Evening star., 1951-06-27
Hearing on Plea
For2Bi-RaciaI
Sci
Board Also Orders
Study on 3 Others
In BrookIund Area
By Colt HendIey, Jr.

today had under study a plan to
operate a bi-racial program at the
Raymond Playground and the New
York Avenue Playground.
The board called public hear
ing for l pm, July S, at which
citizens groups in the two affected
areas will be invited to appear.
This action came yesterday after
the boards transaction committee
received from Milo Christensen,
Recreation superintendent, re-
port on the playground situation.
In addition to recommending
that these two Fairgrounds be
made bi-racial Immediately, Mr..
Christensen also recommended
that studies be instituted to see
if eight other white Fairgrounds
in transitional areas" should be
opened to all races.
Seven of the eight are in
Northeast Washington and one
in the Southwest section.
The Fairgrounds to be studied
are Turkey Thicket, Tenth street
and Michigan avenue NE; Edge
wood, Third and Evarts streets
NE; Noyes, Tenth and Franklin
streets NE; Hoover, Second and
N streets S.W.; Rosedale, Seven
teenth and Gales streets NE:
Sherwood, Tenth and G streets
NE; Trinidad, Trinidad avenue
and Meigs street NE, and Lang
ley. First and T streets NE.
At the meeting yesterday, the
Recreation Board heard colored
residents of the Brookland area
demand that Turkey Thicket,
Edgewood and Noyes be made BIZ
racial.
Other Groups Protest.
White citizens from Brookland
also appeared to protest the
opening of the three play
grounds to all races, although
several groups did say that the
Noyes playground probably should
be shifted to colored use.
Raymond Playground is located
at Tenth street and Spring road
NV. adjacent to the Raymond
Elementary School. The school is
a white grade school and the play
ground is designated white.
The New York Avenue Play
ground is at First street and New
York avenue NV, near the Ter
ren Junior High School. The
school serves colored students,
but the playground has been des-
ignated white playground. Last
year the Recreation Board allowed
the Terrell students to use it dur
ing school hours, but it is op-
Grated as white unit after school
is out.
Mr.. Christensen said all the
Fairgrounds in question serve
areas where colored residents are
increasing in number.
Frank M. Snowden, jr., repre-
Senting seven colored organiza-
tions from Brookland, made the
plea for the open Fairgrounds at
the board meeting. He represented
the Slowe Elementary School PTA,
the Brookland Civic Association,
the Girl Scouts from the neigh
borhood, the Fathers-Sons Club,
the Mothers Club, the Garden
Club and the Teen-Age Club.
Partly Colored Area.
He said that, although colored
families have lived in the Brook
land area for many years, the
Recreation Board has never made
any attempt to provide outdoor
recreation space for colored chill
dren.
Also supporting Mr.. Snowden's s
plea were Frank Coleman of the
Veterans Civic Club of Brookland
and Police Pvt. Oliver A. Cowan,
director of the Junior Police and
Citizens Corps, who said he spoke
at the request of the colored boys
of Brookland who were members
OF his organization.
Mrs. Louise Parent of the Brook
land Citizens Association told
board members her group is op-
posed to changing either Turkey
Thicket or Edgewood from white
Fairgrounds. She suggested that
a study be made of the Noyes
Playground, however, as it is Gin
a colored area" and possibly could
take care of the colored children
of Brookland.
Further Opposition.
Ralph w. Donnelly, president of
the Northeast Council of Citizens
Associations, also opposed chang
ing Turkey Thicket and Edge
wood. He recommended a study
of the Noyes situation also, as it is.
he said, in a changing neighbor-
hood"
Others also suggesting that
Noyes be studied as a possibility
for colored playground were
Mrs. Dorothy Herbert of the Mon
roe Community Council, and Mrs.
Helen Fritz of the Dahlgren Ter
race Citizens Association. Both
opposed changes to the other two
Fairgrounds.
Mrs. Mary A. Kane of the Mich
igan Park Citizens Association
and Mrs. Martin A. Kelly of the
Michigan Park Garden Club also
objected to a change at Turkey
Thicket.
Joseph L. Trainer of the Noyes
School PTA opposed any change
at Noyes.
Mrs. Marsha Brewington of the
Trinidad Community Association,
called for bi-racial Fairgrounds
in the Trinidad area.
An interested spectator was
Robert G, Albrook, special as
sistant to Senator Case, Repub-
lican, of South Dakota. Senator
Case is on the Senate District
Committee and has assigned Mr.
Albrook to look into local affairs
for him.