Evening star., 1948-06-10
New Play Areas
And Facilities
Asked Of Board

ASnVU VI DVuuU
Recreation Unit Hears
Pleas at Meeting on
1850 Budget Requests
The citizens of Washington feel
the city needs more Fairgrounds,
more recreational workers and
more facilities on the present play
grounds.
This was apparent from requests
made of the Board of Recreation
last night in the District Building
by about 100 representatives Of
various civic groups The occasion
was the annual board meeting with
the citizens to hear what they want
in the 1850 budget.
Harry Wender. president Of the
Recreation Board. agreed with those
present that recreation facilities are
needed badly in the District.
Fund Limitations Cited.
But If we included all your re-
quests We would have a budget
bigger than the present city budget"
he exclaimed. THE Recreation De-
partment gets about l per cent Of
the total budget"
1n the fiscal year ending July !:
the Recreation Department had
$l.055, 800. For 1949 the Senate
has agreed to appropriate $1072.-
900 and the House $1,092, 900.
Conferees will settle what the
1949 figure will be shortly)
Mr.. Wender asked the citizens
groups to help the Recreation De-
partment In the hard, arduous"
process Of getting projects under
way. He said that too few people
take the trouble to appear before
the House and Senate District Com
mittees to testify on needs in the
recreation field.
City's Sections Represented.
Practically every section of the
city was represented at the meeting
last night.
Asking for playground in the
Cleveland Park area were Mrs.
Joseph Miller of the Cleveland Park
Library Committee, DR.. H. S. Hoff-
man of the Connecticut Avenue
Citizens Association and Joseph r.
Jelley Of the Eaton and Oyster
Elementary Schools PTAs.
Mrs. May Frank of the Kalorama
Neighborhood Council. representing
both colored and white organiza-
tions, told Of the urgent need for
Fairgrounds in the midcity area.
She asked Recreation Board support
OF a plan to close three streets
there this summer for play purposes.
She said the Rev. billiard H.
Brown Of st. Luke's Episcopal
Church is heading a move to close
the 1900 block of Church street NV,
the 100 block of Corcoran street
NV. and the 1900 block of Swami
street NV. Petitions have been
signed by the residents of the
streets, approving the plan, she said.
Turned Down Last Year.
Mr.. Brown. who was not ut the
meeting, told The Star later such
a plan was turned down last year
by Trafiic Director George D.
Keneipp but that efforts have. been
resumed this year to get the pro-
posal through. s.
Emanuel Blumberg of the Wash-
ington Highlands Citizens Associa.
ton asked that the Recreation De-
partment include in its budget
money to operate and maintain the
Bald Eagle Playground in Southwest
washington. The association this
year raised money to recondition an
old Army shelter there for use as a
recreation center at Nichols avenue
and Joliet street SW.
Sanford Souser of the Stoddert
Recreation Association said that. on
the Dupont-Stoddert Playground. a
spring had appeared on the ball
field on the first base line and con-
stituted hazard. In addition n
drains into the playground, he said.
| List to Be Submitted.
J. F. N. Wilkinson, representing
the Federation of Civic Associations.
told the Recreation Board he will
submit, within few days, a de-
tailed report of what the Federation
considers essential projects. He said
the list will include requests for a
number of new Fairgrounds. four new
swimming pools on present play
grounds and various improvements
to existing centers.
Representatives of various groups
asked for assignment of playground
supervisors on full-time basis. Mr..
Wender explained that personnel is
lone of the greatest problems facing
the department but that Congress
) has slashed all requests for new
recreational workers.
OF the $150,630 asked In the l949
budget for this purpose, the Senate
left only $23.o57 and the House only
$25, ITO, he said.