Evening star., 1944-08-03
Planners Report
Completion Of
0xon Run Work
Commission Also
Tells Of Plans for
New Fairgrounds

- - e.. - = -
New Fairgrounds
Completion Of the oxcn Run park
way and flood control project, start
I'd about eight years ago In Anaeoe-
TIC, In the aouthest section, Was atl-
n0unced by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission Ct
the start Of It's hrst monthly meet
ing since June.
Norman G. Brown, land-purchas-
ing Cficer for the commission, said
the completion OF this long -range
project was made possible by the
dnal approval Of condemnatio
awards on several scattered parcels
Of ground, embracing slightly more
than AZ acres. They are situated
mainly on Livingston road and on
South Capitol street and extend
over the District line into Maryland.
The Oxon Hill project starts In the
woods northeast OF st. Elixabeth,s
Hospital and zigxags through the
Southeast section. Some attractive
park areas lie along the route.
Seek New Playground Sites.
The commission also announced
today that several new playground
sites in scattered areas OF the city
have been included in its land ac-
qutsidon program and viii be for
warded to the budget bureau in
connection with the l946 budget.
John Nolen. director Of planning,
had met recently with the land
committee Of the District Recrea-
ton Board which had submitted
recommendations for . large mum.
her Of playground sites. The plan
ming commission Is empowered un-
der law to purchase such sites for
recreational facilities.
The commission considered these
recommendations today and In
cluded Several" Of them in its pro-
gram. The number and locations.
IN accordance with policy prior to
purchase were not divulged.
Secretary Thomas s. Settle said
the commission was drawing up a
broad program of future land acoui-
sitions which will be divided into
two sections. The first section,
which viii include recommendation
for the Fairgrounds, are termed
urgent needs" regardless of how
long the war, both in Europe and
the Pacific, might last.
A second phase of the program Is
based on the contingency that the
war In the Pacific may end In 19l6.
Details OF both programs are being
withheld.
Make Inspection Trip.
As guests of Maj. Gen. U. s. Grant
III, chairman, members OF the COM
mission attended luncheon today at
the Army Navy Club in Arlington,
Va. prior to an inspection trip of
improvements In nearby virginia
Among the guests who will serve as
guides on the trip are representa-
tives Of Arlington. and Fairfax
Counties and the City of Alexandra
Thomas c. ,Jeffers, landscape
architect Of the commission, also
will report on the recreation needs
Of the Petworth area and outline
possible improvements for the con-
sideration Of the commission. This
Is being done at the request of the
Petworth Citizens' Association.
Tomorrow morning Commissioner
w. z. Reynolds OF the Public Build
1ngs Administration will appear be-
fore the commission to discuss the
postwar building program. This has
been topic before the planning
group for many months and ties in
closely with general planning In the
District.
VIII Report on Bridge.
Gen. Grant is to make = report
tomorrow on the status Of the High
way Bridge controversy. The Dis
trict Commissioners and the Pub
lie Roads Administration have an
nounced their intention Of going
ahead with plans to replace the
present four-lane structure by two
one-way bridges of four lanes each.
The Planning Commission op-
poses this plan and has long advo-
Gated q single six-lane bridge. Sec
retary OF the Interior Ickes, the
National Park Service and the War
Departments representative on the
commission all favor that proposal,
but the Commission of Fine Arts
has lined up with the opposition. /"
The War Department influence,
as well as Secretary Ickes', may
prove q strong factor, for permits
viii have to be obtained by the
Commissioners to erect bridge ap-
proaches on park property. The
War Department has control over
navigable rivers and for this reason,
1t was said. might raise objections to
the erection Of two bridges.