Evening star., 1938-04-03
TRADE BODY AIDS
PARKS EXPANSION
Group Has Worked Since
1889 Toward Unified
Development Plan.

The Parks and Reservations Com
mittee of the Board of Trade has
played a major role in the develop
ment OF Washington's expansive park
system since the latter part Of the
10th century.
The committee, one of the original
units Of the trade organization, has
been particularly active in efforts to
develop the public park system under
plans projected by the Mcmillan Park
Commission. In fact, the committee,
in cooperation with other local Or
ganizations, was responsible In a large
measure for agitation which led Con-
gress to establish the Mcmillan Com
mission in 1901.
Since that time development OF the
parks In accordance with the plan
Of 1901 has been authorized by Con-
gress and is being carried out step
by step as it becomes possible in con-
nection with the public building pro-
gram.
Led Commission Fight.
Probably one of the most important
phases of the committees history was
its leadership in efforts to establish
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. AS early as 1900
the Board of Trade, on recommenda-
tion OF the committee, urged Congress
TO establish such commission.
A number Of years later, however,
the committee, feeling that progress
in the park development had been
unsatisfactory, again started agitating
for a park commission. In 1922 it
adopted resolution calling on Con-
gress to provide a permanent COM
mission to study and develop the
parks and Fairgrounds system.
A bill was drawn up recommending
establishment of National Capital
Park Commission to be composed of
the Secretary of the Treasury, the
Secretary of War, the chairmen of
the House and Senate Committees
on Public Building and the Districts
Engineer Commissioner The meas
ure also outlined methods through
which the local commission could CO.
operate with Maryland and Virginia
authorities, and asked that $750,000
be appropriated annually for pur-
chase of park lands.
The bill prepared by the committee
was indorsed by the Board of Trade in
1922, and again in 1923. Many other
civic units threw their support behind
the measure, and in 1924, Congress
passed the bill after making a few
slight amendments
A unified park plan. under which
the Mall, Potomac Park, the Zoo and
Rock Creek Park would be connected
in one comprehensive. co-ordinated
scheme, has always been the main OBJ
ject OF the committees efforts
Rock Greek Work Recalled.
When it was organized in 1889, it
Immediately began agitating for funds
to develop Rock Greek Park along
broad, artistic and practical lines. At
various times. it has focused attention
on the need for development of what
are now Potomac and Anacostia Parks
With the park system being devel-
oped at much faster pace in the last
few years, the committee has not been
particularly active. Recently, however,
it has taken an active interest in the
controversy over coordination of rec
reational facilities in the District.
The King bill TO establish recrea-
ton board has been studied by this
committee, as well as the boards
Schools Committee. Capt. Chester
Wells, retired naval officer, who heads
the Parks and Reservations unit,
named Harvey l.. Jones as chairman
OF a special committee to draw up
amendments to the King bill
The parks unit has recommended
appointment of seven members to the
recreation board. The bill provides
for five.