Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-09-21
Park Planners
Budget Million
For Land in IS
Emergency Program
Planned in Event
War Ends Soon

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today ap-
proved a request of approximately
$1,000, 900 for its land acquisition
program for the fiscal year starting
July /. 1915, hoping to get more
than the $4,000 allowed by Con-
gress under current appropriations.
The budget program was broken
down into most imperative needs
and was accompanied by a supple
mental request for an emergency
program in the event the war ends
soon.
Norman c. Brown, land purchas-
ing officer, reported on appraisals
OF properties scheduled for future
acquisition. Details Of the program
were not given.
At the outset of the monthly
meeting, Representative Harris.
Democrat, Of Arkansas, member
OF the House District Committee,
presented the commission with a
Capitol flag, an award "for its out
standing services" in the Fifth War
Loan drive.
Gen. Grant Receives Award.
Maj Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man, received the award on behalf of
the commission, which had taken
second place among the class "A"
agencies in the recent drive. Its
employees had subscribed 29.7 per
cent of the gross payroll for War
Bonds, being exceeded only by the
National Housing Authority. Rep
resentative Harris presented a
certificate from South Trimble, clerk
OF the House, certifying that the flag
had flown over the House wing Of
the Capitol during the second ses-
sion OF the Seventy-eighth Congress,
Progress reports will follow on
three important studies now under
way IN cooperation with District
ofncials. They are the transporta-
ton study in the central area of
Washington, another study of the
parking problem and the regional
highway plan in which nearby
Maryland and Virginia communities
are cooperating.
The urban redevelopment bill, on
which will hinge much of the post
war reconstruction planned for the
central area of the city, again will
be under discussion tomorrow.
A preliminary report also will be
made on the draft of a bill to sup
plement the Budget Bureaus recon-
mendations for recognizing the
Planning Commission. Secretary
Thomas S. Settle calls it the first
preliminary draft" and it is not to
be made public. Among other things
the Budget Bureau had recommend
ed that the Planning Commission
be set up as the one agency to pur-
chase and acquire land in the Dis
trict for all needs of the Govern
ment.
J A report also will be made on
the status of bills introduced in
Congress to change the names of
Bladensburg road and Nichols ave-
nue., respectively, to Ohio and Mis-
souri, avenues. Opposition has arisen
among civic groups to the proposed
change affecting Nichols avenue.
Will Report on Zoning.
Director of planning, John Nolen,
jr., is to report on several coming
amendments which are to be the
subject of hearings this fall before
the Zoning Commission. The lat
ter had asked for recommendations
Revision Of the first and second
zone plan for the northeast section
of the city east of the Anacostia
River also has been prepared by
the commission and will be sub
ject to coming hearings this fall.
Disclaiming that drastic revision
| is involved. Mr.. Nolen explained the
plan is in line with adjustments in
other sections necessitated by de-
velopments in recent years.
! Thomas c. LETTERS, landscape ar
chitect, is to report on two develop
ment plans for recreational areas
under study. One is the Parkside
development east of Anacostia Park,
The plan aims at co-ordinating the
proposed new elementary school in
the area with school and park
lands. The other plan proposes a
better utilization of the area around
the Paul Junior High School for
recreation.