Evening star., 1941-02-23


city park system. i
Added to this feeling is that OF
civic leaders in the Central North
section that the overpass could better
be located where it would not en-
croach to such great extent on
park land.
The overpasS, for which funds are
already available, is planned TO take
off from the upper central portloh
of the park, where 1t is bounced Dy
New York avenue NE, and strike
across the tracks to a point near
Ninth street NE. The bridge, Whlch
will mass over New York avenue as
we'll as the tracks, is planned 10 con-
meet with Sixth street, Mount OLVeI
road and New York avenue by means
of three roadways, which are 10 cut
the park into four unequal sectlohS'
Due to the fact, however,, tnat
the park men opposing the proJecC
as now planned are in suoorolnaCe
nositions, they declined to be quoted
as to their views. They polhteu'
however, to that section OF the
Waener-Sauers park report deahng
with Brentwood Park as forming tne
hest available statement OF ther
position.
Report Hits Highway Use.
H S. Wagner and Charles q,
Sauers. Akron Ohio ana COOK
County Gllinois) park executives
were called TO Washington by sec
retarv of the Interior 1ckeS IN the
summer of 1889 to survey Washing
tons park system and recommended
how conditions might be improved.
One of the chief points made IN
their report took exception TO tne
use of park land in the National
Capital for highway purposes. Ihey
spoke strongly against the oVerpass
plan for Brentwood Park in particu-
lar. At one point they said:
Typical of what can happen Is
seen in the Brentwood tract. Orlgl-
nally an eminence covered with nne
hardwood forest, undoubtedly OF
great beauty and character, 1t is now
dilapidated and forlorn. The con-
struction of New York avenue on
a heavy cut through the side OF the
tract served to kill many trees. 1t
has apparently had no police pro-
lection for years, to the end that 1t
is criss-crossed by automobile tracks
suffers from fires and is the recipient
of much dumping. We understand
that now it is proposed to be bi-
sected by a main thoroughfare or
two and serve as the take-of for a
crossing of the railroad tracks at its
foot. It's forest, its character, its
real value, for which it must have
been purchased by park funds, will
be completely lost"
At another point they continued,
Basic public park policies and prin-
ciples are in danger of being blotted
out Thy this use). We believe 1t
vital that appropriations for parks
be not used for highway purposes.
This situation is particularly
poignant one"
The tract was bought by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission in 1928 for park pur-
poses at a cost of 1895 ,5l7I8. Short
ly thereafter New York avenue was
cut through the northwest edge of
the park. leaving a high clay and
gravel bank, so lowering the level of
groundwater in the park that the
trees growing in substantial strip
along this side of the tract are dead.
Site Favored for School.
This fact, and the fact that the
park is now shut in by the tracks
on one side and the Columbia Insti-
tuition for the Deaf on the other
and is surrounded by commercial
and industrial development, has
caused park officials and the Park
and Planning Commission to take
the view that it is no longer worth
preserving as a park and might as
well be used for other public pur-
poses.
For instance, the site at present
most favored for a new Abbot Vo-
cational School is within the park.
The officials taking the Wagner
Sauers viewpoint yesterday said
there is no reason why the park
could not be made into useful and
pleasing adjunct to the park Sys-
tenn of the city. They pointed to
the fact that a large population
lives near the park and is without
any other large area nearby in
which to stroll and play. They
also point to the fact the park is
crlsscroSsed with tracks and paths;
its earth beaten hard by human feet,
and Uttered with trash from picnic
baskets proves that even in its
uncared-for state the park is ex-
tensively used by the public.
They said they could not under
stand why the Park and Planning
Commission had reached a decision
at variance with its established views
on the use of park land.
When Health Officer George C.
Ruhland asked the commission for
permission to erect a northwest
health center on a park triangle
at First street and New York avenue
NV. to curb the highest death
rate and disease incidence in the
city. he was refused, they said. This
triangle is the result of street
dedications resulting from the Len
FAINT plan and cost the taxpayers
nothing, they added. Yet, they said,
the commission not long afterward
signaled its approval of use of a far
larger and costlier portion of park
land for highway purposes.
Chief spokesman of citizens in
the Northeast section who are op-
posed to the overpass as it now
stands is Alfred D. Calvert, presi-
dent of the Lincoln Park Citizens
Association. Mr.. Calvert described |
the overpass plan as AN unparalleled
act of vandalism"
He added that he thought the
overpass would not serve the needs
of the community nearly so we'll as
one constructed from Fourth to
Seventh streets NE. The park
Is much needed in the community"
he said.
Other Suggestions Made.
Opposition park officials have
other suggestions for an overpass