Evening star., 1934-11-11
STADIUM Project
SURVEY TO BEGIN
Ickes Believed Ready to Ap.
prove Funds for Local
Construction.

Early development Of the long
projected recreation center and new
National Guard armory at the end
Of East Capitol street may be started
as a result of Public Works Admins
traitor Ickes' desire to place District
jobless to work on a large scale, 1t
was learned last night.
A survey of the undeveloped tract
bordering Kingman Lake and the re-
drafting Of plans are expected to be
soon. The District al
ready owns the necessary land and
money would be needed only for con-
struction of the stadium and armory.
The District Commissioners and
National Park Service ofhcials hope
o way may be found soon to finance
this construction, estimated at several
million dollars.
Architects and city planners repre-
senting both the District and Federal
Governments will cooperate in the
new plans, for which there are rea-
sonable assurances that Ickes will
make a grant of funds.
Movement Beginning.
Four years ago movement to beau
tify East Capitol street gained con-
siderable momentum. 1t wa pro-
posed then to have the thoroughfare
terminate on the banks Of the Ana
costa River in a great stadium that
could accommodate the Olympic
games and other great athletic con-
tests. Preliminary plans and draw
lee, acting then for his colleagues in
Allied Architects of Washington, Inc.
These plans, supported by trade
bodies and civic interests, fell through
as a result of circumstances over
which there was then no control.
The northeast sewer empties at
and A streets, just east
of the new high school, and flows in
an open ditch across a third of a
mile of the proposed stadium site into
Kingman Lake. AS result the waters
of the lake, intended for use Of water
sports, have become polluted.
New Survey Begun.
A year ago last July the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, in cooperation with District Of
icials, undertook a new survey for
the purpose Of determining location
for the proposed A street sewer outlet,
so as not to interfere with a reason
q hla stadium in that yyiciritu
cordance with those plans, the whole
question was reopened.
The stadium plans, when drawn up,
proved unacceptable, however, with a
result that the commission made its
request for P. w. A. funds to finance
a more intensive and comprehensive
survey.
Under another P. w. A. allotment
Of 100000 the combined sewer is
being extended now from its present
outlet at Twenty-first and A streets,
to skirt the park project and flow di-
rectly into AnacoStia River, some dis
tance below. The present ditch across
the parkway area is filled with sewer
waste only in times of heavy rain
storms, which causes the pollution Of
the lake.
At the time the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission re-
quested P. w. A. funds to make a new
study Of plans for the stadium site, It
was stressed that the problem was
complicated and would necessitate
careful and long study. 1t will be
considered in all It's relationships to
the immediate vicinity, as well as
the new sewerage construction.
Traffic Is Problem.
Handling traffic TO and from the
stadium and recreation center is one
of the major problems of the project.
Also to be considered. it was said, Is
the relation of the development to a
possible bridge over the Anacostia
River, leading to the stadium site at
some future time.
Recently John Nolen, jr., director Of
planning for the commission, re-
turned from trip to Europe, where
he had an opportunity to study the
stadiums and recreation centers In q
number of European cities. He was
particularly impressed with the new
development in Frankfort, Germany,
a city comparable in size to Washing
ton.
The Frankfort site comprised 104
acres, smaller even than that pro-
posed for Washington. 1t contains a
stadium, seven practice grounds, a
gymnasium, an open-air theater, Il
tennis courts, velodrome for motor
cycle racing, swimming pool 800
feet long, pool for non-swimmers
and a restaurant and other facilities.
Charges of admission are made. so
that the entire project is partly self
supporting, at least
Plans for the treatmen; of the
Washington project would be some
what along these lines, though less
elaborate.
The central idea is the stadium and
National Guard armory. Previous
plans for the latter embodied two
schemes. One was to utilize the va
cant space under the main entrance
to the stadium. The other was to
have one or more separate armory
buildings located at some distance
from the stadium.
Economical Measure.
The former plan was proposed as
an economical measure. 1t provided
for two halls, one seating 1900 peo-
pie IN an auditorium and the other
providing ample space for indoor
drills. For outdoor drills and pa
rades the field within the stadium
would be available.
With 124 acres of land available
for improvement, large swimming
pool was proposed in connection with
the project, as well as playground IA
cilities.
Proposals also call for a plaza in
front of the entrance stadium two
blocks in length.
The proposed development for
Northeast washington, giving due
recognition to East Capitol street as
6 main thoroughfare, is in line with
ideas for a balanced National Capital,
Its consideration by the Public Works
Administration follows closely the al-
lotting of funds to widen F street be-
tween Seventh and Ninth streets, q
rnatter lorO apitafed hv hiiSinass and