Evening star., 1939-01-20
Park Development
In Montgomery
Sped by Gifts
Mrs. l. K. EImhirst to
Return $50, 900 Paid
Her for Lond
By JACK ALLEN,

Gifts aggregating nearly 100000
will speed the development of Sec
ton of Rock Creek Park in Mont
gomery County, it was announced
today by Curtis Walker, appraiser
and land purchasing officer of the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
Notice has been received from
London that the $4,000 paid by
the commission to the Straight I'm
provement Co. in purchasing 200
acres OF park land, will be returned
as a gift by Mrs. L. K. Elmhirst.
former wife of the late ex-Consul
General Willard D. Straight and
present owner of a large tract in
Montgomery adjoining the proposed
park. Donations from other owners
of land in the area bring the pres
ent total Of contributions to s99, $50,
according to Mr.. Walker.
Mrs. Elmhirst, daughter of the
late Flora Payne and William C..
Whitney, was born in Washington
and has become widely known for
her numerous public benefactions
here and in England, where she now
lives.
Will Expedite Road Work.
such a magnanimous gift IS
doubly appreciated at this time"
said Mr.. Walker. He explained the
Maryland Commission has been
strapped for funds for development
purposes and the gifts from Mrs.
Elmhirst and other landowners will
greatly expedite the construction of
a park road from Connecticut ave-
nue. along Rock Creek to the Gar
rett-Kensington road.
The new road will enable mo-
torists to drive from this point in
Montgomery County to Mount Yer
non without encountering city
traffic he said, although funds
available for its completion are still
insufficient because a number of
costly bridges are required"
Consent of the Navy Department
has been obtained to develop the
18 acres of the property recently
acquired for the new Naval Hospital
that lie within the proposed park
area. DR.. E. A. Merritt of Chevy
Chase has returned to the commits
sion $2,750, the full amount received
by him for several acres.
Grosvenor Gives S2,40O.
DR.. Gilbert Grosvenor of Bethesda,
president of the National Geo.
graphic Society, has contributed
$2,400 of the amount paid him by
the commission for nine and one
half acres opposite his estate. DR..
Grosvenor had purchased the tract
several years ago to protect the fu-
ture park and his estate and is re-
ported to have paid $4,000 more for
the land than the price he settled
upon with the commission.
George E. Hamilton of Bethesda
also has advised the Maryland COM
mission through Mr.. Walker of his
intention to donate $4,000, and ne
gotiations are pending with several
other property owners.
1t was explained the gifts were
made voluntarily and were rot a
condition of the various contracts.
Progress Is Praised.
Park Commissioner Lacy Shaw
congratulated Mr.. Walker on the
progress made in land acquisition
and expressed the commissions ap-
probation for his cooperation in
obtaining the gifts. The land was
appraised jointly by Mr.. Walker and
H. Tudor Morsell. director of land
purchasing for the Federal Housing
Administration.
The new section of the park con-
tains $50 acres. Together with units
and 2, already acquired, it will
give Maryland a total of 685 acres in
its extension of Rock Creek Park,