Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05
Statue OF Dante, already
placed in the park.
eBY CORINNE FRAZIER.


w HEN the plans for Meridian
n Hill Park. on the heights of
NN Sixteenth street, are c0fnplet-
ed. washington viii have not
only another beautiful resort
70 add 30 It's system of~public parkwayS
for wilic1 it is wor@d-fanlous, but also
Q unique addition 10 its store Of scenic
treasures-an extensive Italian garden
comparable to the historic gardens of
old R1zle. perfect in detail from the
hign-waIled terraces commanding q
superb view Of the city 70 the sparkling
cascades SHILLING their way from a So
RES Oh basins down the slope 70 the
threshold Of a mirror pool below.
It viii be the only PARK OF its type IN
America.
The preliminary scheme was pro-
5ected By George Burnap, landscape
architect. in 1914, following apropria-
tons MADE by an act Of Congress June
25. 1910, providing for the purchase Of
the land The act assigned the money
10 the Department of Interior, but 1t was
transferred 10 the Office Of Public Build
5ngS and Grounds. then under the chief
o. engineers. Since then this Office has
been consolidated with the Office Of the
superintendent Of the State, War and
Navy Department and administered d.
director Of public buildings and public
parks, under whose supervision the con-
struction work o. Meridian Hill Park
Is nov being carried out.
THE general plans for the park have
been redesigned and lie architec-
tGral treatment developed by Horace w,
Peaslee. one-tin1e architect Of public
Buildings and grounds. under the SUPER
vision Of the Fine Arts Commission Of
the Capital. Planting plans we're pre-
pared by WHALE, Bonickern0f and Geif-
fert. landscape architects Of New YORK.
n preparing the plans the architects
did not have in mind simply the idea OF
1gansplanting an italian garden as
novelty IL public parks but rather that
Of borrowing from the experience OF an
Older country with similar climate 70 &C.
%eIop 2 PARK area which the centuries
haye proven 10 them 70 be the most rest
IN and effective under the given concl-
fions Italian Summers and those Of
our Southland are very much alike ~
the intensity Of the heat and general
climatic conditions. With this thought
II mind. the architects have adopted
the Italian ideas 20 design what they
selseTe 70 5e the ideal park AREA for this
climate water 80 every form-~Yerti-
ca vets SPRAYS from wall fountains,
1urb.5ng casca6es and placid pools
p.llI form r par q tire setting, adding
refreshing element which 10 other plan
cgulG supply.
Combined with this Nlji b. the ele-
xaerts e gieE. II ar circulation, Of +
SHADE and NJ music 10 make ri this
pagk q place 0f refuge from the heat,
g. completely isolated from the hurry
AID hustle Of city traffic. despite It's
location almost IN the heart of the
Czpltal. as though 1T were, indeed. 'on
z green bill far away"
Il Is not 70 b. ncighboFnOoo park,
b. park for al If the city, whore
concerts Ylll be- enjoyed after the fash
sof O toe Plucio. near Rome. and the
ACyoposas Ia Athens. Tire BROS 81
TIE alB offers cooling oEeezs and com
for to b. found nowhere else IA the
C3ty
81 Peasiee. IL gathering material
fl his cesignSs spent several months
sn Italy .u 1910 studying gardens and
park visiting oil ~ the famous gar
den o. 1nas country bringing hack a
quantity q photographs and nature
rYaalpRs % f0rn1 1ae background q his
ag3s y]Fal3GE