Evening star., 1935-06-29
STADIUM PLANS
FOR EAST CAPITOL
STREET APPROVED
Commission Acts So Grad.
ing May Start Under Work
Program.
PARADE GROUND AND
ARMORY EMBRACED
Construction of Memorial to
Thomas Jefferson Here Given
Endorsement.

National Capital PARK ana Flannlng
Commission to plans submitted by C.
Marshall Finnan, superintendent OF
the National Capital Parks, for de-
velopment of q stadium and sports
center at the end of East Capitol
street, on the banks of the AnacoStia
River, so that grading might start
Immediately under the new work re-
lief program.
At this mornings session, the COM
mission examined the plan, prepared
by the Finnan committee and the
special consultants, Bremen Pond,
landscape architect of Harvard Uni
versity, Cambridge. Mass, and Fran
els p. Sullivan, prominent local arch
itect. 1t definitely approved the
grades. so the authorities can utilize
the fill being excavated by the Dis
trict government for the new sewer
in that area.
Would Avoid Delay.
Thomas S. Settle. the commissions
secretary, explained his organization
had in mind putting workmen to
work without delay on this grading
project for the stadium and sports
center. so that the foundations of the
development might go forward at once
The project embraces plans for a
monster parade ground, stadium, Ma
;ional Guard armory for the District
Of Columbia, tennis courts for exhi-
bition games. a swimming pool and
open air theater. This work, Settle
said, can be co-ordinated now with
the sewer development, in the COM
missions opinion.
Further detailed engineering studies
will be necessary. but today's action
Of the commission will permit placing
large number Of men to work i'm
mediately-either under the new
Works Progress Administration, of
which the local administrator is Com
missioner George E. Allen, or by a
public works allotment through the
new Works Allotment Board.
Frederick A. Delano, the commits
sions chairman, who was head of the
District Of Columbia Recreation Com.
mittee that studied a unified recrea.
tional program here. today introduced
to the commission the newly chosen
co-ordinator of recreation, Louis r
Barrett. Settle outlined as the com.
mittee's secretary the work of the
Delano group in attempting TO weld
into unified system Washington
scattered recreational facilities.
Recreation Study.
The Planning Commission sponsored
the study made by the National Recre.
ton Association on public recreation
in this city and its environs. This
gave rise to the fam ous report by lie.
bert H. Weir in November, 1884, pro.
posing four plans for achieving unity
in recreation here.
The commission listened TO a pies
made by Senator Frederick Hale, Re.
publican, and Representative Ralph o
Brewster, Republican. both of Maine
to give the name of their State to the
South Vista drive in the Mall. Maine
and Missouri avenues have been wipec
out in the Mall development. Senator
Hale and Representative Brewster tolo
the commission that Maine and Mis-
souri, came into the Union about the
same time and their names should be
preserved as twins in the Mall high.
ways. They want North Vista drive
named Missouri avenue.
Construction of a fitting memorial
to Thomas Jefferson here, which would
be on q par with the Lincoln Me-
mortal and Washington Monument
was indorsed yesterday by the COM
mission.
The commissions action in sup
porting pretentious plans for the
Thomas Jefferson monument came on
the heels of presentation yesterday
afternoon by Representative John j
Boylan, Democrat, of New York and
DR.. Fiske Kimball, members of the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commits
sion, appointed by Congress. While
no cost of the memorial was discussed
the commission heard a numper o1
suggestions as to the form it should
take and the position in the city il
should occupy. There was unanimity
in deciding that the memorial should
have place here in keeping with the
dignity. importance and location OF
the Lincoln Memorial and Washington
Monument.
Olmsted to Be Consulted.
Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape
architect of Brookline, Mass, who was
on the Park Commission of 1901, will
be called into consultation on the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, as will
William T. Partridge. consulting arch
itect of the commission, who also was
associated with the 1901 body.
District Line Question.
Irving c. Root, engineer Of the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, appeared before
the commission and discussed the
question of what Is to be done al
Wisconsin avenue and the District line
now that plans are to abandon the
street car line there and substitute
busses.
The commission instructed its stat
to make q thorough study Of this
situation, as well as of the Mont.
gomery Blair portal at Sixteenth
street and the District line. Ths
problem at Wisconsin avenue Ii
whether there should be circle OF
an oval created there when the street
car tracks 60.
Finnan also laid before the commits
sion proposals to rejuvenate the local
downtown parks and to construct two
swimming pools out Of the $1,000, ,00C
p. w. A. ALLEGATION made recently by
Secretary Ickes. These plans the
corov,iSsioy, indorsed with minor Sllp-