Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-21
HIS VIEWS ADVERSE
TO |NTER|OR PARKS
District Surveyor Hazen Ques-
lions Benefits Derived From
That Form of Playground.

Questioning the benefits derived from
the conversion of Willow Tree Alley,
tails vice spots" into an interior
park. District Surveyor Melvin c. Haz-
en-, in his annual report 10 the Commits
sioners today. urges that insanitary al
leys hereafter be developed into minor
streets rather than interior parks.
Willow Tree Alley Park, he asserts.
has been acquired at an expense of
thousands of dollars. yet few persons
visitor. nor the majority of our citi-
zens. never saw or received any benefit
from this kind of park, states the
report.
Continuing it says:
There is no doubt of urgent neees-
sity for lettering these localities of
vice and insanitary conditions, but the
conversion of them into interior parks
is not believed to be the most desira bic.
for the idea and whole object of a park
is that it should be for the benefit of
the greatest number of people. afford
ing a place of recreation and pleasure
and at the same time serving the great
purpose of identifying and making
more attractive the city.
Enumerates Objections.
""These interior parks would be sur
rounded by fnsanitary back yards,
from which there would be objection
able odors, and the backs of houses
with all their Objectionable features
exposed to the parks.
MANY of these houses would be in
habited by undesirable tenants. whose
influence and mode of living would be
anything but agreeable to the park
idea. An Investigation of Willow Tree
alley, converted into park, is con-
opened wide to the streets. and not
entered, as is done in this case by a
narrow, Objectionable alley. l do not
believe that the better class of citi-
zens would permit their children to
pass up these alleys into these interior
recreation parks"
In Mr.. Hazen's opinion the better
treatment OF insantary alleys would
be to convert them into minor streets
to run through tre square from street
to street. providing for parkway be-
tween and two fronts for the remain-
ing lots. In squares where this treat
ment could not be used, he states, a
minor street could be opened through
the square, thus eliminating many OBJ
iections raised to the interior inha b.
tied alley.
I'm most cases, with this kind of
treatment, states the surveyor, "bene-
fits could be found equal to the dam
ages, while ] can see little benefit in
the interior park scheme. This plan
could be extended throughout the city
with much less cost, at the same time
eliminating many Objectionable alleys.
The minor street scheme would add
revenue from taxes, while the other
would be heavy burden imposed.
81 recommend that the law be so
changed that the entire cost need not
be assessed upon the remaining prop
erty benefited
Surveyors Recommendations:
Among the recommendations in the
surveyors report are that an appro-
priation of $1,000 be made to cover the
cost of survey for condemnation of
streets in Barry Farm.
He also proposes that minor street
be extended from Georgia avenue to
Florida avenue, about opposite the
base ball park, so that the Georgia
avenue car line could be brought
through this street, connecting with
it's present 9Th street tracks. The plan,
which is designed to relieve congestion
of traffic in that vicinity during the
base ball season, previously has been
recommended by the surveyor.
Mr., Hazen urges that Rock Creek
drive and Lovers lane between Massa-
chusetts avenue and X street DE con-
demned ana improved anu tIdI lIlc
Commissioners secure legislation au-
thorizing them to abandon old county
roads when they become useless and in
some cases a hindrance.
Discusses Park Needs.
With reference to the Districts park
needs, Mr.. Hazen says that action
should be taken to acquire Piney
Branch parkway running northeast
from 18th street and Piney Branch so
as to connect with the municipal hos
pital. This park was recommended by
the park commission in 1902 and pre-
viously had been recommended by the
District Commissioners.
This land has much natural beauty,
and is well adapted for park purposes"
states the report, but 1t Is now rapidly
being destroyed, and besides the land
is rapidly increasing in value. 1t is
only q question of time when this val
ley will become as great nuisance and
eye-sore as the Rock Creek valley.
which, as is well known, is now a
great insanitary dump"
Recommendation is made by the sur
veyor that authority be given to ac-
ouire a small park at the west end
of the new @ street bridge, with con-
nection along the westerly boundary OF
oak Hill cemetery to the Georgetown
Heights. The estimated cost of this
project is $4,000.