Evening star., 1933-02-12
PARK MAINTENANCE
DECLARED LAGG|NG
Grant Claims No Other CITY
Has Such inadequate
Appropriations.

No other city in the country makes
such an inadequate appropriation per
acre for park maintenance, Lieut.. Col.
U. s. Grant, Sd, director Of public build
ings and public parks, told o House
Appropriations Subcommittee during
hearings on the District supply bill.
Col Grant submitted a table show
Ing that In 1927 there were 5ss park
reservations totaling s,54T acres and
using 2<l employees on salary appro-
priation Of s342.130, while in 1888
there were 661 reservations aggregating
o.o4a acres. with 2Sl employees, ON q SAL
ary appropriation Of 100000.
The decrease in personnel as a re
suit Of the reduction in the salary ap-
preparation during 1888 and estimate
for 1884" Col. Grant said, requires
stiil further spread OF maintenance
work and diminution OF attention to the
older park.
Some work Is necessary on the new
reservations transferred as a result OF
street improvements, and with no in.
crease either for acquisition or parks al
ready under Jurisdiction of this Office,
larger amount Of maintenance must
be curtailed each year. This results in
ready in place and extensive damage to
lawns that have been established for
several years. ..st
Conditions DepIcred.
"A study of the maintenance problem
over a period Of years will reveal a re-.
ductlon from $225 to s13S an acre since
1911, based upon the estimate for 1894.
An increase In land acquired and reduce
ton In funds available for majntenance,
during 1888 and 1884 make this condi-
tion deplorable.
"A comparison with the maintenance
problem Of any individual property
owner who takes reasonable care Of his
property shows the difficulty of MAIN
tenance with such limited funds, II also
must be considered that the individual
owner does not have the problem OF
drainage, sewers, lights and walks to
be maintained" $50 n
Chairman Cannon of the subcommit-
tee told Col. Grant sit is gratifying that
1t Is being managed so economically
and. az the same time, so satisfactorily"
Col Grant, however, contended that
under diminished funds 1t is not Dos
slnle TO keep I'D the grounds. the grow
ing material. walks and things of that
sort properly. He added that increased
use OF the parks, through persons hay-
ing more leisure time because of unefa-
pioyment, puts greater load on these
areas, calling for increased work.
Col. Grant said he proposes to use
$4,000 to construct nine-hole polf
course for colored persons in Anacostia
Park to replace that to be wiped olJt
near the Lincoln Memorial by the Ar-
lngton Memorial Bridge development.
he expects to expepd s25, 900 to con-
lnue road construction in Anacostia
Park and to continue the deyelopment
OF the Rock Creek and potor, a ~. -
way.
Cites Remaining Projects.
Remaining to be done, Col Grant
said, IN the Rock Greek and Potomac
parkWay, are expenditures OF $7e,OI8 in
sne secuon between Constitution ave-
nue ana 3 street for water supply and
Tor walks and bride paths; sac. SIS in
the section between X street and Penn
syivania avenue, $l52,3l3 between Penn
syivania avenue and p street and s4f.-
ooo ior new bridge between p and O
With $4,000 suggested, for appronr,-
alton IN the coming ahscai wear. Col.
Grant proposes to connect the drive
way, tnat now halts ct X street, north
Wafd 70 pennsylvania avenue, relieving
o dangerous tratfic condition on "a
street, where there is a sharp turn
coming onto the parkway and a traffic
hazard In the railroad tracks there
IN preparedness for storms and other
emergencies during the coming fiscal
year. Col. Grant favors having on hand
fund OF $4,000 TO repair culyerts. re-
place small bridges washed away in
Hoods and do any needed work, -.