Description
The Federal Emergency Relief Administration and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) funded improvements at the McMillan Playground in Washington DC.
Completed between 1935 and 1938, the work consisted of “Fencing (2,400 feet, 8-foot); completed installation of drainage system.”
The WPA completed the following work:
1935-1936, “new recreation building, begun under Civil Works Administration, carried forward to 70% completion; 4 tennis courts subgraded; grading 500 cubic yards.” (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1936)
Federal Art Project, 1935-1936, “A fine set of murals depicting games of the eighteenth century has been carved in wood and painted for the McMillan playground house…” [artist not named]. (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1936)
1936-1937, “Resumed construction of recreation building, from 70 percent to 90 percent complete.” (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1937)
1937: WPA, Federal Art Project, “Under the Federal art project the wood carvings for McMillan field house advanced and a model of the building was constructed for exhibition.” (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1937)
1937-1938, “Construction of house 95 percent complete; steps and Federal art project murals installed.” (Report of the Government of the District of Columbia 1938)
Source notes
Report of the Government of the District of Columbia, For the Year Ended June 30, 1935, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1936, p. 116.
Report of the Government of the District of Columbia, For the Year Ended June 30, 1936, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1936, pp. 161-162.
Report of the Government of the District of Columbia, For the Year Ended June 30, 1937, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1937, p. 125.
Report of the Government of the District of Columbia, For the Year Ended June 30, 1938, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1938, p. 179.
Project originally submitted by Brent McKee on August 30, 2020.
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal project site.
SUBMIT MORE INFORMATION OR PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS SITE