Evening star., 1934-11-25
GROUP Of CITIZENS.
IN RICHMOND PARK.
ORGANIZED IN 1928.
After Marked Improvement
of Section Unit Now
Pushes Rerouting.

On the evening of November 8,
1928. seven conscientious men, faced
with the same problems, met together
to unite their strength toward their
solution. All had purchased homes
in a new, outlying subdivision OF the
growing city. Lighting was made
ouate, the roads unfinished and gut
terless, transportation facilities were
insufficient, there was no school near
enough for their young children to
walk to alone.
The meeting was held at the home
of John G. Harlan, 3427 Quebec
Richmond Park. Besides Mr.. Har-
Ian, legal adviser in financial mat
tiers to the Secretary of the Treasury,
there were present Charles Linkins,
Lieut.. Col. H. L. Cooper, Horace
Smith, w. G. Hoyt. Milton Schwab
and Alfred E. Hanson. This was the
small beginning Of the Richmond
Park Citizens Association.
Two weeks later an assembly OF
their neighbors met in the Cleveland
Park Congregational Church for the
formal Inauguration OF the body
Here the association has met during
most of its life, molding the grow
ing community.
Get Switch Change.
The first point the association ever
won, though small, must have seemed
quite a triumph. The switchover at
Connecticut avenue and Macomh
street was successfully changed to It's
present position in front of the Bu-
reau of Standards. BY 1926 the
association had achieved paving and
cutters for its streets, alleys and
lighting. It could turn its attention
to more general matters.
Always a member of the Federation
Of Citizens Associations, in 1925 i
Joined with neighboring groups in the
St Adams Council of Citizens Asso-
Citations At this time a projected
bond issue for District improvement!
was being talked about, and the asso.
citation turned it down. At this same
time they we're urging the creation OF
public park near the Bureau of Stand
ards, much desired by all in thai
section of Washington, and memo
randum was sent to the National Cap
ttal Park and Planning Commission
In return they received a letter from
Freedrick A. Delano of the Park Com
mission, suggesting that if they ane
their fellow associations had sane
toned the bond issue, there might
have been some hope of giving then
a park. But as it was-no money
no park.
The association Immediately changed
its mind, and in 1929 indorsed the
Cramton appropriation bill, but never
got its park, however.
Favor Vote for District.
The association has voted yes or
several important issues. In 1927, i
was the compulsory automobile liabil-
ity insurance. In 1928 they advocated
the still-awaited national stadium, ano
in 1929 first moved from its old stant
against any change in the system o
the District Government to advocate
the election of the School Board. Since
then they have come out in favor o.
District representation.
On January IA, 1881, Richmond
PdTk dCLduleQ llo Clllcl uCoAC "AiNA
the Phoebe Hearst School was dedi'
Gated. It was built on land pur'
chased from Admiral Cary T. Gray
son for $4,000. Next to it was
playground site. It has remained
site ever since, which is the COM
munitys greatest disappointment
The association has finally, in de-
spair Of any other way, asked tht
land to be turned over to the Fedora
Government in the hope of getting
an appropriation for its completion.
Most important business before the
association now is the question OF re-
routing. Most urgent is the request
for a cross-town bus connecting
Cleveland Park with Mount Pleasant
by way of Rock Greek. Bus service
Is recommended in place Of the street
car along Wisconsin avenue from
Massachusetts avenue to the Line
and a continuation of the Woodle,
road bus down to Connecticut ave.
nue. and r street. Communication
with Chevy Chase Circle, by way o.
Reno road, Thirty-fourth street
Cleveland avenue, to and from some.
where in the downtown area, is alsc
desired