Evening star., 1939-03-17
Park Planners
Favor Buying
Anacostia Land
500 Acres Will Be
Bought With Funds
Already in Hand

Dou9nt WIN Tun0S
Already in Hand
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today ap-
proved plans for the immediate
purchase with funds already avail
able of approximately 500 acres of
land in the Anacostia River Valley
from the District line to the
Bladensburg Peace Cross.
This purchase, which will COM
pose Unit No. / of the Anacostia
Parkway in Maryland, will make
possible flood-control construction
and the development of the local
approach of the proposed Washing
ton-Baltimore motor parkway.
The Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission al
ready has acquired approximately
$50 acres above and below the Peace
Cross in the first and second pro-
posed units in the parkway.
The National Commission today
approved taking lines," appraisals
and an agreement with the Mary
land Commission covering the i'm
mediate purchase of the remaining
acreage. The taking lines" were
arranged in cooperation with the
local Army Engineer Office to in
clude sites for future levees and
other flood control construction to
end the persistent flooding in the
vicinity of the Peace Cross.
Access Points Approved.
The District has completed acqui-
sition of land for the Anacostia
parkway below the District line.
The commission approved plans
for the immediate construction of
access points to the newly acquired
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. one just
above Key Bridge and the other
at Foundry Branch just beyond
Georgetown University.
This will make possible easy access
to the canal down the Potomac
Palisades bluffs for persons who
wish to use the canal for boating,
fishing and other purposes.
Thomas S. Settle, commission Sec
retary, reported that Congress has
approved an appropriation of
100000 for the purchase of park,
playground and recreational areas in
the District during the coming fiscal
year. More than half the amount
will be used to purchase playground
sites already selected in congested
areas of the city, Mr.. Settle said.
The legislation will permit the COM
mission to enter into contracts for
purchase of property Immediately,
although funds will not become
available until July !. ,4.-4- -
Armory Plans to BE Submitted.
Plans for the proposed National
Guard Armory- sports center build
ing at the east end Of East Capitol
street, showing the possibilities of
such combined functions, were to
be submitted to the commission at
its session today.
The commission during the winter
formally set aside a site for the
building south of East Capitol street
and east of Nineteenth street, ad-
joining the proposed great sports
and pageant field in Anacostia Park.
At the same time q site directly
across East Capitol street was allo-
Gated for national stadium and the
commission acted at once to pre-
serve this site by purchasing home
building lots for which construc-
Sion permits had been issued.
AS a result Of an inspection by
boat OF the Anacostia River from
the new Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge
to the District line yesterday after
noon. the commission today took
under consideration plans for park
way roads in this section of the Ana
costa Park, with relation to the
armory-stadium and sports area and
to connect with existing and pro-
posed roads in Maryland.
The plans call for great motor
parkway between Washington and
Baltimore, free from grade cross
ings, commercial developments and
built-up areas, to enter the District
by way of the Anacostia River VAL
ley.
This afternoon John Nolen, jr., di-
rector Of planning of the commission,
Is to present progress report. on ne
gotiations with Alexandria (Va.) au-
thorities covering development of
Washington street. Alexandria. This
street Is the right-of- way for both
the Mount Vernon Highway and
the George Washington Memorial
Parkway through Alexandria. Un-
der terms of a 10-year-old agree
ment, Alexandria officials are work.
ing in cooperation with the commits
sion to preserve the character of
Washington street in harmony with
the highway and parkway projects
Relocation of Mount Vernon
Highway to skirt Washington Ma
tional Airport and a number of pub
lie buildings items alos are slated
for consideration today.