Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-08
The Connecting Park.

The enactment In the puOuc DuiuiH6o
bill of authorization for the purchase OF
land lying along lower Rock creek 70
connect the Rock Creek and Potomac
Park systems, Is the elimination OF years
If effort. It is the most important step
forward In the park development Of the
canital now possible in the present state
If the work. 1t is the first and In some
respects the most essential of series
Of park-connecting improvements that,
when completed. will give Washington
the most extensive and useful chain OF
p,rtlic recreation spaces in the world
simultaneously with the acquisition or
the upper Rock Creek valley for park
purposes. it was urged upon Congress
that the entire creek area should be
taken. to preserve its natural beauties
and to prevent the development or un-
slightly and unwholesome conditions. This
admonition was neglected and the park
plan was confined to the requirement OF
the upper range, leaving the lower Sec
tion exposed to deterioration. Millions
of cubic yards of dirt and trash were
dumped into this once beautiful valley.
its forest-xrown slopes were rendered
htdeous and in the lower stretches
at0VenIY
.foothold, rendering this part Of the Dis
trict one Of the eyesores OF the National
Capital. In desperation the citizens were
at one time willing and almost anxious
that the entire space be filled and turned
over permanently to residences and pusi-
ness uses, carrying Rock Creek through
to the river by q tunnel fortunately
this expedient was not adopted and the
lower creek was preserved from such IT.
revocably destructive treatment in the
hope that ultimately Congress would
recognize the opportunity and the neces-
sity Of adopting the open valley park
treatment.
Meanwhile Potomac Park had been
created by the reclamation Of the fats
and q great marsh had been transformed
into one Of the most attractive OF the
city.s public reservations. Then the logic
Of connecting Rock Greek and Potomac
marks became apparent and the enorts
AZ those who recognized the remarkable
opportunity Of the open valley treatment
were redoubled. Year by year conditions
In this neglected area became worse. al
though the dumping Of materials had
been forbidden, and in large degree pre-
vented. At each session Of Congress the
friends Of capital park development tried
TO secure authorization to condemn the
comparatively small area needed. The
opportunity came unexpectedly in pub
lie buildings bill In which so many legis-
lators were directly interested on the
score Of their own particular projects that
II was possible for the earnest advocates
Of the connecting park. headed by Sen
ator Root, to hold this item in the bill
in conference against all opposition.
With this comparatively short con-
Meeting link acquired. throwing Po-
tomac and Rock Creek parks into
conjunction, a stretch of over ten
miles of continuous parkway will be at
forded. from the southern tip Of Potomac
Park to the District line boundary of
Rock Creek Park. all of it of exceptional
attractiveness. When the lower portion
Of Potomac Park. south OF the railroad
bridge. is fully improved. It will be pos
sible by driving down the Mall to the
eastern side Of this section to pass along
the Washington channel to the tip and
then back up along the main channel to
into Rock Creek Park proper, returning
southwark from the upper boundary by
a different road and giving. with a very
slight duplication Of route, a drive of
from twenty to twenty-five miles Of un-
interrupted parkway, which has no equal
for natural beauty. The value Of this
connecting link is thus to be appreciated
when reckoned in terms of the oppor-
tunity it will afford for unapproached
consecutive park facilities.