Evening star., 1937-01-01
PARK Commission
TOPUSHPROCRAM
Greater Washington De.
cIared Deficient in Rec
reationaI Areas.


and Planning Commission proposes to
push forward with its program OF CIV
ing Washington and its environs an
adequate park, playground and recre-
ational system, as well as continuing
10 give advice and assistance in the
manifold problems created in q rapid
ly.srowing city.
John Nolen, jr., the commissions
director of planning, points out that
ereater washington Is deficient IN park
areas to serve the community as a
whole. He foresees further progress In
land acquisitions in the George WASH
ington Memorial Parkway, designed to
occupy both sides Of the Potomac
River from Great Falls to Fort WASH
ington, Md. and Mount Vernon. Va.
There is still much to be accom-
plished under the Capper Cramton
bark purchase act, both in the city
and the metropolitan area. Rock
Greek Park will be extended farther
into nearby Maryland and the COM
mission will do its part toward realiza-
tion Of the program In Sligo, the
Northwest Branch, Indian Greek and
Cabin John Valleys, which are slated
to be embraced within the greater
Washington park program.
Recreation Program is Problem.
One of the problems the commits
sion will face during the coming year
is the coordination of the new school
site and recreation development pro-
gram, in accordance with compre-
hensive plan that fits in with we'll
considered design for the whole city.
The commission, Nolen asserts,
wants to see those recreational areas,
already purchased, improved 50 they
can be utilized without delay. Fur
ther, the commission will continue its
iand-purchasing program, under direc-
ton Of Norman C. Brown, cleaning
up the projects already partially ac-
Quired and embarking on any new
ones that may be made possible by
the authorization Of additional funds
by Congress.
Another major problem on which
the commission will center attention
In 1887 is that for public building
groups in the central area of the city,
so that Uncle Sans rapidly growing
family may be adequately housed in
permanent quarters. The commission
has already done extensive work on
this during the past IL months. Not
alone is the location of new buildings
paramount, but the commission must
likewise consider the planning of
streets, the transportation system and
related problems.
Zoning Ii on Agenda.
Zoning will be another topic that
will be important on the commissions
agenda in 1887, Nolen said. These
problems are particularly acute due to
the rapidity with which Washington
has been growing in the last three or
four years, the director of planning
asserted.
I'm all these matters, the commits
sion is working closely with the Dis
trict Commissioners, through its Co.
Ordinating Committee and other
groups, set up by itself or by the
commissioners to handle specific
problems" said Nolen.
Adequate development of the Balti-
more-Washington-Annapo area to
provide recreational and other facili-
ties will be sought in conjunction with
the interested Maryland authorities.
Both the regional plan and the
central area plan will be brought up
to date, rs the commission pursues
Its inquiries into . wide variety OF
subjects.
During 1886 the commission has
co-operated with the Maryland State
Planning Commission, the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, the District Commission
ers, the authorities of Alexandria and
Arlington and Fairfax Counties, Va,
rs well as those Of Montgomery
County, Md, in addition to other
interested authorities in accordance
with its legal purpose-"to plan and
acquire an adequate system of parks,
parkways and Fairgrounds, and to
preserve the forests and natural
scenery in and about the National
Capital, and to prepare q co-ordinated
city and regional plan for the District
OF Columbia and environs."