Evening star., 1942-03-20

planned does not mean that the
Planning Commission approves
turning over every available park
or recreation area for emergency
usages during the war. Yet, there
are some locations where such tenn
porary use might be approved if it
does not interfere with existing
recreational facilities.
Forecasts Recreation Needs.
John Nolen, jr.. director of plan
year passes there will be greater
need than ever for park areas by the
rapidly growing population of Wash
ington. With the expected decline
in the use of automobiles due to
the tire shortage and the loss in
recent months Of many areas taken
over by the defense agencies, he
said, the need for additional recre-
alton space will be far greater than
realized.
John Ihlder, executive officer, who
attended the monthly session of the
planners. suggested two other park
sites that could be utilized for
housing. One of these is the old
Sixteenth street reservoir. The
other is south Of P street, just west
of the Rock Creek-Potomac Park
way. The reservoir site is now large
ly used for tennis and other sports
but is was not proposed to take all
this space.
The Planning Commission has
made no commitments on either of
these two sites.
The A. D. A. director also pro-
posed building 1000 demountable
homes on an unused portion of the
old Arlington (VaD Farm in the
vicinity Of the new War Department
and Navy buildings. Before approv-
ing the suggestion the commission
decided to make further study of
the availability in the Virginia
suburbs of privately owned housing.
Secretary Thomas S. Settle re-
ported that the commission had sent
letter to the House Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds in
dorsing the so-called Goodwillie
plan for developing and rehabili-
tating a large area in Southwest
Washington.
Reindorse Boundary Bill.
Mr.. Settle reported that the CON-
mission has reindorsed the RAN
dolph bill on the District Virginia
boundary dispute. The bill orig
1nally was sponsored by the COM
mission and has been approved by
the Virginia Legislature. The bill
places the Washington National Air
port entirely within the boundaries
OF the State of Virginia and estab-
fishes the high-water mark on the
Virginia shore of the Potomac as a
boundary line of convenience" from
Chain Bridge to Alexandria.
The commission also reafdrmed its
stand in favoring acquisition of the
Nevius tract of some Is acres abut-
ting Arlington National Cemetery
on the north. A Senate bill direct
ing acquisition of the land is now
before the House Military Affairs
Committee.
An offer also was made to assist
the District Commissioners in max
ing the authorized survey for a
subway system in Washington.
The commission also approved and
detailed plans for three emergency
bridges over the Potomac and one
over the Potomac and one over the
Anacostia River. Army engineers
were reported to be ready to start
work Monday on the permanent
wooden treStles and approaches on
each side of the rivers. The plan
involves the use of pontoon bridges
which could be thrown up In q few
hours If other bridges were wrecked.
The trestles would be set up on
the banks and the pontoons stored
nearby for emergency use. They
would be erected south OF the Key
Bridge, north of Arlington Memorial
Bridge and between the Highway
and Railroad Bridges. The threstles
on the Anacostia banks would be
erected between the Eleventh Street
and Sousa Bridge over PENNSYLVANIA
avenue. A representative of the chief
of engineers met with the commits
sion and explained the details.