Evening star., 1942-07-01

While the huge white elephant
Army and Navy parking lots stand
almost empty, the Government
plans next week to begin eliminating
IS more acres of recreational land
in Potomac Park-including nine
hole golf course used by 40 900 people
a year-in order to erect girls dor
mitories.
These dormitory buildings will oc-
cupy a total of 72 acres. not count
ing their surrounding grounds, ac-
cording to the Public Buildings Ad-
ministration.
II designed to f1t, such structures
could go in half OF the old 20-acre
polo field which was converted five
months ago into parking space at
cost of $115,000. but which has never
been used much. The War Depart
ment half of the area. for instance.
admits about 10 cars day to spaces
designed for 1903.
The PBA, however has designed
housing units which some of the ar
chitects refer to as country clubs"
They are rambling structures, con-
tanning beauty parlors, lounges and
bridge rooms-and no more than
two of the eight units scheduled to
be built in Potomac Park could be
placed in the War Departments un-
used parking area.
Ball Field "Jeopardized."
Instead, PBA says it will place
three dormitories, accommodating
1872 woman employees OF the War
and Navy Departments in IS acres
just north of the Polo Field This
will mean the end of West Poto-
mac Golf Course.
Five more dormitories will be
placed in East Potomac Park, on
Hains Point between the swimming
pool and 18 recently erected tennis
courts. These recreational facili-
ties will repeatedly remain undis-
turbed. But the area between them
Is one on which the Of1ice OF Ma
tional Capital Parks had hoped to
build softball, soccer and football
fields, to replace others torn up to
make room for temporary Govern
ment buildings.
IL Million Available.
These eight dormitories are among
81 to be built in Washington and
Arlington, Va, with $4,000, 900 ap-
propriated by Congress. The bill
was before President Roosevelt for
signature today.
Sites for the dormitories were
chosen by S. E. Sanders, site plan
ner for the PBA, and j. C.. Nichols,
consultant from Kansas City
about one month ago. after several
weeks of study, according to Mr..
Sanders.
Whether we should use the Polo
Field was topic OF controversy,
said Mr.. Sanders. I'VE decided to
leave it to be used last, If at all
The reason. he declared. was that
the War and Navy Departments
were already using 1t as parking
area"
However, the l0-acre Navy park
ing space has on no occasion, since
it's construction in January, been
more than 25 per cent occupied, ac-
cording to a survey made public
today by the Off1ce of National Cap
ital Parks. The 10-acre War De-
partment lot is used by fewer than
dozen cars each day, 1t was re-
ported.
Says Girls Need Space.
Mr.. Sanders emphasized that his
agency does not want to crowd
workers into closely built barracks
They should have an outdoor rec
reation area, as we'll as a place to
live" he said. According to informa
ton furnished by him and by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, which agreed to the
sites less than a fortnight ago, the
two Potomac Park dormitory groups
may be described as follows:
West Potomac-Three dormitory
buildings. with 1907 rooms, 1872
beds, three beauty parlors, three
lounges, three bridge rooms. three
reading and writing rooms. IL diet
kitchens and 26 parlors. Three
physical directors will be attached
Buildings to cover 28 acres, on Is
acres of land.
East Potomac-Five dormitory
buildings, with 2,140 rooms. 2,24s
beds, beauty parlors and other ia
cilities in proportion. Buildings tc
cover "A acres, on 30 acres Of land.
In addition, the West Potomac
project will have a recreation anc
service building covering 81 1,6Ot
square feet. a l6-bed infirmary COW
ering 5,088 square feet.
The East Potomac project will
have similar halls, somewhate larger