Evening star., 1929-06-11
new PARK AREAS
TO Be OPEN SOON
Maryland Commission Acts
to Give Public Benefit of
Two Large Areas.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
STAFF Correspondent OF The Star.

SLIGO, Md, June 11.--New park
areas In Rock Creek Valley, Maryland,
and in the Sligo Valley are to be made
accessible to the public this Summer,
according to Irving G. Root, chief en-
gineer of the Maryland National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission,
who said that steps now are being
taken 10 start the preliminary develop
ment Of the plans recently completed
and made public.
The engineers in Mr. Roots office now
are preparing estimates for the laying
Of the permanent grades and the es-
tablishment of roads, as shown on the
two plans of Rock Greek Park, one for
a project from the Federal park at the
District Of Columbia line TO Connecticut
avenue and the other from Connecticut
avenue to Garrett Park.
Plans Are Recent.
While the plans were only completed
a few weeks ago, it was pointed out that
no time is to be lost to bring them into
reality. AS a matter of fact, some of
the land has been offered to the Mont
gomery County authorities on condition
they Immediately improve it for use as
park purposes, and the officials decided
that the way to show appreciation of
public-spirited citizens who make such
offers Is to start the necessary improve
ments
While it is not proposed to put In
permanent hard-surfaced roads at this
time, as 1t is not believed they are
needed, IL Is planned to construct the
roads OF such material that traffic may
use 1t in all kinds of weather without
having any difficulties. However.
while the roads are being constructed
the permanent grades will be estab-
1ished, so that there will not be any
additional expense on account of this
when 1t later becomes necessary to lay
the permanent surfacing.
Users to BE Counted.
1t is not known at this time Just
which OF the several roads designed to
eventually make up the complete park
system will be built first. but this will
be determined in the course of making
up the estimates for the preliminary
construction.
The main thing, Mr.. Root said, is to
make it possible for the people to get
into the new Rock Creek and Sligo
Park areas and use them this Summer.
a close check will be kept on the num-
eers who use the parks, so that the
engineers then will have available figures
On which to base their future plans
for putting other parts of the proposed
development into use.
The construction proposed for this
Summer, Mr.. Root continued, is for the
purpose Of feeling the pulse of the
people as to their desire for this park
improvement and If it is found that it
meets with a good demand, then the
other parts of the program will be put
into effect.
The commission now has available
fund for park maintenance and i'm
provement as a result of the action
OF the last Maryland Legislature in au-
thorizing that 2 cents of the 7-cent
tax in the suburban district be used
for maintenance. Prior to this legisla-
tive action, all of the money was held
for park land purchase. This will pro-
vide substantial fund for the develop
ment. and it will be spent gradually, to
make available such parts of the pro-
posed projects as the people indicate,
by their use of it. that they are inter-
ested in.