilized since the Recreation
Department moved into the first
floor. 1t is planned to change the
auditorium into a big CAMERON
Mr.. Christensen also asked the
Commissioners to authorize $4,000
for painting the former school
building on Connecticut avenue and
Mckinley street NV.
Bath Houses Asked.
The Recreation Department asked
$4,000 to rehabllitate bathhouse
facilities at the Georgetown and
Rosedale swimming pools. Mr..
christensen described the existing
facilities as both unsanitary and
unsightly. The money would oe
used to convert the present shelter
houses at both Fairgrounds into
bathouses and to build new shelter
houses.
The department also asked SIS
900 to demollsh the Harbor Garage
at the jefferson Recreation Center,
and $500 to improve electrical con-
nectionS at the headquarters Of
flee.
For land improvement, the de-
partment asked the Commissioners
to approve S433 500. The money
would be used for grading, drain
age, fencing, planting, construction
of tennis courts, playfields, and
night lighting on Is existing recrea-
ton fields.
The Office Of National Capital
Parks, which does most construc-
ton and maintenance work for the
Recreation Department, would re-
ceive s551 300 of the money asked
for capital outlay. In addition
$4,000 would be turned over to the
United States Treasury in payment
for advanced planning.
Operating expenses OF the Rec
reation Department will amount to
Sl,216,989 in fiscal 1850, Mr.. Chris
tiansen estimated, compared with
the s1.O72.00O appropriated by Con-
gress for the current fiscal year. The
S557,484 capital outlay request III
the 1850 estimates is nearly twice
the 1921 900 received for new con-
struction this year.
The department, if it receives the
full S1.2l6989 it asks for operating
expenses. VIII turn 1928 200 over to
the National Capital Parks office
m me diately for maintenance,
equipment and repairs.
SS8S.78O for Other Purposes.
Budget officials explained that all
this work is done for the depart
ment because the parks Office has
the necessary equipment. Subtrac-
ton of the fund for the parks Of
flee leaves the department. $685.
for all other purposes.
Salaries will amount to $752,83O IN
fiscal 1850. Mr.. Christensen estl-
mated, compared with the $699 800
being paid to employees this year
The estimates indicate steady cost
increases. owing to Within-grade
salary raises, higher cost Of recrea-
ton equipment and supplies and
overtime pay to recreation employees
required to work after 6 pm in con-
nection with recreation functions.
Seven new jobs, including six rev
positions for recreation directors,
are asked in the recommendation to
the Commissioners.
Assignment of Directors.
In asking for three S2,394 a year
recreation directors, Mr.. Christian
sen said it is proposed to install
two Of them at the white centers
of Taft and Turkey Thicket, and
one at Watts Branch, Negro center
Two of three S2,166 directors would
be assigned to the Bald Eagle and
Ridge white centers and one to the
Happy Hollow center for Negroes.
The 1949 appropriation provided
funds for building the first unit OF
a fieldhouse at Turkey Thlcket and
a shelter building at Watts Branch
where grading. fencing, courts ano
other work already has been COM
pleted. The Board of Education
meanwhile, is adding a gymnasium
wing to Taft Junior High School. tc
be used for community recreation
outside of school hours.
Mr.. Christensen said funds fol
a shelter building at Ridge are con-
tanned in the 1949 appropriation
with installation scheduled to be
completed by next June 80.
At Bald Eagle, building for
merly used by the Navy, has beer
reconditioned by volunteer work
done by community residents. He
said the Recreation Department
should now assume responsibility
for the project because the COM
munity has collected funds to NEE
the expense of operation this year