Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-02
COMBINING FOR PARK
GEORGETOWN CITIZENS TO DIS
CUSS PLANS.

arrangements have, been made fer a
meeting of the Citizens Association of
, GEORGETOWN. to be held tomorrow evening
at the rooms Of the First Cooperative
Building Association. 1925 Wisconsin ave-
nue.; at $50 o'clock. to discuss the need of
| a park in that portion of Washington west
of Rock creek. The members of this as
ISOLATION and other citizens have agreed to
work together for park, and great enthu-
siasm has been shown.
The proposed site for the park is the old
Montrose tract, generally known the
Boyce place. fronting on r street between
50th and 31st streets. This property con-
tains thirteen and one-half acres of pic
turesque land. which. it is declared is pc
culiarly adapted to such purposes, the 'front.'
age extending from Oak Hill cemetery to
The Oaks" the home of Col. and Mrs.
Blount, about two squares. and extending
back to the ravine In the rear. In the CEN
ter of the portion fronting on r street
stands an old-fashioned house. built many
years ago. but still habitable. On the right
OF the house is grove of venerable oaks,
many of them estimated to be three and
| one-half centuries ODD. On the other side,
to the left, is a rolling lawn of soft green
turf that has not been disturbed for over a
century.
AS the grounds are In perfect condition
the expense of throwing it open to the
public as park would be very small. In
fact, 1t is already a natural park, it 1t
stated and all that is necessary is for
Congress to make the appropriation for its
purchase.
1t is pointed out that the grounds can
be easily connected with the new Massa
chusetts avenue bridge. which is just to
the rear of the Bcyce place. and thus carry
out the pal king system of the District and
at the same time make a very much more
attractive entrance TO Georgetown. 1t was
the original plan when laying out the roads
Ibid t., L; a;+x
chusetts avenue continued through the
Boyce place. but later the idea was given
up.
School Children Benefited.
Another point which has been given much
consideration is that directly across the
street from the proposed park is a large
public school where $50 children attend.
These children, at their recess, between the
morning and afternoon sessions have to be
cooped up in small unattractive school
yards, or, as the only alternative, to roam
the streets. But If this project were ac
compliShed, it Is declared, these $50 chill
dreh would find what is necessary to the
child's life-happy, wholesome play. If it
should prove that the ground would be
harmed by the children playing it
suggestion is made that strip of land on
the east side be set aside for the children's
playground.
The site of this property, it is claimed. is
the highest available open spot In the city;
hence it is the coolest in summer All
other high portions are built up with large
apartments, which necessarily keep off all
breeze.
The Evermay Literary Club, which is
composed of twenty-five ladies of promi-
nent and representative families, is strong
factor at work in behalf of this public bene-
fit. The committee to do the active work
consists of Mrs. Downes Wilson. president;
Mrs. George I'D and Mrs. George Du-
Bose.
Mr.. Smith Thompson jr.. president of the
Citizens Association of Georgetown, has
arranged that Monday evening shall be de-
voted to this cause, and all male citizens of
Georgetown are expected to be present.
One idea of this association Is that the
taxpayers of one portion of the city have
as much right to park have those of
another.
June 80, 1905, the bill for the appropri-
alton Of funds for this purchase passed the
Senate for the second time, but it has not
yet been brought up in the House. How
ever, Congress passed an act providing that
joint committee of both houses be formed
to report in December as to the ACCESSIBILITY
Of carrying out the plan.