Evening star., 1926-06-06
PARK ACQUISITION.
ACTION EXPECTED
Planning Commission to
Complete. Organization Here
June 18 and 19.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.

Years of effort spent in acquiring
certain land projects in the National
Capital as a part of the park system
are expected to bear fruit the next
several months. after the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion perfects it's organization at a
meeting here on June is and 10. An
extensive schedule is being planned
for the consideration of the new body,
including perfection of its personnel
and the consideration of the purchase
of certain projects with the 100000
appropriation now available.
Two of the projects which it is
understood Will receive first considera-
ton at the hands of the commission
will be the Patterson tract. at Fifth
and Florida avenue northeast, known
also as Camp Meigs. The other Is
the Piney Branch parkway, starting
on the east side of the Sixteenth
street bridge, and running in a north
easterly direction to Fourteenth and
Varnum streets. the original beauty
of which, however, has practically
been destroyed by builders making
it a dump for dirt from their eXcaVa-
tions in the vicinity. However. 1t
was pointed out that the acquisition
of this project is the most imperative,
because unless the land is quickly
procured it will be possible to fill in
the valley right up to the east side
of the bridge. 1t is the purpose at
least to provide a driveway under the
bridge, and down the Piney Branch
Valley to Rock Creek Park, thus
making it possible for traffic to reach
Potomac Park and the downtown area
without interference from cross traffic
on the city streets.
Long Before Congress.
This tract. together with the Pat
terson tract and klingle Valley, were
for years included in one bill which
was kept before Congress, but never
acted upon, and was one of the prof.
ects which brought about the estab-
lishment of the National Capital Park
Commission, which has now been
merged into the new commission.
1t is known that extensive 1nVestl-
cations have been made and plans
drawn for treatment of the Patterson
tract in it's relation to the Columbia
institution for the Deaf, which it ad-
ioins. and it was pointed out by those
in close touch with the commissions
work, that this tract has better
chance of being purchased this year
than at any time since it first was
mentioned as a site for park and
playground.
1t is one of the very few open
spaces left in the northeast section,
which is short of playground and
recreation space, which has been a
source of much complaint. In an ef-
fort to stop some of these complaints
and FIJI the need, which is admitted,
orders were issued by the park and
manning commission at it's last meet
ing to condemn the land at the north
west corner of Ninth and f streets
northeast. However, since the order
was issued it was found that plans
had been made and contracts let for
the construction of an apartment
there. and the question now Is being
looked into by Government repre-
sentatiyes as to the liability of the
United States If it took this land now.
In view of the fact that the commits
sion itself ordered the condemnation
no\ action will be taken further TO-
ward the condemnation until the facts
are again presented to the commits.
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