Evening star., 1902-01-15
purposes, with encircling drives. walks and
The Anacostia Water Park.

purposes, with encircling drives. walks and
pleasure grounds
The AnacOstia Water Park.
"a water park on the upper stretches of
the Anacostia as planned is calculated to
furnish a much-needed variety in the Dis
trict park system Those persons who have
visited the Thames on the occasion of a
London holiday readily appreciate the en-
ormous use which the people make of that
narrow stream, the surface of which at
times seems to be literally covered with the
different kinds of light craft. In Belle Isle
Park, in the city of Detroit, the creation of
shallow lakes and connecting canals de-
veloped boating in summer and skating in
winter to such an extent that often tens of
thousands of people daily enjoy an island
that for years was little else than a series
Of marshes. Given the opportunities for
enjoyment, the people are quick to seize
upon them and once realized, 1t seems as
tonishing that chances for pleasure have
so long been neglected.
tThe creation of a water park, with drive
ways surrounding it, being the suggested
treatment of the Anacostia above the head
of navigation, the lower portion of the
stream to it's junction with the Potomac
may well be treated proposed by the
gineers, namely, by the construction OF
walls along the borders of the channel
and filing in the fats. The present limited
wharf frontage of Washington makes 1t
certain that as the city increases In size
that portion Of. the Anacostia frontage
from its mouth to the navy yard will be
needed for business purposes. 1t is i'm
portant, however, that a broad parkway
connection be maintained along the river
IN order to connect the Anacostia Park
with the Potomac Park, and for this work
line of stone quays overlooked by ter
races, as on the Seine in Paris, may be
used to excellent advantage.
'The long island lying between the Wash
ington channel and the main channel of
the Potomac should he treated In Snch a
manner as to afford shaded drives and
walks along the water, with frequent boat
landings, SO as to make the park accessible
to the section of the city which it adjoins
The work of the engineers has been Of such
character that the island can be develop
ed at comparatively small expense, and at
the same time a portion .of the city in
great need of park space will be well ac-
commodated.
The River Front.
THE necessity of rebuilding the wharf
age on Washington channel, which recent
ly has come into the undisputed possession
of the District Of Columbia, makes it nee
essary to decide as to the character of the
new wharves. The War Department has
recently established the engineers school
and the war college on what is known as
the Arsenal grounds, and this property will
be greatly improved within the near future
THE rebuilding of the wharves should be
In keeping with these prospective improve
ments; and fortunately the rental value of
the frontage will be sufficient to provide
for the ultimate payment Of the cost Of
permanent work as We'll as the mainten-
ance of the same.
''The ebb and flow Of the tide in the
channel should not be impeded by slips
that collect refuse, but should be accelerat-
ed by continuous line of masonry uuays
to correspond with the miles of masonry
work already constructed by the engineers
to form the river walls Of the Potomac
Park. AS business demands
the pfling should be arranged so as to pro-
vide for clear tidal flow. Then the wide
thoroughfare known as Water street may
be treated as driveway between the Po-
tomac Park and the Anacostia Park
The Plans and Models.
"In working out their plans the commits
sion found it necessary to have prepared,
under their direction, models in plaster of
the sectiop Of the city from the Library of
Congress westward to the Potomac. These
models, SO indispensable to the designers,
become the guides for carrying out the
plans. SO that, no matter how long period
of time the work may cover, there need be
no departures from the approved designs.
I'm order to give a more detailed treat
ment of particular features than models on
so small a scale afford, detailed archi-
tectural drawings first have been made and
then have been rendered by capable illus
traitors. so that the appearance of the COM
courtesy of the trustees Of the Corcoran
Museum Of Art the models and studies
have been placed on exhibition at that gal-
lery, where they are open to public IN
spection.
Concentration of Authority Necessary.
'"The plans as prepared call for system
attic, continuous work, which must of neces-
sity be prolonged over a considerable num-
ber Of years. The parks and reservations
are now under the control of various Off
GERS and boards, all working with zeal in
deed, but not always in harmony and CO.
operation. In order to promote economy
and efficiency park commission should he
created and in it's charge the entire BARK
system of the District of Columbia snoslId
be placed. This commission should be ma
tional rather than local in character and
should do its work under the immediate
control Of the chief executive of the United
States.
The Cast of Carrying Out the Plans.
obviously 1t is impossible to make any
detailed estimate of the cost of carrying
out the plans submitted. Nor is sucn an
estimate necessary. From time to time
new public buildings must be constructed,
public spaces must be secured and in-
proved. and those facilities which city life
demands must be supplied. So fast an
1arRuA n>A<4A -Inln - IT, - "a