Evening star., 1934-09-28
PARK UNIT PLANS
RIVER DEEPENING
AND DA|RPORTF FILLS
Work on Potomac, Channel
and Anacostia Endorsed
by Commission.
SILT WILL BE USED
AT GRAVELLY POINT
Bartholomew Report on Traffic
Rerouting, Opposing Ellipse
Tunnel, Is Approved.

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission wants the Po-
tomac River, the Washington channel
and the Anacostia River, dredged an
additional feet and the excavated
material used for improving Gravelly
Point as the site of Washington's
major airport.
This was decided today, after the
commission had listened to report
by its director of planning, John
Nolen, jr.
The commission indorsed the dredg-
ing from the present 20 feet to "a
feet and suggested that the dredged
material be utilized at Gravelly Point
for the new airport, which it has long
favored, and also on the marshes at
Theodore Roosevelt Island.
The proposed new harbor regula-
tions were reported on by Thomas S.
Settle, the commissions secretary, and
also member of special committee
handling this subject. The commits
sion and the National Park Service
are cooperating with the District
Commissioners in evolving a new set
Of regulations that will affect parks
along the water front as well as COM
! merce.
Traffic Report Endorsed.
The commission Endorsed in prin-
ciple the report of its traffic expert,
Harland Bartholomew of st. Louis,
Mo, who recently testified on the
transit rerouting being studied by the
Public Utilities Commission here.
This plan opposes construction Of an
underpass beneath the Ellipse, just
south of the White House to give easy
traffic access between the Triangle
and the proposed new Northwest
Rectangle, west of Seventeenth street.
The commission left details of the
plan to experts. Bartholomew has
said that construction of the under
pass would cost about Sl,000,000. The
commission asserted it has no objec-
ton to a bus line running along
street, westward, south of the White
House, as a more economical and i'm
mediate solution of the problem tc
permit traffic to flow between the Tri-
angle and the Northwest Rectangle.
Progress was reported by Frederick
Law Olmsted, landscape architect,
who is special consultant to the In
terror Department on Union Square
and Theodore Roosevelt Island.
This afternoon was given over by
the commission to consideration of the
proposed new recreational area at the
Bloomingdale Playground, which 1t is
proposed to rename Mcmillan Play
ground The Fairgrounds Depart
ment of the District has co-operated
! with the National Park Service in the
preparation of plans, revised to meet
objections of the Fine Arts Commis-
sion.
Finnan to Offer Plans.
c. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
Of the National Capital parks. will
present plans for development of Fort
Dupont as a public playground, in
volving the closing of streets that now
exist merely on paper. The Civilian
Conservation Corps will assist in this
development.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of
the commission, and its executive
officer Arno B. Cammerer, director Of
the National Park Service, were en-
powered to confer with District Gov
OukCldlS Oll GllC P1OblSLI VI
the circles at Harvard street. One is
| at the foot of Lanier place. while the
other is at Eighteenth street.
Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, District
director of highways. appeared before
the commission. The consensus OF
the commission was that these circles
should be cut down or removed alto
gether, but that additional park land
should compensate the inhabitants Of
that area.
Approaches to the new Woodrow
Wilson High School will be considered
by the commission, as these are con-
nected with the Fort Drive, the CO.
lumbia Island Plaza, plans of the
Bureau of Public Roads for the new
parkway drive between the Arlington
and Key Bridges and plans for the Lee
Boulevard and the Fort Foote park
way. Settle will report on the &C.
QUESTION of lands by the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission in Sligo, Rock Creek and
Cabin John valleys and their improve
ment.