Evening star., 1940-04-17
kid-City Play
Site Is Bought
By Planners
Condemnation Steps
Will Be Taken for
Other Needed Areas

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today pur-
chased nearly all of square 511,
bounded by o, p, Fourth and Fifth
streets NV, for the site of the long
sought Mid-City Playground.
The commission authorized its
staff to institute condemnation pro-
ceedings where a mutually agreeable
price for property still unpurchased
cannot be reached, by direct negotia-
tions.
The purchase was announced by
Norman c. Brown, the commissions
associate land purchasing officer and
appraiser. Square 511 was decided
on by the commission, Mr.. Brown
said, after long study and consulta-
tions with the Board of Education,
the District Community Center and
Playground Department and other
District agencies.
Other Sites Bought.
Mr.. Brown also announced that
the commission had purchased addi-
tions to Fort Dupont Park where 1t
connects with Anacostia Park in
Southeast Washington; Northeast
Recreation Center, for colored, at
Forty ninth and Washington streets
NE, and that it had brought up for
consideration an addition to Rose
Park Playground in Georgetown.
The Mid-City Playground, for
which civic groups in the central
Nf Uo irc
for years, is to be for colored use.
Situated in the block being acquired
is the Bundy School.
Several other matters Of i'm
portance were to come before the
planning commission today. Among
them are plans for an underpass at
Scott Circle and grade separation
at Fourteenth street and Maine
avenue water streeD S.W. stood
out.
Asks Consideration of Model
Under 1910 appropriations Capt.
H. c. Whitehurst, director of high
ways, has prepared plans and a
model of the Fourteenth street and
Maine avenue separation. In let
ter received by the planning com.
mission over the week end he re.
quests the commission to give care
full consideration to the model at
this meeting in order to make as
soon as possible any further sug-
gestions the Commissioners think
would improve the plan.
Funds for drawing up detailed
construction plans, however must
be appropriated before gasoline tax
and Federal road aid funds can
build the project.
Funds for PREPARATION Of con-
struction plans for the Scott Circle
underpass were incorporated in the
1941 District appropriation bill but
were deleted by the House. Theirs
is chance the Senate may restore
the item, however.
Regional Plans to Come Up.
Other matters to come up today
before the commission are slight
changes in the taking lines set
forth for acquisition of land in the
extension of Anacostia Park into
Maryland, plans for a baseball dia-
mond in the Maryland section Of
Rock Creek Park and the Washing.
ton regional park plan in general.
The latter was to be brought be.
fore the commission by John Nolen,
jr., director of planning In addi.
tion the commission was to con.
slider latest plans for the Civil
Aeronautics Authority for entrances
from the Mount Vernon Memorial
Highway and U. S. route l to the
new National Airport at Gravelly
Point.
Most important matter before the
commission tomorrow is to be a
series of contracts for the purchase
Of land for the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway in Maryland
between the District line and Great
Falls.
May Involve Lots.
At its last meeting the commits
sion approved number of con.
tracts for the purchase of vacant
lots in the Brookmont section, Just
beyond the District line.
Thomas S. Settle. commission
secretary, is to acquaint the COM
mission tomorrow with the status
of legislation affecting it's work.
Other matters to come before the
commission tomorrow are additional
plans for the District Alley Dwell
ing Authority's projects at Navy
place Sc. and Alabama avenue Sc.
request from the Golden Gate
International Exposition for the
commission scale model of the cen.
tral area of Washington showing
the Federal buildings; several high
way changes and street closingS
and several coming requests for
warded by the City Council of Alex.
andria, Va.