Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-28
PARK EXTENSION
PLANS COMPLETED
Rock Creek Development
viii Eventually Be Con-
tinued to Near Rockville.
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.


useful park space for recreation pur-
poses is provided for in plans just COM
pleted by the Maryland-National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission un-
der the direction of Irving c. Root,
chief engineer. Generally, the plans
provide for a continuation of the Fed
eral park in the District of Columbia,
with which the Maryland project will
connect, and eventually be continued
almost to the town of Rockville, county
seat of Montgomery County.
While roads. bride paths. lakes,
sports areas and the like will be de-
veloped in the area. the Maryland
project will be distinctive from that in
the District because the Planning COM
mission will exert sufficient control
over the adjacent private land as to
control the size of lots, the kind of
buildings, together with provision that
the structures face the park, fronting
on attractive drives to be provided.
First Section Completed.
The first section of the plan, from
the District of Columbia line to a point
north of where the creek crosses Con-
necticut avenue, has just been CONF
pleted by the Planning Commission
engineers, and efforts will be made to
put it into effect as soon as possible.
While no estimate can be given at this
time as to when the project will be
completed, the matter will be given
impetus by the fact that a number Of
the owners of property within the
proposed park area have indicated their
willingness to give large blocks of land.
The knowledge that these publie-spir-
tied landowners were disposed to make
such donations was responsible for the
passage of the bill by the last Legis-
lature, which authorized the use of 2
cents of the 7-eent tax for the main
tenance and improvement OF the areas.
Most of the owners based their offers
on a provision that the land would be
promptly improved as park If they
donated the ground.
Mr.. Root said that this was gen.
erous concession and would materially
assist the planning commission in car
Tying forward the development, al
though it was indicated that it will be
necessary to purchase some of the
property. Not small amount OF 1t Is
in use for farming purposes, and as
large plots of these farms would be
needed, it was pointed out that the
people could not afford to donate it.
Recreation Center Proposed.
A great recreation center is proposed
In the area Immediately adjacent to
the District of Columbia line. The plans
as at present drawn provide there for
two picnic groves, large playfeid, a
boys playheid, an athletic field, music
grove with bandstand, large space for
parking of cars, tennis courts and
wading pool. Horseback riding fields
are provided throughout this area, and
Of ~ feat tYri1 ho
large lake, about a mile long, with
canoe channels squirting out into the
woods at various places. On the shore
will be, according to the plans boat
house and restaurant. The proposed
like would be not more than five feet
deep. and would be made by the con-
stFuction of dam at the junction of
the creek and Jones Mill road
IN order to sequeint those interested
with the details of the project, large
scale plans of the first section now are
being prepared, in color, by the
engineers Of the planning commission
at their headquarters here. and copies
will be hung both in the county build
ing here and in the one in Bethesda
where they may be studied
The proposed large recreation center
close TO the District line will be made
readily accessible, from the District Of
Columbia highways, and TO the built-up
sections in the metropolitan district by
the new Bethesda Silver Spring direct
highway, now expected to be completed
about September !. This highway will
be the northern boundary of the center
Mr.. Root said that the plan just
completed covers about half of the
proposed DEVELOPMENT. Tentative mark
studies. he said, have been completed
70 carry this development to Vier's Mill
road and eventually the scheme will be
carried to the vicinity Of Rockville.
Unique Method Employed.
1.-THE method of preparing the Rock
Greek Park plan was unique" Mr. Root
continued, "as the layout was first
studied on an air map Of the area
Thus the drives and various park fea-
lures could be accurately co-ordinated
with existing features on the ground
such as trees, buildings, roadways and
the creek.
1T is not the intention 10 develop
the park as planned all at one time, but
rather proceed with the development
step by step as the need arises for ad-
ditional park facilities The first step
will be the construction Of the drives
to make the new area available to the
public.
The general policy Of the develop
ment for this area is to conserve the
natural beauty Of the stream valley and
make It readily accessible, with drives
carefully located TO follow the contour
of the ground. The drives viii bound
the park area, so in addition to provid-
ing access to the park they will also
provide very valuable frontage for build
ing sites. The land included in the
park scheme Is low and Hnsuited for
residential purposes, but for park use it
is ideal
1T is the intention of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission to exercise a certain control
of adjoining residential development TO
secure adequate setback, large lots and
protection for the wooded areas"
Land 10 Be Acquired.
The first section, Mr.. Root indicated.
will involve the acquisition Of approx
mately $50 acres from the following
holdings: John Marshall Brown estate.
Cts acres; Hickey and Offutt subdivi-
sion, ll.2 acres: George Dunlop estate.
406 acres; r. T. Ray estate, 42.2 acres
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, So acres
Capt. Chester Wells. 23.i acres: Herman
Winkler. 2 acres; Otto and Ernest Thol-
man, acres: z. w. Birgfeld, 81 acres;
Marian Small, 244 acres; National Park
Seminary, i4.6 acres: H. b. Leary, AIS
acres; B. H Warner, jr.. ais acres.
Mr.. Root said that Capt. Wells and
B. II. Warner. jr., had already indi-
Gated their willingness 20 donate acre
age for inclusion in the project.
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, the Federal park de-
yelopment agency in the District OF
Columbia. has shown considerable in
terest in the Maryland project and
plans, and yesterday requested Mr.. Root
to appear before 1t and explain the
project. For more than an hour, Mr..
Root detailed the plans TO them, and
indicated the proposed system for ac-
curing the land and improving 1t for
park use.
In addition "a TIE racraatinnai faa