Evening star., 1949-02-24
Board Asked by Krue
To End Segregation or
Tennis in 5 Parks

asked the District Recreation
Board to designate and operate
1.-THE tennis courts in five parks as
open units" on a nonsegregated
basis.
Involved in the request are the
courts now listed for whites in
Anacostia, Garfield, Montrose and
Rock Creek Park and one for
colored at the Francis Recrea-
ton Center in the Rock Creek
Potomac Parkway.
mo attempt is made to enforce
segregation on the tennis courts
on Federal property Milo Chris
tiansen. recreation superintend-
ent, declared.
The request of the Interior De-
partment, released to the press
yesterday. brought from Harry S.
Wender. president of the District
Recreation Board. the annoyed
comment that he had not yet re-
ceived any communication.
DlSSuSteQ Dy BEHAVIOR.
II am disguised that we cannot
maintain a dignified relationship
with Federal agency" he said.
Mr. Wender said that in seven
years of dealing with the Interior
Department he did not know of
any occasion when the depart
ment took the courtesy of ad-
vising the Recreation Board of its
legitimate business before making
it public. He said he would have
no comment on the, request until
it had been received from Mr.
Krug.
The letter did arrive at the
Recreation Department in this
mornings mail, however.
The District Recreation Board
has designated the courts under
it's jurisdiction as white" col
ored" and open units. 1t oper-
ates nine courts in Anacostia, one
in Garfield, four in Montrose and
two in Rock Creek Park-all for
whites only.
Not Assigned to District.
These four parks and the land
occupied by the Francis Recrea-
ton Center were purchased before
the Capper-Cramton Act Of June
6, 1924
Mr.. Krug's letter pointed out
that these lands never were as
signed to the District Commis-
sioners and are under the control
of the Federal park system.
Since 1924. however, the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission has been purchasing
land and assigning part of it here
to the Commissioners for recrea-
tional use. 1t is this land. compris-
ing some 81 recreational areas in
the city, which has been under
dispute for months.
The Interior Department says
it has jurisdiction over the 81
areas and that the transfer to the
District by the planning commits
sion did not take away it's con-
troll. This the Commissioners and
the Recreation Department deny.
Ruling Awaited.
A ruling on this controversy is
being awaited from the Attorney
Generals Office.
Mr.. Krug's letter also requested
that the Recreation Board issue
all permits for activities on unas-
signed Federal parkland on a
first come, first served basis
without regard to race, creed, color
or national origin. He asked Mr..
Wender to forward to him copies
of all permit forms issued for
Federal areas.
The Recreation Department acts
as a permit bureau for the Ma
tional Capital Parks in issuing
permits for picnics, softball and
such.
Mr.. Christensen explained that
although the tennis courts in ques-
ton are listed as for colored or
white, no effort is made to enforce
segregation on the Federal prop
erty.
District Courts Segregated.
| The permits issued for use of
the tennis courts are general and
allow the person to play on any
of them, he said. The permits do
list on the back the "colored" and
white" designations of the courts,
he added.
Segregation is practiced on other
tennis courts which are under
direct control of the Recreation
Department on land the depart
ment considers under it's control
in line with the dual recreation
setup of the city.
I25th Year Celebrated
n ~I1