Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-13
PLANS BEAUTY SPOT
Program of Col. Cosby for
West Potomac Park.
DRIVES AND ROADS ADDED
Lagoon in View as Substitute for
the Tidal Basin.
PROVISION FOR PEDESTRIANS
Island Seven Hundred Feet Long for
Benefit of Pedestrians-Other
Improvements.
DRIVES AND ROADS ADDED
FOR PEDESTRIANS

Extensive Improvements are being made
by Col. Cosby, the engineer officer in
charge of public buildings and grounds. to
that section of West Potomac Park west
of the tidal basin. between B street and
the river. All the available funds are be-
ing utilized and the work is being exre-
dited in order to make the new features
available to the general public as soon as
possible.
Several new roads have been opened,
many ornamental trees have been planted.
and few new and original forms of i'm
provement have been introduced. The
general scheme is in entire harmony with
the general plans of the Mcmillan park
commission for the development of this
section of the park system Of the District.
With view of making the park more ac-
cessible to the public crossroads have
been opened at the foot of Goth, 21st and
Sd streets. and another new road runs
from the intersection of I'D and B streets
across the park to the circle on Riverside
drive.
Through Center of Park.
Two longer roads run through the cen
ter Of the park from the driveway west
of the tidal basin to the Riverside drive
near it's western curve into 18th street.
These roads are 424 feet north and south,
respectively, of the prolongation Of the
axis from the Capitol to the Washington
Monument.
Until otherwise provided the space be-
tween these two parallel roads will be
treated as an open lawn with grass and
plants. II funds are forthcoming, how
ever, it is designed to utilize this space
for lagoon or lake for the special oene-
At of the juvenile population disposed to
skating in winter and boating, canoeing
and other aquatic sports in the summer
The project contemplates a lagoon be-
tween two and three feet deep, with a
length Of 2,1OO feet and a width or 1U
feet with cross section near the center
about 800 feet long and 200 feet wide.
Substitute for Tidal Basin.
Col. Cosby says this lagoon would be
an excellent substitute for the tidal basin,
which. because of its greater depth and
the movement Of the tides, is not well
adapted to aquatic sports and skating.
The shallowness of the proposed lagoon,
he SAYS, will make it entirely safe for
children, and whenever necessary 1t can
be easily flooded for skating purposes In
the season. In case there Is demand
for them floating lighthouses with In
closed open bottoms, can be placed in the
tidal basin for the use of bathers.
In the improvements now under way
special provision has been made for the
large number Of equestrians who make
their homes in this city. This consists OF
thoroughly up-to-date roadway. exclu-
.ively for mounts Of all kinds. 1t Is fifty
feet wide and 3,1Oo feet long. but little
less than two-thirds of a mile. 1t runs
from q point near the site of the statue
of John Paul Jones at the foot of l7th
street, in q southwesterly direction, 10
its connection with the Riverside drive.
at q point a short distance west OF an
oval driveway being made by the con-
struction OF another road around the
west end of the polo field and the band
stand Riders Row is the name given to
the new road and 1t bids fairs to become
Row in London or the Bots de Boulogne
in Paris.
Island Part Of Scheme.
On one side near its entrance at the
foot Of nth street an island about TOO
feet long will be provided for the bene-
fit of pedestrians who may desire to view
the parade of automobiles, carriages and
other vehicles on Potomac drive on one
side and the parade Of ladies and gentle
men on horseback on Riders Row on the
other side. This point of vantage will be
provided with comfortable seats and
benches, and will be shaded with trees.
With the exception Of the lagoon. all
these Improvements will be completed
within the next few months, and will add
greatly to the effectiveness of that sec
lion of Potomac Park. Not the least
feature of the plans now in process OF
execution is the planting OF a large num-
Der of beautiful trees on both sides Of all
the roads.