Evening star., 1955-05-20
BY JOHN v. HORNER

A thought uppermost in the
minds of Metropolitan Washing
ton is what to do with leisure
time.
Thanks to the short work week
and an array of wonderful gadg-
cts. nearly everybody now has ex-
ira hours for diversion. The deep
freeze, the automatic dishwasher
and the power mower are helping
parents, like their children, get
opportunity for recreation and
cultural pursuits.
What the people do about this
is considerable. They are support
ing both publicly sponsored and
privately organized ventures for
their own amusement and en-
lightenment.
The 1.8 million residents of
Metropolitan Washington spend
hundreds of thousands of dollars
a year through local governments
on organized community recrea-
ton. They augment this with
many private projects Of their
own.
Swimming Pools Popular
Among the popular innova-
tions are neighborhood swimming
pools. a number of which are
opening this year in our spread
ing suburbs.
A typical project Of the sort
Is the one launched in Fairfax
County by the South Woodley
Civic Association. It opens late
this month.
To defray costs Of construc-
ton, each of 375 families bought
one share in the pool for $3.50.
Then each adult agreed. to pay
$40 a year in dues to cover OPP
Grating costs. In addition to a
regulation swim ming pool.
there1l be a wading pond for
small children.
Alexandria, Arlington and
Montgomery Counties conduct
the most advanced of the subur-
ban tax-paid recreation pro-
grams. The other communities,
for a variety Of reasons. have
not kept pace.
But. public determination be-
ing what 1t is, the chances are
that all will witness a steady ex-
tension of organized activity.
AS matters stand, the oppor-
tunities depend upon where one
lives. Most all areas emphasize
sports for young people. In some
sections you can learn the hula.
take a course in dog obedience.
study art or have the children
instructed in dramatics. There
are courses in tumbling, weav-
ing. swimming and the square
dance.
There are some tennis courts
but few public golf courses in
the counties.
The District, as the oldest
center of population in the met
ropolitan area, has developed
the broadest organized program.
1t now offers everything from
golf to Gaelic.
1873 Fairgrounds in District =
Washington has 1873 play
grounds. nine day camps and
nine adult recreation centers.
The taxpayers spend $1.6 mil
lion a year for such things as
the Children's Theater, athletic
leagues. a folk festival and the
Washington Civic Orchestra.
The city also operates two SWIM
ming pools on its own and six
more in conjunction with Gov
ernment Services, Inc.
Crowded living conditions
deny the District the kind of
elbow room most of the neigh
boring counties enjoy. Neverthe-
. less. the city revels in 1900 acres
in beautiful Rock Creek Park.
The outlying areas recognize
the Importance of park reserva-
tions, too. In a six-year period,
Arlington has devoted 81 million
to a land-acquisition program
for recreation purposes. Nearby
Maryland has many acres in
wooded sanctuaries, which are
patronized heavily in favorable
weather.
Cultural Events Downtown
While recreation may be
found both in and out of the
city, the metropolitan area
looks to downtown Washington
for most of its cultural activ-
tiles. The theater, the sym
phony. art. lectures and the
great libraries are centered
there.
The big concerts are billed in
Constitution Hall. Even the
smaller ones usually are down.
town at Lisner Auditorium. for
example. Opera, when it comes.
10 at the Capitol Theater. The