Evening star., 1938-09-09
.LANDACQU|S|T|ON
STARTS SOON FOR
ANAC0ST|A PARK
Buying in Prince Georges
Is Expected to Begin
This Fall.
PLANNING COMMISSION
NEAR END OF STUDIES
Purchases Expected to Prove Of
Great Importance in Flood
Control Work.

Acquisition of land in the upper
Anacostia River Valley in Prince
Georges County, Md, in preparation
for one Of the most important park
way developments in the metropolitan
area is expected to begin this fall as a
result Of studies now being completed
by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
The studies are being made with a
view to the establishment of taking
lines" 10 guide the purchasing off,
cials in their negotiations for the
necessary land.
The Anacostia parkway, connecting
with the existing parkway within the
District, is a key link in the proposed
parkway development to Baltimore and
is regarded as of great importance in
connection with the program for
proper development Of East WASH
ington.
Important In Flood Control.
The acquisition of land in the An
acostia Valley is expected to prove of
great Importance in connection with
food control work. especially at Bla-
densburg, and with the prevention Of
pollution.
The Park and Planning Commission
is completing thorough study OF fu-
ture requirements in the valley in con-
nection with the Maryland Park and
Planning Commission and the Office
of the Army engineer for the local
district, it was explained by John
Nolen, jr, director of planning for the
commission
The study covers future roadway
developments in the valley, including
the Baltimore parkway project.
The studies are proceeding very
satisfactorily" Mr.. Nolen said.
1t is possible the actual acquisition
OF land will begin during the fall
Congress has appropriated s3O0,00 for
the purchase of the necessary land in
Prince Georges County by the Park
and Planning Commission, the first
such appropriation for this county.
The Park and Planning Commits
sion is working in close cooperation
with the local Army engineer office,
which now is engaged in food con-
| troll study of the Ana costa Valley as
a part of larger study of flood con-
ditions throughout the Potomac VAL
| ley
With the aid of aerial photographs
OF the Anacostia Valley made for the
Agriculture Department in connection
with soil conservat ton studies, the
Army engineers are rapidly complet-
ing their detailed investigation Of
flood conditions and control measures,
particularly in the Bladensburg area.
Preliminary engineering maps, based
on the aerial photographs, probably
will be ready within a week. Addi-
tional details will be inserted later
after ground surveys, making the first
complete maps showing flood condi-
tions and proposed control works.
| The Anacostia River Valley, accord
| ing to Park and Planning officials, pre-
sents an unusual opportunity for de-
velopment Of a parkway approach to
Washington on the scale of the famous
Westchester County Parkway near
New York and similar noted develop
| llltlltS near DOSCOll ana Kansas ClCy.
Splendid Parkway Approach.
THE Anacostia Valley stretches to-
ward Baltimore and provides a splen-
did approach for a parkway into
| Washington from the northeast. Ex-
! tending south and southwest, the val
ley also provides connection in the
natural direction of traffic flow to the
recreational and historical areas along
the Potomac River and toward the
new Lower Potomac bridge at the site
just inspected by President Roose-
welt"
| Nearly half of the 13 miles OF the
proposed Baltimore parkway within
the Washington region, including
Prince Georges County. already is pub
licly owned
The District has spent 100000 in
the reclamation and development of
its section of the Anacostia parkway
and it now has reached the stage
where it should be opened for public
use by the construction OF roadways,
in the opinion of Park and Planning
Commission members.
|