Evening star., 1936-02-02
PARK
FUTURE DEBATED
Citizens to Decide Whether
They Want Play Center
or Sanctuary.

or Sanctuary.
Montrose Park-a small tract Of
land in Georgetown bringing back
memories to the old residents and fur
nisihng new delights to children-now
faces either the severe development
into athletic play center or rehabili-
tation into a nature sanctuary.
Meeting last week with the George
town Citizens Association, DR.. B. H.
Meyer, chairman, Parks and Reserva-
tions Committee, submitted report
setting forth the two proposed plans
for developing the park, and the aSso-
ciation. will act upon the committees
recommendations at Its next meeting.
The park has long been a center Of
attention for Georgetown association
members. At one of the recent meet
ings park officials were present to out
line possible trend of developments
for the area.
The committee submits four recon-
mendations for approval of the asso-
citation, DR.. Meyer declared.
Purpose of Park Service.
The general purpose kept in view
by the Park Service, he said. is to
preserve ard develop Montrose Park
to reflect the traditions and atmos-
phere of Georgetown as the oldest
community within the District. Pro-
vision is made for its development in
line with community interest, pre-
serving broad lawns, bounded by ma
jestic oaks, remnants OF the original
forests and younger oaks already
planted The plan further embraces
a system of walks, which will make
accessible all parts of the park. 1t
will preserve, improve and protect the
lockwood garden and preserve the
site of the historic rope walk created
by a former owner.
An outdoor theater will be created
in this plan without mechanical struc-
lures and without sacrifice OF park
features. An inclosed area for super
vised play for children will be re-
tanned and improvement will be made
to the access to steep hillsideS and
precipitous rocks.
Covers 16 Acres.
The park covers an area OF only l6
acres and the remnants Of once
primeval forest has been deteriorating
steadily, DR.. Meyer stated. About %
of these giant oaks have died since
the park became public property in
1911.
The area Is divided into two un-
equal parts by steep gully or ravine
through which runs tumbling stream
which empties into Rock Creek near
the dam south Of Massachusetts, ave-
nue.. The gully has striking noun
tain characteristics with huge rocks.
The beech trees on the south slope
are "as fine as any which exist"
II the area included so or 100 acres
instead of l6, it could accommodate
any desired number of activities, he
believes. A complete recreational pro-
gram could then be developed, meet
ing all reasonable needs and desires
of Georgetown citizens. It's small size,
however, prohibits such a complete
program.
1t is for this reason that residents
are confronted with the two somewhat
divergent, possibly antagonistic, lines
of development of the area; one pure
ly recreationsl and the other play
ground athletic.
Athletic or Scenic?
| To a limited extent the two can
exist side by side he said, but there
is danger of each encroaching upon
the other. The plan presented by the
Park Service proposes to give con-
trolling effect to the quiet recreational
facilities accompanied by limited play
ground facilities. and to restrict and
to eliminate gradually the athletic or
court types of activity to the extent
that they interfere with or threaten
| the scenic beauty.
! additional athletic needs of the
community should be provided for on
| level ground where natural beauty will
not be sacrificed, the report con-
| tinued. Furthermore. we have rea-
| son to believe that school playground
areas and other areas have not been
utilized to the full extent of prac-
tical use We recommend that this
question be investigated either by one
of the standing committees of this
association or by a special commit
tee"
Montrose Park development should
be a controlled wilderness which will
create and maintain an atmosphere of
quiet and repose Just as bird sane
tuaries have been developed else
were, so, too, should beautiful human
sanctuary be developed here.
Recommendations Made.
The following recommendations are
before the association for its action at
its next meeting:
l. The dilapidated stone wall which
rests on the border between the park
and 'lovers lane" be removed and the
ground treated for use.
g. To give immediate treatment to
the gully, which will prevent further
injurious erosion. without detracting
| from its present mountain character
istics and to provide adequate seating
capacity throughout its length.
3. To clean up the old quarry 10
Gated to the north of the gully, and
similarly tn clean up the entire re-
naming area of the park adjacent to
the quarry. and provide adequate seat
ing capacity throughout that area.
4. That these three items listed be
given precedence in the execution of
the larger plan as far as practicable.