Evening star., 1943-11-18
Planners Cite
HugeSavings
On ParkLands
Long-Ronge Policy
Shows $4,000, 900
Increase in Values

well IN advance OF intended use was
reported today by Federal planners
The saving was computed in con-
nection with the purchase of is sites
comprising 127 acres for which the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission has paid $1,014,000 over
a period of 19 years. Organized in
1924. the agency Immediately in
augurated policy of buying lands
in undeveloped areas to be held for
future recreational uses.
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming, and Thomas c. Jeffers, land
scape architect, told the commission
today at its November session that
the cost of the 127 acres of play
ground areas, if purchased today,
would be approximately 1000 900.
The computation of savings was
reported in connection with studies
now being made of the proposed
recreation program for the 1945
fiscal year. Federal officials cited
the savings in starting to work out
plans to coordinate land acquisi-
tions with the playground program.
This would also involve the pur-
chase of school sites in areas before
they are developed by private
enterprise.
Shelter Houses Approved.
The commission approved plans
for four brick standard shelter
houses on playground sites which
will be built under supervision of
the National Capital Parks Office.
The shelters, each costing $4,000,
will be located on the following
Fairgrounds: Congress Heights, be-
tween Alabama and Randall place
Sc; Sherwood, on G street NE,
between Ninth and Tenth streets;
Edgewood, between Third and
Franklin streets NE, and Randall,
on South Capitol street, between
G and K streets SW.
Harry Thompson, resident land
scape designer for the National
Parks Service, presented the plans
for the shelters, the four now au-
thorized being intended to serve
temporarily until larger designs of
such structures are approved for use
in the District. Work is to start
soon on the structures for which the
District Recreation Board will reim-
burse the parks Office out of $4,000
earmarked for the shelters from
Lanham Act funds.
The shelters will combine a SUPER
intendent's Office, storage place for
equipment and a large playroom for
children. There will be toilet IA
cilities and undercover outdoor fire.
place. Each shelter will be steam
heated.
Condemnation Authorized.
Norman c. Brown, land purchas-
ing officer for the commission, an
nounced condemnation proceedings
had been authorized on the last
section Of the Watts Branch Park
way, a f1ood-control project which
extends about miles from Division
avenue NE. to the District line.
When acquisition of this 1O-year-
old parkway and flood control prof.
ect is completed it is expected to
save the District about $500, 900,
which was estimated in 1889 as the
cost OF constructing a large storm
sewer in this section of the citv
Watts Branch, originating in Mary-
lano, has been a serious flood
nuisance to that section.
A closed hearing was to be conduct
ed this afternoon for bankers and
businessmen who are opposed to the
proposed remaining of Fifteenth and
seventeenth streets NV. south of K
street, a suggestion that emanated
from the Planning Commission last
month.
Street Name Protest.
Bruce Baird, president of the Dis
trict Bankers Association. will head
committee to protest changing the
name OF Fifteenth street to Vermont
avenue, between K street and Inde-
pendence avenue. If the proposal of
the Planning Commission is ever
approved by Congress, it would also
necessitate remaining the one block
OF Vermont avenue between H and
I streets, which then would be-
come Fifteenth street. That would
add to the confusion, the bankers
claim.
A committee of the Board of
Trade will back them up and also
oppose changing Seventeenth street
between K and the Tidal Basin to
Connecticut avenue. Involved. also,
is the one block of Connecticut ave-
nue. between I and H streets.
which would have to be called Sew
enteenth street.
Bridge Relocation.
Tomorrow morning the planners
again will take up the relocation
OF Highway Bridge across the Po-
tomac. They will meet with Capt.
H. c. Whitehurst, director of high
ways; Thomas Macdonald. commits
sloller OF pubic roads and Mai.
Gilmore Clark, chairman of the
Fine Arts Commission.
Several alternative locations be-
tween the railroad bridge and the
inlet OF the Tidal Basin have been
To get better idea the
group will make a field inspection
in the afternoon. They will study
these sites in relation to the JEFF
ferson Memorial and approaches to
Fourteenth street and East and
West Potomac Park. The new High
way Bridge is not to be built until
after the war, but funds are avail
able for work drawings.
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