Evening star., 1926-09-05
16TH.STREET PARK
TOBE BEAUT|F|ED
Meridian Hin Slope. Now Eye
sore, Will Not Get Cas-
cades, However.


A new scheme OF treatment for the
great red clay banks on the south
end Of Meridian Hill Park, al Six
teenth and w streets. is planned
=4ems time in the future. Mai. L. S.
Grant, Sd. director Of the Office of
@euelic Buildings and Public Parks,
said he Is waiting the return to
Washington OF Horace w. Peas!y. the
architect who has been employed for
this work.
In addition TO being glaring eye
Gus to children. a fall from the
great cliffs Of clay might result disas-
trously. During heavy rains great
streams Of water also carry the red
clay into " street Sixteenth street
and New Hampshire avenue.
The new plans are made necessary
because Of the suggestion that has
come from members Of Congress that
no funds will he allowed for such
elaborate treatment Is planned in the
original design OF Mr.. peasiy. which
would cost in the neighborhood Of
100000. These provided for an elab-
crate system Of cascades and water
levels down the center. which would
require the placing Of costly masonry
walls at the various levels. These
levels have been cut for some time,
and the clay banks have been left ex-
posed. with no attempt even 10 sod
the levels or put trailing vines across
the walls.
Early last Spring members Of the
subcommittee on District appropria-
priations committee spent sometime
on the heights Of the Meridian Hill
development, and the plans for its
Treatment were explained to them.
So far as can be learned. however,
nothing has been done toward the i'm.
provement OF this section Of the park.
except that la st year a retaining wall
was constructed on the Fifteenth
street side of the park. This year
there Is available 5000. $1,000 of
which IL for professional services for
the architect who will redesign it.
Some time was spent by the archl-
rect in working out the original plans
for tho treatment of this park. He
made several trips TO Europe TO study
projects parts of which might be
worked into the plans for Merida n
thrown aside and a new plan de-
veloped which will not be SO costly.
hut at least will place the park in
slightly condition until such time as
Congress sees At to provide the money
vith which to carry out the original
plans.
II has not been determined at this
time whether or not the ba nks cut in
the park will be allowed to stand or
will be graded to form continuous
slepe from the present improved sec
tion on the top Of the hill to the side
walk at w street. With the small
appropria tions that have been allowed
it was said, about all that can be done
with the project is to cover 1t with
grass and vines.
With the development of the new
plans and steps toward placing them
into effect will go into the discard
smother Of the projects for the beau.
tifcation OF the Washington park sys-
tenn that has fallen under the economy
drive II was originally intended t"
carry the cascade project over a period
Of years. with provision Of funds for
tres tment Of a small portion OF 1t
each year, but members of Congress
have let il be known they will frown
upon this just now
AS soon as the new plans are de-
veloped which will take some months,
they will be submitted to Congress
with 8 view to getting approval of
the entire project, with an annual
allowance until it is completed. But
II plans calf for only grading and
gFassing. II Is probable that single
Appropriation might take care OF 1t.
with possibly q little now and then
10 work toward the goal set in the
original plans.
Had 1t been possible to go through
with the original cascade project this
would have been one Of the great
show places Of the National Capital,
as there is nothing like it In this sec
ton Of the country