Evening star., 1938-03-10
W.P.A. MAY BUILD
SCENIC HIGHWAYS.
Capital Planners to Weigh
Use in Grading on D. C.
Projects.

The possibility OF utilizing Works
Progress Administration labor. taken
from the Districts relief rolls, in high
way construction in the Shepherd
Parkway, near Boiling Field, and on
the Fort Drive, between Military road
and Georgia avenue NV, is being
considered by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, which
inaugurated tWo-day session today.
T. C. Jeffers. landscape architect of
the planners, is presenting plans for
the final action of the commission on
the location of the roadway in the
Shepherd Parkway w. P. A. would be
used in grading operations, officials
said. If the program meets with the
approval of the authorities.
A condemnation award. serving to
complete the land acquisitions in Fort
Reno Park, was formally approved
this morning as the commission de-
voted its first session to land-purchase
considerations. Norman c. Brown,
associate land-purchasing officer, who
laid before the commission the various
proposals for the acquisition OF prop
erty for parks, Fairgrounds and rec
reational centers, said that other con-
tracts in various sections of the Fort
Drive and also in the Watts Branch
Parkway had received commission in
dorsement for property purchase. e
Problems relating to the George
Washington Memorial Parkway and
the parks in the nearby Maryland VAL
leys also will engage the commissions
attention. John Nolen, jr.. director of
planning Of the commission. Is pre-
senting progress report on surveys
and the development Of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway, espe-
cially on the Virginia shore of the Po-
tomac in the vicinity of the Key
Bridge. Thomas S. Settle, the commits
sion's secretary, will explain the status
of the proposed contribution of the
State of Virginia toward the purchase
of land in this parkway now pending
in the Virginia Legislature.
Maryland Zoning Question Up.
This afternoon was set aside by the
planners for an informal meeting with
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Capital Park
and Planning Commission to discuss
problems of mutual interest to the
two commissions. primarily the safe
guarding of the area in the vicinity of
the park lands-for the purchase of
which the Federal Government has
contributed funds and loaned some.
under the Capper-C -Cramton Park Pur-
chase Act. This involves the preserva-
ton of the character of the develop
ment by the maintaining of proper
zoning status in their vicinity, Of
ficials explained here.
On the late afternoon program was
a field trip to the Eastern section of
Washington to view the sites of one
or two projected Fairgrounds in con-
gested areas Due to the land pur-
chases involved, the planners declined
to reveal the exact locations under
consideration. On the trip the plan
ners also arranged to view the progress
of work in filling in the land at the
end of East Capitol street, on the
banks of the Anacostia River, where
stadium and sports center are pro-
jected.
Recreation Report Due.
The status of legislation in which
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission is interested will be
discussed by Mr.. Settle at tomorrow
mornings session. Mr.. Nolen will re-
port then on the progress made on the
plan to unity Washingtons recrea-
tional system, now in the hands of the
National Capital Parks, the Com
munity Center Department of the
Board of Education and the Play
ground Department of the District
government.
C. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
of the National Capital parks, will ex-
plain the progress being made to de-
velop the sports center at the end of
East Capitol street. The commission
will consider the proposed closing of
Lincoln raod NE, through the grounds
Of Trinity College, from Franklin street
to Michigan avenue NE.
The commission will again turn its
attention to the draft Of the prelimi-
nary report of a special committee of
its members, headed by the New York
architect, William A. Delano, relating
to parking problems in Washington's
downtown area. Since the last meet
ing the planners have had an oppor-
tunity to study individually the details
Of the Delano committees suggestions.