Evening star., 1949-08-18
Terms Revealed
For D. Control
Of Play Areas
Recreation Board
And Krug Approve
Basic Agreement
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

By Colt HendIey, Jr.
The Recreation Board today ap-
proved and revealed the terms of
a basic agreement which eventu-
ally would give it operating con-
troll of all play facilities here now
operated by the Interior Depart
ment-except swimming pools.
Interior Secretary Krug has
said the terms meet with his
personal approval" Harry S. Wen
der, chairman of the Recreation
Board. announced after the
boards action.
The signing of the agreement by
the Interior Department is ex-
pected shortly.
Terms Are Outlined.
The agreement would:
/. Allow the Recreation Board
to take over operation of the five
public golf courses now run by
S. G. Leoff1er as concessionaire
for the Interior Department. A
separate agreement will have to
be worked out for the links, how
ever.
2. Allow the Recreation Board
to take ovek various concessions
now operated by Government
Services, Inc. as concessionnaire
for the Interior Department.
Again separate agreements must
be worked out. These include
boating, bicycle, ferry service,
speedboating and tennis courts.
3. Prevent the Interior Depart
ment from making further con-
tracts with concessionnaires for
local facilities without prior con-
sultation with the Recreation
Board.
Policy Unchanged.
4. Allow the Recreation Board
to determine policy but it must be
consistent with the regulations set
up for the park service by the
Interior Department. The facil-
ities in question. which have been
open to all races, will continue to
be interracial.
S. Allow Mr.. Krug the right to
take away any of the facilities
which. in his opinion. are being
used in violation of the agreement.
6. Allow the Recreation Board
TO relinquish the operation of any
of the facilities on 80 days no
tice.
Z. Give the Recreation Board
the use of park lands and play
grounds owned by the Interior De-
partment "for the purposes of
carrying out It's program of pub
lie recreation"
Controversy Ended.
The agreement marks the end
of controversy between the In
terror Department. and the board |
since the latter was created by
act of Congress in 1912. The
board has maintained the act in
tended that it should operate all
local facilities either directly or
by agreement. Last month the
board removed from its bylaws
language which prevented it from
operating inter-racial programs
and substituted a promise to elm
mate segregation in recreation as
fast as possible.
Today's agreement was direct
result of this change in the Rec
reation Boards bylaws. Mr.
Wender said it truly marks a
change in relationship between
the two agencies"
The board must negotiate sep
arate agreements with the depart
ment for the taking over of each
of the concessions because the
present concessionaires have con-
tracts which must be allowed to
run their courses or be discon-
tinued by mutual agreement, it
was explained.
Main Problem Unsettled.
Lack of an agreement on SWIM
ming pools left the main Recrea-
ton Interior controversy unset
tied. Interior has shown no in
dication that 1t will back down
from it's stand that the six public
swimming pools it operates must
be open to all races. The Ana
costa pool remained closed-it
has not been opened since June,
when some racial disturbances oc-
CURED.
The Recreation Board last week |
made an offer to operate two OF
the swimming pools on an inter-
racial basis. This was turned
down by the Interior Department.
Irving c. Root. superintendent
of the National Capital Parks and |
the Interior Departments repre-
sentative on the Recreation Board,
said that Mr.. Loeff1er is continu-
ing to operate the golf courses
lon the basis of his old contract, |
which expired last January !. He
said Mr.. Loef1er would continue
in that same status until a sep
arate agreement is worked out be-
tween Interior and the Recreation
Board for turning the courses
over to the local group.
Linton To Sneak ToniohtI