Evening star., 1923-09-06
MANY new PARKS
SOUGHT BY HAzEN
D. c. Surveyor Advocates
Purchase of Sites North
of Florida Avenue.

Acquisition of available park areas
north of Florida avenue, the original
limits of the city as laid out by Maj.
rEnfant. In order that this section
OF the city will not be confronted in
future years with lack of parks, is
urged by Melvin c. Hazen, District
surveyor, in his annual report for the
last fiscal year. submitted today to
the Commissioners The rapid de-
veiopment of Washington beyond
Florida avenue, Mr.. Hazen said,
threatens the destruction of remain
ing park spaces.
The District surveyor recommended
that comprehensive park plan
should be worked out in keeping with
the development of the city and urged
the acquisition of several specific
sites. He also advocated the preser-
walton and connection of the old civil
war forts about the city as part of
the park plan.
The new Washington being created
beyond Florida avenue will not have
the liberal park area the old Wash
inEton has," said Mr.. Hazen, "and IL
certainly is reflection upon the
present generation not to provide for
more recreation space for the future
population of this rapidly growing
city.
Recommends Purchases.
While it is believed that COM
prehensive park plan would be de-
sirable, this office has. however, from
time to time recommended specific
tracts for parks where there is dam
ger of their being lost to the park
system. These are Piney Branch
parkway east of 10Th street, Klingle
road valley and Patterson tract. Es-
pecially do l wish to call your atten-
ton to the rapid encroachment upon
Piney Branch and Klingle road valley.
They have already been much re-
duced in area, and it is my firm belief
that Piney Branch parkway will be
lost IL not acquired within the next
year.
'KlIngle Ford valley should be made
the link connecting Potomac Park on
the south with Rock Creek Park
on the north. This would eliminate
the necessity of traffic passing
through the Geological Park, which
Is a playground for children, where
traffic should be restricted. If this
link Is acquired it will make d con-
tinuouS park from Haines point, at the
extreme south end of Potomac Park,
to the extreme north end of Rock
Creek Park. at the northerly boundary
of the District. There is probably no.
where to be found such Il beautiful
chain of parks. with it's varying
scenery from the natural. rugged.
wooded hillsides to the beautifully
created parks along the Potomac"
Would Denutify Streets.
A uniform treatment of all parking
space between building lines along
streets in the residential sections of
kn x,ff {c nl,r Lxyt =,
1T is believed that legislation
would be necessary to accomplish this
result. and an initial appropriation
may be needed, after which 1t might
be reimbursed by assessment against
the abutting property owners similar
to tthe establishment and mainte-
nance of sidewalks.'
Js7 New Subdivisions.
Five hundred and eighty-seven new
subdivisions of farm land were pre-
pared by the surveyors office during
the year, Mr.. Hazen reported. This
was an increase of fifty-five over ne
preceding year. The number of sub
divisions recorded was 496, an in
crease of twenty-six over the pre-
vious year. There were forty-two
street and park condemnation cases
and seventeen alley cases before the
courts during the year. Thirteen
street and park and nine alley cases
were confirmed and total damages al
lowed for property taken for streets
and parks amounted to S130,7S0.39 and
314,979.64 allowed for alleys.
Condemnation proceedings under
consideration and which will be in
stttuted this year, according to the
report, include: Widening of Broad
Branch road from Rock Creek to the
District line; widening of Benning
road east of Benning. and widening
of Sheriff road and Canal road. west
of Georgetown.
A total of 5.122 surveys were made
during the last year, as compared
with 4.135 the year before. The total
number of plats drawn in books was
1859. as compared with 12,1O0 the
preceding year.
Mr.. Hazen said that the opening
of several streets provided in the
street plan of the city is not possible
because they are blocked by build
fngs and the cost of condemning
them and assessing the abutting
property owners would be prohibitive