Evening star., 1948-06-10
Citizens Ask Board
For New Fairgrounds
In 1850 Budget Plans

The citizens Of Washington fee
the city needs more Fairgrounds
more recreational workers ano
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"
I'm the fiscal year ending July
I the Recreation Department had
$1,055,3 300. For 1949 the Senate
has agreed to appropriate $1,072,-
900 and the House $1,092, ,00o.t
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 undel
way. He said that too few peopl,
take the trouble to appear befor,
the House and Senate District Com
mittees to testify on needs in tn,
recreation field.
City's Sections Represented.
Practically every section Of tn,
city was represented at the meetin,
last night.
Asking for a playground in tn,
Cleveland Park area were Mrs
Joseph Miller of the Cleveland Parl
Library Committee, DR.. H. S. Hoff
man of the Connecticut Avenu,
Citizens Association and Joseph F
Jelley of the Eaton and Oyster
Elementary Schools PTAs.
Mrs. May Frank of the Kaloram,
Neighborhood Council, representa-,
both colored and white organiza
tions. told Of the urgent need TO
Fairgrounds in the midcity ares
She asked Recreation Board suppor
OF a plan to close three street
there this summer for play purposes
She said the Rev. billiard n
Brown Of st. Luke's Episcopa
Church is heading a move to clos
the 1900 block Of Church street N. w
the 1700 block of Corcoran stree
NV. and the 1900 block of Swan,
street NV. Petitions have beel
signed by the residents of tn
streets, approving the plan, she sale
Turned Down Last Year,
Mr.. Brown, who was not at tn
meeting, told The Star later suc]
plan was turned down last yea
by Traffic Director George 7
keneipp but that efforts have bee,
resumed this year to get the pro
posal through.
| Emanuel Blumberg of the Wash
lngton Highlands Citizens Associa
ton asked that the Recreation De
partment include in its budee
money to operate and maintain tn
Bald Eagle Playground in Southwes
Washington. The association thi
year raised money to recondition Al
old Army shelter there for use as
recreation center at Nichols avenu
and Joliet street S.W.
Sanford Souser of the Stodder
Recreation Association said that. Of
the Dupont-Stoddert Playground.
spring had appeared on the bal
field on the first base line and con
stituted hazard. In addition
drains into the playground, he sale
List to Be Submitted.
j. F. N. Wilkinson, Representing
the Federation of Civic Associations
told the Recreation Board he vii
submit, within a few days, a de
tailed report of what the Federation
considers essential projects. He sal,
the list will include requests for ,
number Of new Fairgrounds, four ney
swimming pools on present play
grounds and various improvement!
to existing centers.
| Representatives of various groups
asked for assignment of playground
supervisors on a full-time basis. Mr.
Wender explained that personnel u
one Of the greatest problems facing
the department but that Congress
has slashed all requests for new
recrea tional workers.
OF the S150,6 asked in the 1915
budget for this purpose, the Senate
T., Ann oc7 ~,l hA EYrdfea nf1IN