Evening star., 1927-04-20
18TH ST. ENTRANCE
TOPARK IS OPPOSED
Fine Arts Body Urges EIimi-
nation of Avenue to Terrace
of Meridian Hill.

Changes in the design for compile
tion of Meridian Hill Park, providing
for elimination of the proposed en-
trance leading from Sixteenth street
to the Terrace on which the statue
Of Jeanne Dare stands, were sug-
gested today by the Commission OF
Fine Arts.
In a letter to Lieut.. Col. u. s.
Grant, Sd. of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, the
hodv which will superintend the work
of compIetion of the park, the fine
arts body points out that omission
Of the entrance on Sixteenth street
will save money and at the same
time be of advantage to the design
of the park The decision was maze,
the commission letter salo' atteI
charles A. Platt and William Mitchell
Kendall had inspected model OF
the park in the Office of Feruclo
Vitale in New York.
Letter of Commission.
The letter follows:
"Since the discussion of Meridian
hin Park matters with the Senate
committee on appropriations and In
view of the very large expenditures
that must be made in order to put
that park in condition, it has seemed
hest to go over the plans carefully
in order TO see how the appropriations
made by Congress can be spent most
advantageously. AS the commission
understand the wording of the appro-
priation for the coming year we con-
ceive that YOU have about $4,000 TO
= Ic Ya1
"a preliminary survey suggested to
the commission that the entrance
leading from sixteenth street to the
terrace might be eliminated without
ietriment, and indeed with positive
advantage to the design. This idea
was conveyed to Mr.. Charles A. Platt
and Mr.. William Mitchell Kendall,
both of whom were members of the
commission at the time the plan for
Meridian Hill Park was under dis
cussion.
''Mr. PIatt and Mr.. Kendall made
their examination in the Office of Mr..
F7erucio Vitale, who has had charge
of the planting in the park. 1t is the
opinion of all three that it will be of
advantage to the design of the park
TO omit this entrance altogether. Mr..
Platt calls attention to the fact that |
no studies have been made to con- |
meet the entrance with the terrace.
Commission Advantageous.
"At this juncture the Commission |
of Fine Arts inspected first the plans |
and then the park itself. The members
were convinced that it would be a |
positive advantage to the design OF |
the park to omit this entrance. The |
distance between the broad entrance |
on Sixteenth street leading to the plat |
form and the Buchanan Memorial, in |
the lower garden, together with the |
two entrances further up Sixteenth /
street, provide ample facilities TO the
public entering the park. The ramp at
the corner of Sixteenth and w streets
permits further access.
1.-THE commission, therefore, sug-
gests that coincident with the compile
ton of the walls and entrances speci-
fed, as much money as can be prop. |
erly expended on grading be so ex-
pended, with the view to getting the |
park into presentable shape. This will |
help to secure the necessary appropri-
ations for the terrace and cascade.
There have been so many changes |
in the w street wall and entrances |
since the plan now hefpge the Com |
mission Of Fine ArsS MSS made that |
the commission would be pleased to
have a study of that section of the |
park submitted for consideration at /
the meeting the latter part Of May" /