Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-09
HUGE PLAYGROUND
|SPLAN OF COSBY
Elaborate Improvement of
Eastern Section of Poto-
mac Park Proposed.
GREAT STADIUM ONE
PROJECTED FEATURE
Provision Made for All sorts Of
Outdoor Sports by Engi.
neer Officer.

neer Officer.
| Ella borate plans have been prepared by
Col. Cosby. the engineer officer In charge
of public buildings and Rounds for the
| comprehensive Improvement Of that Sec
tlon OF Potomac Park lying east Of the
PennsyiVania railroad embankment, with
view to its conversion into a model
playground for the people Of tho District
suitable Tor all classes Of outdoor sports.
these plans involve the expenditure Of
much more money than II now available
| Tor the purpose. but they are highly in
oorsed by the of1cials generally, and un
| doubtedly will be laid before Congress
with view to obtaining appropriations
| necessary to carry them into effect In the
early future.
| The principal feature Of the approved
project is the erection Of a great stadium
at the widest part Of the newly reclaimed
peninsula just east OF the railroad en-
| bankment Of a size and character suit
able for holding the annual foot ball
games between the West Point and An
napolis teams. and similar national and
sporting events
| Would Cost Large Sum.
Such structure undoubtedly would
cost a great deal of money. but It's ad-
vocates contend that the outlay would
be more than Offset by it's value as a
means of amusement and instruction to
the general public. In addition, the plans
make provision for public golf links. base
ball diamonds tennis courts. croquet
| lawns and similar legitimate games
With a view to making the Fairgrounds
| more easily accessible than at present
| 1t Is suggested that boat landings be es-
| tablished at intervals along the north
| side of the peninsula for use as ferries
| from the city side whenever some big
| event scheduled Is likely to attract large
crowds.
| AS these plans have not yet assumed
official shape to the extent Of being sub
mitted to Congress- the officials say they
| are not in shape for public consideration.
| For that reason the officials show a de-
| cided reticence in the discussion OF any
| of the details at this time.
Boulevard Being Built.
| Regardless of the future action OF Con-
gress. the officials Of the War Depart
| ment have arranged for immediate i'm
| provement of the east section Of the park
| to the extent of their ability with avail
| able funds. The principal Improvement.
| now we'll under way. is the construction
of a macadamized boulevard entirely
around the water sides Of the peninsula.
| 1t Is about three miles in length and is
| designed as an extension Of the existing
| boulevard In the western section, of the
park. In part along the riverside from
| 26th street to the Pennsylvania rail-
road bridge. For most Of its length the
new driveway is lined with beautiful
trees, sycamores and other shade trees.
| 1t Is of modern construction and thor
ouEhly drained. 1t is supplemented by a
good dirt road for equestrians and by
sidewalks for pedestrians. These roads
for all classes Of travel parallel one
| another and are just inside the sea wall
| which surrounds the entire peninsula.
| 1t Is the area within these roads. esti-
mated at BIO acres. that Is to be trans
formed into a recreation park within the
fun limits of the appropriations already
made by Congress and others hoped for
In the future.
Asked to vacate Tract.
As an incident to the use of available
appropriations in continuing the improve
ment Of the new section the Secretary OF
War has asked the Secretary of Agricul-
ture to vacate the area on the park just
east Of the railroad embankment. occu-
pied by a branch of that department in
experimental farming. The act of Con-
gress approved March 3. 1889. authorized
the Secretary of War Ito grant permits
sion to the Department of Agriculture for
the temporary occupancy of such areas of
Potomac Park. not exceeding a total of
seventy five acres in extent, as may not
be needed in any one season for the rec
lamation or park Improvement, the said
area to be used by the Department Of Ag-
riculture as testing grounds.
1t was provided that nothing herein
contained shall be construed to change
the essential character Of the lands so
used, which lands shall continue to be a
public park as provided in the act ap-
proved March 3 1897" 1t was provided
also that said area or areas shall be va
Gated by the Departmen of Agriculture
at the close of any season upon the re-
quest of the Secretary of War and pro-
vided further that the entire park shall
| remain under the charge of the Secretary
of War
Under that act the Department of Ag-
riculture was granted permission to occu
Ply the area just east of the railroad en-
bankment and various agricultural exper-
iments have been conducted there during
| the past thirteen years.
Needed for improvements.
| In his letter to the Secretary of Agri-
| culture, Secretary Garrison cites that law
| and says the sundry civil act of June %
1913, appropriated $1,000 for the care and
| Improvement of the portion of Potomac
| Park east OF the railroad embankment.
| In order that the work under that appro-
priation may be begun and carried on as
rapidly as possible he requests the De-
partment Of Agriculture to vacate the
| areas now occupied by 1t at the close of
the present season. That portion of the
park is needed. he says, for the park i'm
provements projected under the law
| When the agricultural lands are vacated
| in conformity with this notice ali OF the
reclaimed area east Of the railroad en-
| bankment will be available for park pur-
poses, except small portion on the
| Washington channel near the head of the
Washington channel at the outlet to the
| tiday basin, which Is occupied by the
storehouses and other structures Of the
engineer officer in charge of the improve
ment of the navigation OF the Potomac