Evening star., 1933-02-19
PARKWAY PROJECT
BIG UNDERTAKING
Potomac to Rival Hudson
in Beauty When Plans
Are Carried Out.
BY LEILA WARREN !

washington, soldier and statesman
And on that day it seems only ICVlIlt
to spread before the public SOM
knowledge of the proposed plans 10
the extensive George Washington NE
mortal Parkway-of which that pupll'
seems oddly unaware. Few realize tli"
the Mount Vernon Memorial Hlgn~ay
which was opened to trafflc In 1882, 4
but the first unit of the larger proJeet
Though it follows the serene sweep y:
the lower Potomac for a matter OF Il
miles It actually composes but one
quarter of the whole future George
Washington Parkway. For the latter
when completed, will start at Moun'
Vernon. go I'D the Virginia side to Great
Fails cross over to the Maryland shore
then proceed down the Maryland side te
Fort Washington. 1t has peen oe
signed bv the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission to tncluoe
n1,blic control of both banks OF the river
for that distance, except 1or certain
areas at Alexandria and the Dls1rlc'
which are reserved for necessary COM
mercial development.
All too often cities with naturauS
beautiful water fronts have, through
shortsightedness, permitted the oanss
10 become a suualid dumping grounds
of the CITY refuse, and cluttered with
dilapidated shacks. Thus far not a
great deal of harm has been done the
banks of the Potomac by the negiect
H. has suffered. The main criticism that
can be made of its present state is that
its beauties have been SO long over
looked and its potentialitles as
superb section of our Capital City have
not been realized.
Would Preserve Grandeur.
Now, however, group OF prominent
citizens has grasped the unlimited pos
sibilties of this river parkway frame
for the Capital scene. and are WORKING
with an eve to the permanent enhance
rnent of the shores of the Potomac. In
Keeping with this policy the proposed
mark lands have been chosen primarily
to combine preservation OF the out
standing scenic effects and historic
features of the adjacent countryside.
To this end the drive on both SIDES OF
the river will follow the Potomac as
rule. But in some instances where the
nature of the terrain dictates it Will
drop back into nearby rolling hills.
1t is the expressed intention OF both
the planning commission and the pri-
yate commercial developers retaining
property along the river to preserve its
native grandeur The latter plan TO
eliminate such eyesores as exist at pres
ent on their tracts-fortunately, few
and far between. In their place Will
gradually grow up homes on well land
scaped estates worthy Of their setting
overlooking the new parkway. The mar
yelous change that the Mount Vernon
section of the drive has wrought In
providing an inviting approach to Alex
andria instead of the former sordld
route among cinders and railroad tracks
is indicative of the beauty of the whole
future parkway. One most important
factor in guaranteeing distinguished
character to the future homesteads
along the upper river on the Maryland
side. was the recent extension Of Mas
sachusetts avenue out into Maryland.
Before long this avenue, always 1nf1u-
ential in the social life of the city, will
connect with Conduit road, thus direct
ing a fashionable trend into the park
way. For the drive in that section,
while not following Conduit roed In It's
entirety, is going to- join 1t in places to
make use of bridges to cross streams
and ravines. With this connection with
SO important a boulevard as Massachu-
sets avenue, and with the restoration
of fine old homes in Alexandria, the
Potomac with its sweeping driveway will
soon rival the Hudson. The upper sec
ton in particular with its tumble OF
purple hills and steep bluffs descending
to the waters edge will be especially
reminiscent of the impressive Hudson
River Palisades estates.
$1,000, 900 Authorized.
To insure the unblemished perfection
of this parkway Congress has provided
,ri1 ho pY
pended by the Park and Planning Com
mission for any unit Of the parkway
upon receipt of definite commitments
from the bordering States or political
subdivision thereof, or from other re-
sponsible sources, for one-half of the
cost of acquiring the land. The sum
of $7,500000 has been authorized for
this work, some of which has already
been appropriated and made available
for land purchases when cooperation
as provided by the Capper- -Cramton
act is forthcoming The Federal Gov
eminent will maintain and police the
parkway as it is developed.
The project is considered Of such
Nationwide Importance that an organi-
zation has been chartered known as the
George Washington Memorial Parkway
Association, Inc. 1t has as its objective
the forming of chapter IN the District
OF Columbia and State chapters through
out America for the purpose of i'm
pressing upon the people the necessity
of guarding the beauty of the Nations
Capital by preserving its historic river
and enlisting their aid in forwarding
the proposed parkway. The association
is augmented by holding company
called the George Washington Memorial
Parkway Fund, Inc, that takes title
temporarily to any lands dedicated to
the future use Of the parkway. 1t is a
non-profit organization with board OF
trustees headed by George B. Mcclellan
and including the following members
Cloyd Heck Marvin, r. Walton Moore
Oliver Owen Kuhn, vice chairmen;
Harry Byrd. E. Brooke Lee, Gardner L.
Boothe and Bladen Lowndes. Clarence
Phelps Dodge is director OF the fund
and the association that works in con-
nection with it has its headquarters al
the Union Trust Building.
Efforts Made to Get. Land.
At present. because of the depression
these parkway organizations are having
to mark time more or less. Nevertheless
the project Is of such ultimate impor-
tance that any donations would bt
most welcome. And every effort Is be-
right gift or for nominal prices feasible
In the present market. For instance
the first parcel of land on the uppel
Maryland side was purchased at an eX'
tremely low figure; it contains sever
and half acres of beautifully wooded
land north Of Washington near Dale
cariia Federal Park. 1t is hoped t
follow it with similar advantageou
purchases in the not-too-distant future
AS has been said, the. lower Virginia
highway leading to Mount Vernon al
ready offers a gracious drive along
placid river. 1t is often said that mel
take their stature from their back
ground. II this be true, the site o
Washington's final home offered him {
measure both wide and deep in tn
river beside which it stood Thus 1t re
Quires no imagination. merely sight o
that steady stream, for the traveller Il
visualize the mature Washington, squir
and mentor, discharging his duties witt
unfurried calm and wisdom.
So too In his earlier days as a younj