Evening star., 1931-12-26
PARK BOARD LISTS
FIVE YEARS. WORK
Report DisCIoses Resistance
Met From Some UItra-Con-
servatiVe Officials.

Surveying five years work in its an
nual report made public today. the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission said that in general it had the
cooperation of public and private in
terests IN the Washington metropolitan
area, but that some officials have ham
pered its activities The report failed to
name these officials.
''AS was to be expected. resistance has
been encountered from ultra -conserva-
tive officials, who naturally resist any
change in their established routine, and
from private interests as we'll as in
dividual Government agencies who pre-
fer an inadequate and merely eXpedient
solution of problem to a better and
generally advantageous solution at a
Slightly greater price" the report said
On the whole. however. the commits
sion has found unexpected support in
most quarters, and has been happy to
experience the readiness of most execu-
tlVeS to concur in any and every well
thought out plan, and has received CO.
operation from architects. Landscape
architects, builders and real estate men
to an extent that was hardly expected,
and which is the best evidence of the
public spirit with which most of them
attack their problems"
Accomplishments Listed.
The commission listed these among
its accomplishments during the past five
years:
A thoroughfare plan for the District
of Columbia, together with acceptance
by the municipal authorities of stand
ard street widths and sidewalks.
Plans for complete system of city
parks. Fairgrounds and neighborhood
recreation centers.
Legislation and authorization of ap-
preparations for the purchase of the
land needed for the park and recreation
system of both the city and region.
A study of railroad and terminal
facilities and plans for relocations where
needed.
Plans for future commercial water
front development.
Plan for improvement of existing
street car lines and their development
to meet new requirements relating espe-
cially to the Federal building program.
Studies and recommendations to the
appropriate, officials relating to city,
planning elements of the Federal build
ing program.
Plating Regulations Prepared.
Studies and recommendations to the
municipal authorities relating to the
city planning elements of their school
and municipal center building pro-
grams.
Preparation and recommendation of
new plating and subdivision regula-
tions.
Some SO changes in the street plan
to secure economy and better layouts,
such as Strengthening thoroughfares,
fitting residential streets to the topog-
raphy, eliminating unnecessary streets
Legislation to protect Government
projects against injury by incongruouS
or harmful developments on adjacent
private property.
Revision of legislation for acquisi-
tion of property by condemnation
Wide study of park administrative
organization and recommendations for
better co-ordinated administration of
recreational facilities here.
Traffic Problems Studied.
Intensive study of automobile traffic
and parking problems in the congested
central area, and recommendations for
solving them which resulted in special
legislation at the last session of Con-
gres:.
Study Of slum dwelling conditions,
with particular reference to alley
which have grown out of the
old slave quarters, and drafting legiSla-
ticn for their elimination.
Study of dwelling and housing con-
ditions with special reference to the
effect thereon Of existing coming regu-
lations.
Study and recommendations on
multiplicity of other local problems too
numerous to mention individually.
The commission pointed out that dur
ing its life Congress has authorized or
appropriated funds for major projects
of the Washington plan running to
staggering total"
THE fact that plans were ready or
in the making for some of those prof.
ects may have had some effect upon
Congress in the selection or order of
work." the report said. Certainly the
existence of plans has been safeguard
against some mistakes. In a period of
such vast expenditures plan is es-
sential to orderly work and satisfactory
results"