Evening star., 1935-05-26
Meridian Hill, Mall and Ar
Iington Entrance InCIud-
ed in Program.
ICKES' ANNOUNCEMENT
HAILED BY OFFICIALS
Finnan Will Direct Projects.
Work Will Give $50
Men Jobs.
BY NELSON NJ. SHEPARD.

An allotment OF Sl,000000 TO eX-
pedite long needed national park
improvements in the District of
Columbia. including the completion
of Meridian Hill Park, the Mall and
the new approach to Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery, was announced yes
terday by Public Works Administra-
tor IckeS.
Ickes' move came as gratifying
surprise to National Park Service Of
ficials who received the first intimation
of his intention only few days ago,
although every item on the program,
of course, has long been urged. The
allotment was made from an unobh-
gated balance of P. w. A. funds and is
the largest single sum the administra-
tor has made available to the Federal
park system in Washington, now un-
der his Jurisdiction.
Park officials estimated conserva-
lively that the addition of this new
work to extensive park projects al
ready under way here not only will
meke up for work long delayed, but
will put the National Capital i'm
provement program actually ahead
Of schedule.
Small Areas Included.
Included among the individual
projects in the new program are at
least 100 small park areas scattered
over the city, some of which have re-
manned neglected so years for lack
of funds. ' ork on most Of these,
officials said, can be started immedi-
ately
The specific projects covered by the
100000 allotment and the cost for
each we're announced as follows:
Improvement of the Mall - Side
walks, sprinkler system and lights,
S130,000.
Improvement to small parks. includ-
ing Franklin, Folger, Lafayette, Ma
rion, Mount Vernon and Montrose.
and miscellaneous small parks and
reservations, $500.
Tree surgery, plant disease control
and reforestation, S50,000.
Palisades Playground and Park,
landscaping, grading, construction OF
small field houses and recreational
facilities. $4,000.
s145,OOO for Meridian Park.
Completion of Meridian Hill Park.
Sl45 900.
Continuation of the planning pro-
gram begun in 1884, so that work on
construction projects will go forward
without delay, $4,000.
Construction of a dixie and revision
oF 40 the GrOi1rdS
to afford food control on Constitution
avenue, S55,000.
Replacement of swimming pools now
located on Monument Grounds on
other sites, one near the Hoover Play
grund and the other in Georgetown,
$4,000
improvements to the Memorial
Bridge approach to Arlington National
Cemetery. 100000.
Construction of a police and infor-
nation lodge in Rock Creek Park,
5000.
Moving utility structures in Rock
Creek Park to other locations, $4,000.
Finnan to Direct Work.
Secretary Ickes made over the al
lotment to the National Park Service
of the Interior Department and the
work projects will be directed by c.
Marshall Finnan, superintendent Of
the Office of National Capital Parks.
Regarded as a Federal grant, 1t is
possible, Finnan explained, that some
of the work might be construed as
coming directly under the jurisdiction
of the District government, such as
the removal of the swimming pools.
In that event 70 per cent of such ex-
penditures may possibly be charged up
to the District.
The work involved will provide en-
ployment for an average of $50 men,
it was estimated, over a period of IA
months.
BY the direct method of utilizing
unobligated funds of his original P.
Continued on Page 3, Column 1.)