Evening star., 1942-11-20
PIannersGudrd
Park Beauty in
Roads Project
Master Highways in
Rock Creek O. K.'d,
With Reservations

With Reservations
Federal planning officials have
agreed to the proposed development
Of a master highway plan for upper
Rock Greek Park. 1t was disclosed
today, provided only that such a
plan can be carried out without
spelling the natural scenic beauty
Of the park
The position OF the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
was expressed in q declaration of
principle" to serve as a guide in de-
signing the highway plan which is
being put forward as wartime need
in facilitating traffic through the
park from the Taft Bridge at Con-
necticut avenue to Kensington, Md.
This declaration of principle,
which has as its first aim the per-
manent preservation of Washing
tons most beautiful park, is a re-
iteration of a principle laid down
during the First World War by q
noted landscape artist who had a
great deal to do with the execution
OF planning by the one-time Nc
Milland Commission.
Natural Beauty Paramount.
In 1918, when the wartime growth
Of Washington threatened as it now
does the scenic values of the city,
Frederick r. Olmstead enunciated
the following statement of principle:
THE dominant consideration,
never to be subordinated to any
other purpose in dealing with Rock
Greek Park, is the permanent pres
ervation of its wonderful natural
beauty and the making of that
beauty accessible to the people with
out spelling the scenery of the park"
Mr.. OlmStead at that time was a
member of the old Office of Public
Buildings and Grounds and his
services are still available to the
existing Planning Commission as a
consultant. officials said yesterday
that this cardinal principle will be
carried out by their planning board
and would serve also as a guide to
the Public Roads Administration
IN designing the new highway plan
for Rock Greek Park.
As a result of an extensive study
OF flood conditions in West Potomac
Park, the commission rejected rec
concentrations for the construction
OF another dixie to protect the new
Navy buildings in the rear of the
Rejecting Pool and the Munitions
Building. Although a possible To-
cation for new dixie was worked
out. the commission felt that there
was no pressing need to build one.
Doubt Flood Danger.
Studies of the flood problem in
that area are being made by the
United States Engineers Office, but
the commission felt it very doubtful
II 1t would ever be built. In the
first place, it was pointed out, con-
struction of a concrete retaining
wall would involve critical materials,
The first floors of the buildings
are several feet above the crest Of
last October's flood and the likeli-
hood is remote that the Potomac
would rise to any greater height in
the next few years. If flood of
unusual proportions should occur,
members Of the commission felt it
would be easier to evacuate the
building and place records on the
second floor for safekeeping.
1t was generally believed that the
dixie erected in that vicinity and in
the Monument Grounds during the
flood Of 1896 still affords SUFFICIENT
protection to the area.
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming, reported that the commission
is In general agreement with all
public agencies affected by the pro-
posed routing of the Baltimore
Washington Parkway.
A series of meetings have been
held with result, he said, that the
route has been adjusted so that it
will not conflict with the operations
Of such areas maintained by the
Agriculture Research Center, Green
belt and Fort George G. Meade.
Furthermore, 1t was reported, these
agencies have given assurances that
there will be no new construction in
the areas through which the park
way eventually will run.
Postwar Project.
The Baltimore Washington Park
way is planned to connect with
point In Maryland across from Alex
andria, Va, and extend also to Fort
Washington. There Is little chance
Of any headway being made until
after the war. The commission yes
terday acquired about three acres to
complete Anacostia Park to the
District line at the point where it
will run into the proposed park
way.
The question of jurisdiction over
the highways leading to the Penta-
gon Building in Arlington, Va, as
well as its parking spaces, also was
considered yesterday. Specific rec
concentrations were made.
The through highways, it was felt,
should be placed under the jurisdic-
tdon Of the National Park Service,
giving them the same Federal sta
tus as the Mount Vernon and
George Washington Memorial Park
ways. The Pentagon Building It
SELF, the commission recommended,
should be placed under control of
the Public Buildings Administra-
ton, as well as the parking areas.
Policing Of the entire area in
Arlington would be left to the War
Department and the park police.
This would mean that offenders
would be brought before the United
States commissioners in Alexandria