Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
ROCK CREEK VALLEY
Interest Revived in Park
Commissions Plans.
METHODS SUGGESTED
PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT OF
LOWER PART OF THE STREAM.
Treatment Of the 1900" and National
Park-Judicious Study of the Whole
Subject Necessary.


The treatment of Rock creek and the pro-
posed parkway from Pennsylvania to
Massachusetts avenue recommended in the
plans of the park commission has been
brought into prominence by the action of
ladies of Georgetown, through whose eff
forts careful consideration has been secured
In the Senate on an amendment to the Dis
trict bill providing for park on George
town Heights in the Montrose tract.
The desrability of a park on Georgetown
Heights is emphasized by the fact that
while not contemplated in the plans of the
commission 1t Is in harmony with those
plans, especially in relation to the beauti-
fication Of that part of the Rock Creek
valley that skirts the heights.
Lower Rock Greek.
Two radically different plans have been
suggested as alternatives in the treatment
Of Rock Creek and it's accompanying park
way from Pennsylvania avenue to Massa-
chusetts avenue.
First. To build a large covered masonry
culvert or sewer for the creek and to fill
around and over this structure so as to
obliterate the valley and raise it to the level
Of adjacent lands, constructing a parkway
or boulevard upon portion of the filled
ldnU ana SuD0lVlQ1ng the remainder into
streets and lots for sale.
Second. To improve the present open
channel of the creek, regrade it's banks and
improve them for park purposes, and to
construct roads and paths within the park
thus formed, spanning the valley by fire.
quent street bridges to provide close con-
nection with Georgetown.
THE Massachusetts avenue crossing over
Rock creek has been designed and is I'M
der construction as culvert and fill upon
the assumption that the first plan will be
carried out, but although this fill will in
terfere with the perfect execution of the
open valley plan, the park commission rec
commended the definite adoption of the lat
ter on grounds of economy, convenience
and beauty.
The sights Of the inland region between
pennsylvania avenue and @ street are for
the most part shabby, sordid and disagree
able. North of @ street the valley becomes
very attractive and takes on something of
the sylvan character which it has in it's
upper portion. The park commission be-
lleved that a branch drive should lead to
Sheridan circle and the main drive should
rise along the easterly side Of the valley so
as to get plunging view and so as to pass
just under Massachusetts avenue, permit
ting an easy connection with 1t, From this
point to the Geological Park there are no
serious difficulties, and the problem reduces
itself to one Of careful and judicious de-
tailed adjustment of the construction to
the topography and vegetation of the val
ley.
The Geological Park.
The Geological Park, 40 acres In extent.
lies along Rock creek about two miles from
Its mouth and directly northwest from the
central part Of the city. Although regular
ly open to the public as place of recrea-
ton, the purpose OF the park is distinctly
specialized. namely. to preserve and exhibit
q collection OF living animals under agree
able and natural surroundings. The health
OF the animals and convenience Of the pub
lie In seeing them must be the controlling
considerations here. and the natural land
scape OF the park although Of recognized
importance, must necessarily be modified
and adapted to the provision Of numerous
buildings and fences, roads and paths, and
the need of bare ground or pavement that
Is caused by crowds of people and herds of
animals. The natural condition of rugged
sylvan wildness could not the commission
held, consistently be maintained in the
park. but the steep topography and the
passages of untouched woods suggest a
picturesqueness in the style and arrange
ment Of the artificial construction which
has been followed for the most part sue
cessfully.
In the future development Of the park
there are two dangers to be guarded
against-the introduction. on the one hand.
Of buildings of other construction or planta-
lions Of a highly organised and formal
character, out of harmony with the charac
ter already adopted; and on the other, the
confusion due to the scattering of numer-
Gus structures and features without any
method OF massing. There is always the
danger too, In attempting picturesque and
rugged effects In a place resorted to by
large crowds, that the accommodation for
the crowds will be made insufficient
through fear of making the paths, roads.
sleeps and the like too conspicuous, with
the result that the crowds overflow the
places made for them and reduce the whole
park to shabbiness. One of the most i'm
portant points, therefore, in the continued
Improvement of the Geological Park Is to
watch it's use carefully; to forecast to flu
ture use by larger crowds, and to provide
such accommodations that the people will
be led always to concentrate their wear
and tear on the places prepared to with
stand 1t, leaving the remainder fresh and
wild looking, to give character to the
whole.
Rock Creek Park.
Rock Creek Park occupies the valley Of
the creek from the Geological Park north
ward to the District line. including an area
of 1.6O5.9 acres. varying in width from less
than 300 yards to little over mile, with
a total length of about four miles. The
valley Is crooked and narrow, and thanked
by steep, high and thickly wooded hills.
In the southern part of the park some Of
the hill tops are comparatively level but
with the exception of these limited plateaus
and a few narrow strips of bottom land
along the creek the whole area is billy
in the extreme. Most of the lands are
siderable age and beauty, especially in the
narrow and gorge-like portions OF the val
ley, offering some very beautiful sylvan
scenery.
This has been recently made accessible
by macadamized road. known as Beach