Evening star., 1938-07-29
new RECREATION
S|TESPURCHASED
BY COMMISSION
Civil War Fort and Fort
Bernard Hill Areas
Are Acquired.
ROSE PARK PLAYGROUND
SPACE ALSO is BOUGHT
Other Developments Also Are
Announced by Planners After
Joint Meeting.

Purchase of the 21-acre combined
Civil War fort and recreational area
at Fort Barnard Hill Eastern avenue
and Twenty-fourth street NE, has
been completed it was announced to-
day by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, at its second
days joint meeting with the Fine Arts
Commission.
The commission also has completed
purchase Of between two and three
acres for the Rose Park Playground,
adjoining the Rock Greek and Potomac
Parkway near L street NV.
Playground Sought
The commission authorized its stan
10 cooperate with the District Com
missioners in acquiring playground
space adjoining the new Thomas JET
ferson Junior High School. In South
west Washington. The school itself,
for which initial funds have been ap-
propriated, will be located in the
square bounded by Seventh and
Eighth, H and I streets SW. Appro-
priation of 100000 is available for
purchase Of the school site. The play
ground space will be acquired in ad-
joining squares out of funds appro-
priated for the planning commission.
The commission is considering plans
for purchase of additional land for the
Fort drive and for a number OF smaller
Fairgrounds parks and recreational
areas.
Report This Afternoon.
, John Nolen, jr. director OF plan
ming, will report to the commission
this afternoon on progress Of the new
building regulations and creation of
the new Zoning Advisory Board and
Board of zoning Appeal. He also will
report on cooperation with the Mary
land Park and Planning Commission
on developments in Prince Georges
County, including 100000 land
purchase project in the valley of the
Anacostia River and its tributaries.
The commission will discuss the
Maryland road and bridge building
program as it affects the local area
and the proposed creation of a Balti-
more-Washington and Annapolis plan
ming area.
Yesterday the Park and Planning
body considered millions of dollars
worth OF public buildings, park and
highway projects for the National
Capital, the two bodies putting their
stamp Of approval on plans for 4
number of major projects now near
Ing the construction stage.
Preliminary plans were approved
Tor the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
and site, south of the Tidal Basin:
the War Department, Social Security
and Railroad Retirement Buildings
and sites; the Naval Medical Center
site and first building unit, 600
bed hospital: District National
Guard Armory a new Key Bridge
span to underpass the George WASH
1ngton Memorial Parkway and for
other items.
The commissions meeting jointly
late yesterday approved the District
Armory project and voted to lend
every possible support to the District
Commissioners in their effort to OBJ
mediate start on the building. The
project is regarded as of unusual i'm
portance not only because of the ur-
gent need for the armory but also
because it will serve to anchor" the
long-sought East Capitol street de-
velopment program. The Park and
Planning Commission has approved a
site for the armory at the eastern
end of East Capitol street adjoining
Anacostia Park.
Hospital Plans Submitted.
Rear Admiral Perceval S. Rossiter,
chief of the Navy Bureau of Medi-
cine and Surgery, appeared with
members Of his staff yesterday eve
ming at the close of l0-hour ses-
sion to present plans for the new
. Naval Medical Center. The commits
sion approved the 2l4-acre site on
the east side of the Rockville pike just
north Of Bethesda, Md, subject to
decision As to a relocation of Jones
Bridge road along the southern
boundary. Preliminary plans for the
hospital building were received and
will be considered with a view to
early preparation Of detailed construc-
ton plans.
The Procurement Division Of the
Treasury Department submitted tenta-
tive ground plans for the Social Sc
curity, War Department and Rail-
road Retirement Board Buildings.
These three structures. to total ap-
proximately $25,O00,0O0, also were
marked for immediate action. Fur
ther development of construction
plans was ordered at once, so that
construction may begin as soon as
possible after acquisition Of the sites
Is completed.
The National Park Service was
designated by the Thomas Jefferson
Memorial Commission as the govern
mental agency to take charge Of con-
struction Of the 100000 memorial
In accordance with the authorization
law.
Span Quickly Approved.
Preliminary approval Of the new
Key Bridge span was voted within .
few hours after the Works Progress
Administration had approved q $2l2,-
900 grant for the construction.
The two commissions began con-
alteration of detailed plans for the
Municipal Center, for which an initial
appropriation of s500.000 is available,
which may be supplemented by pub
lie works funds. The commission
also gave preliminary approval to
plans for new Public Library Build
. ing on the site bounded by Pennsyl-
vania avenue. street, John Mar
shall place and Sixth street NV.
Preliminary approval was given to
location Of the Municipal Center
buildings on the John Marshall place
aka, which would determine the lay
out of the entire center.