Evening star., 1942-09-17
U. 5. Grant, Sd,
Named 10 Head
Planning Board
Tribute Paid to
DeIono, Retiring
After Is Years

"a ATteT ID IeOTS
IA Brig. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, was
unanimously elected chairman of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission today, as its men,
H bers paid a partin tribute to the re-
tiring chairman, Frederic A. Delano,
whose IS years in the development
of Washington were lauded in the
resolution.
Mr.. Delano, who presided for the
last time at the September meeting
4of the commission, said he had sub
mitted his resignation to President
Roosevelt on April %, 1941, sug-
gesting his retirement because of
my age and increasing responsible
/ ties" He is now 70 and is chairman
also of the National Resources
n Board.
4 The President asked me to re-
main until he had found suitable
successor" the veteran chairman
explained. Finally he found what
he and I think is an ideal man in
Gen. Grant"
Gen. Grant, he said, had helped
him some 20 years ago in getting
Congress to pass legislation Great
Ing the Planning Commission and
from 1924 to 1888, he was executive
ofncer of the commission and there
fore familiar with its policies. He
also reminded that Gen. Grant had
participated in the movement that
resulted In the enactment of the
Capper- -Cramton Act, which gov
erns all land purchased for park
use In the District.
Appointed to Fill Out Term.
The commission thereupon elected
Gen. Grant as its chairman. He
had been appointed by Mr.. Roose-
welt to f1ll the remainder of Mr..
Delano's term as a member of the
commission, which expires next
April.
His reappointment after that date
Is up to the President.
In expressing its appreciation of
Mr.. Delanos long service, the COM
mission adopted the following reso-
luton:
BE 1t resolved, That the members
OF the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and the staff
express their deep regret at the
resignation Of Mr.. Frederic A.
Delano, chairman, after more than
a quarter of century's devotion
OF time and effort to the develop
ment of Washington.
The very appointment was due
to his earlier activities 20 years ago
In the formation OF the Committee
OF One Hundred of the American
Civic Association, which aroused
Nationwide interest in the Ma
tional Capital and resulted in the
u-Gibson Act of 1924 creating
the National Capital Park Commits
sion and authorizing appropriations
for the purchase of park areas.
Two years later the Capper-
Gibson Act enlarged the member
ship OF this body and included in
Its duties consideration of the many
complex problems of modern city
planning. To this new body Mr..
Delano was appointed one of -four
distinguished citizens and in 1929
he was elected chairman. He
brought to this task a wide expert
ence and sound Judgment, resulting
from service on the planning bodies
Of both Chicago and New York.
More Fairgrounds Assigned.
"Mr. Delano's Is years of activity
IN the development of today's
Washington have seen a far greater
Improvement of this city than any
other similar period in its history.
and this accomplishment may, in
large part, be justly accredited to
his skillful guidance.
A regional plan, a comprehen-
siye recreation system, expanding
Is the city grows; a fort drive, a
huge sports center on the Anacostia.
. monumental development east
ward from the Capitol, the acuuisi-
ton Of the c. 81 o. Canal and
George Washington Memorial Park
way, and q connecting parkway to
Baltimore, are but a few of the
projects measuring the National
Capital OF the future, to be con-
tinuously and tremendously devel-
oped upon the plans formulated
under Mr.. Delanos direction and
Tor which we owe him q debt of
gratitude.
Although no longer officially con-
nected with the commission, we
know that this leading, progressive
citizen OF Washington will ever lend
his support and guidance to the
work OF the commission"
The commission announced also
that 1t has taken steps to have eight
additional Fairgrounds assigned to
the District. Last month, IA play
grounds and recreational centers
were added to the Districts facil-
titles, which had been badly depleted
by absorption of areas for wartime
purposes.
The commission has requested
Newton B. Drury, director of the
National Park Service, to assign the
following Fairgrounds for local use
The Palisades, Lafayette Recrea-
tion Center School, Coolidge, Ban
neker, Francis and Taft Recreation
Centers, the Langdon Park Play
ground and Fort Mahan Playground
Last Site Acquired.
Gen. Grant had participated in
earlier conferences concerning these
new Fairgrounds.
The commission also was informed
by Norman c. Brown, its land pur.
chasing ofacer, that the last prop.
erty needed to complete the Harri.
son School playground site has beer
acquired without condemnation.
The new colored playground il
located across from the school or