Evening star., 1949-06-15
Recreation Board Won't End Segregation
AT Fairgrounds Now, May Act in Future

lQ QmTUue
msnxie and are ANXIOUS 70 asoaiss
every kind Of racial Segregation
aa extremely aargs
pcrton of o<zr eitsaeaTy do no; &C
ceps ihas lshefal .Rw.
We must reeosnlae thai saernrnia
are 70 be found ansnsas extremist
IN both Gsfrxtsons who are noscs'
ioussy seeking 10 exalali raeiAl
fer the sole r4sposs
cf eissxsptsng national unity,
ManJ krspend ts Pressure
q. The board mus. not rwssscnc
10 pressure OF criticism from rx'
trenissx, regardless ot their scoe
who viii wish II 10 move
raoEr rapidly or less RAPIDLY than II
The legal responsibility tot
tmnlenentsaE iht:
policy, destined 10 abolish scgr~ga-
ton In public recreation. ss ont
which the board did not scek ea'
must accept as q burden and ai
part OF It's duty,
IS. The board fores~es thrvw
specific dlfneuitses 10 be overcome
First. the posen,aaiitaes Of rasial
friction vary In different parts @.
the city. and vary also according
TO the nature Of intefrsSia
gatherings. This fact must afit
will be a major determinani II
effectuating the boards policies.
Second. IL must be borne /,
mind that the boards ACTIVITIES
consist, not simply OF making
available certain areas and IA
ciii.ies, but also and most TIN
portant OF organising recreation
including competitive sports. FIRE.
play. social. creative. and cultura
programs and the like. under IN,
guidance Of its stat.
1t Is far more diffsculs TO con
duet such organized enterprises OF
an interraeial basis than mefel,
10 make an area available 10 tha
puolic 10 do whatever II wishes
This vital fact is often overlooked
In comparing the boards polio,
with the recently adopted inter.
racial policy OF the Interior De.
partment On local park lands, Ir
this connection. II must be re.
membered that the Interior De.
partment has spent q number oi
years IN the gradual process oi
eliminating segregation In ths
park system.
Selection Of Personnel.
Third. supervisors and In.
structors who will conduct organ.
lied inter-racial recreation pro.
grams must necessarily be selected
regardless Of race. They mus
know how TO deal with both races
In such way as 10 eliminate fric.
ton. prevent any undesirahl,
incident and establish q reputa
ton for complete imparttality,
Such personnel require careful
selection and training. Few O
the boards personnei--competen
and carefully selected as they or,
have had such training. sine,
they have hahitually worked oni,
with members Of their own racs
An essential element In tn
boards program must be tn
training Of It's personnel alon
these lines. This will require tim
and patience.
g. The tnterraciai playgroun,
experiments with the American
Friends Service Committee win b,
conducted through the yoiuntar,
assistance OF an orranixatiu
which has had long experienc.
with the problems involved here
It provides an opportunity for In.
training Of selected stafI member,
In the approach and techniuuei
required for such work.
1T Is heartening TO learn tina,
we have already received offer,
from sufliciept qualified and ex.
perienced personnel now In the de.
partment who have expressed 4
willingness to assist in this project
Upon conclusion Of their relation.
ship with the volunteer repre-
sentatives Of the friends commit.
Tee they may serve as the nucleus
Tor in-service training Of other
who may then be used
for staining additional Playground
where the board viii seek oppor-
tuntties for the progressive ext<n-
sion Of this policy.
Experiment sf Great Importance
This Ia based upon the assump-
ton. ~ seems probable. that the
experiment will prove successful
and satisfactory TO the board and
to the public.
In adopting this stand. the
board Ia embarkinE upon q mo.
mentous experiment OF grsas
TO the entire Nation
II 10 dealing with . serious prob
lem OF human relations for whscf,
there is not and can be no easy
or simple solution. II thIs policy
can be successfully accomplished
In our Capital City. q great for
ward step win have been taken
However. the board remains
mindful Of its primary duty %
provide wholesome. healthfui snd
snjoyable recreation for the entire
community. The ever-inereax,ns
on the Job hoursv Of our aduIts
Ind the unscheduled hours az CIR
foufn necessttate q continual en-.
agreement Of facilities and per.
so9ansl.
As one Of tte salient factors IN
ne maintenance of Community
morale. discipline and solidartty
'ecreasaon b also m important
means Of demonstratsns demo-
rrate principles smons our people
me quality of any civilization or
ndividuAl y usually apparent fn
ne s.se of its leisure time. n Is