Evening star., 1941-03-20
Planners Buy
73,Acre Tract
For Park Site
Area Adjoins Lond
Bought for School;
Two to Be Integroted

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today an
nounced purchase of approximately
7h acres Of land fronting along TOO
feet OF the 400 block of Massa-
chusetts avenue NV. and adjoining
a recently acquired 5-acre school site.
Announcement of the purchase
was made by Norman c. Brown,
associate land purchasing officer Of
the commission, shortly after the
planning group began its two-day
March meeting. Mr. Brown pointed
out that the project was a good
example of joint planning and pur-
chasing by the District Commits
sioners and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. The
commissioners are responsible for
the purchase of school sites, while
the Planning Commission acquires
Fairgrounds and recreation areas.
Mr.. Brown said he felt sure the 1875
acres will make possible a well
integrated" unit for school and
recreation purposes.
11-Acre Park Being Bought.
The commission also announced
it had begun acquisition of an IL
acre park situated north of Good
Hope road at the intersection of
Alabama avenue Sc. The area is
to be known as Fort Baker Valley
Park and is largely valley and hill
side land, which will be preserved
in its natural state with pedestrian
access only, Mr.. Brown stated.
Mr. Brown also announced addi-
tional purchases of approximately
212 acres toward completion of the
Watts Branch Parkway project in
the Northeast, near the District line.
The area is being developed as a
parkway and food control project.
The commission voted to accept
the triangle at Fourteenth and Lu-
zon streets NV, embracing about
5000 square feet as a part of the
park area, it was said.
Plans for Park Area Completed.
Milo Christensen, co-ordinator of
recreation for the District, told the
commission his group had formu-
lated plans for completion of SO
playground and recreational areas
and 20 park sections.
Mr.. Christensen told the commits
sion he hoped to obtain money to
carry out this plan from pending
appropriation bill for additional
community facilities necessitated by
defense.
The greater part of this afternoon
was to be devoted to discussion of
the Government Office building prof.
ect in Prince Georges County, Nd,
near Suitland, for which half OF
Federal appropriation Of Sc, 400 900
is to be spent. Plans are on the
draft boards for the first of eight
structures. Designed to contain
about 100000 square feet of office
space, the building has been ear
marked for the Navy Departments
use.
Tomorrow the commission will
undertake a general review Of the
Government office building space
situation locally, in terms of popu-
lation trends and defense needs.
To Review Legislation.
Consideration will be given new
Navy Department office building
now going up at Arlington road and
Columbia pike in Arlington County,
Va, the projected new General Ac-
counting Office and several Alley
Dwelling Authority projects.
Thomas S. Settle, commission Sec
| retary, will review the stains of leg
lslation pertinent to the work Of
the commission. John Nolen, jr.,
the commissions director of plan
ming, will report on the progress
OF thoroughfare studies in and
around Washington, including the
suggested toll highway between the
District and Baltimore, Md.