Evening star., 1945-09-20
D. T.. P| tanners
Study 5-Mi||ion
Land Purchase
More Fairgrounds
And Parks Sought
As Postwar Projects
By NELSON M. SHEPARD.

Planning Commission had under
study today report reviewing prof.
ects Of $5,000,000 land acquisition
program for postwar development,
including number of added rec
concentrations for new neighbor-
hood parks.
Officials said the sum involved
represented the balance left Of the
$16,000,0O0 authorized in 1880 under
the Capper-Cramton Act for park
and playground acquisitions. Thomas
C. Jeffers, landscape architect, pre-
sented the report as the planning
group opened a two-day monthly
session.
Because of the secrecy involved
in all prospective land purchasing,
details of the program were with
held. The $5000,000 balance has
been apportioned under the long
range planning of the commission,
but a number of changes will be
made in the original program. it was
said. Some of these are elimina-
tions of certain projects because
they no longer are needed. Others
involve new projects to keep pace
with the rapid growth of the city
or to meet other changing condi-
tions in certain areas.
The indisclosed number of addi-
tional neighborhood Fairgrounds
and parks are designed to meet con-
ditions imposed by shifts of popu-
lation.
Plans Parking Study.
With the increase in automobile
travel. the commission is planning
to look into the matter of provid-
ing adequate parking areas at
Great Falls on the Maryland side.
In order to do this. the National
Park Service has asked it to sane
ton the transfer of certain areas
from the Washington Aqueduct
Reservation.
Planning officials believed a plan
can be worked out that will be
agreeable to the War Department,
so that the National Park Service
could arrange for developments of
suitable parking lots. John Nolen,
director of planning, visited Great
Falls recently to find that the num-
Der of motorists and picnic parties
rivaled those of several years ago.
The proposed development at
Great Falls is in line with a number
of other items under study in con-
nection with extension of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway. In
the absence of parking lots, motor
lists visiting the scenic site must now
park their cars "helter skelter' along
the road, Mr.. Nolen said.
Prewar plans for the development
of Great Falls included the restora-
ton of the old inn that formerly
accommodated overnight visitors,
provisions for boathouse and ade-
quate picnic grounds. Some of these
projects may be undertaken in the
future.
Also at todays session, Fred w.
Tuemmler. director of planning for
the Maryland Park and Planning
Commission, was to propose certain
suggestions for the extension of ex-
isting parks in Maryland tying in
with National Capital parks. These
extensions. it was explained, would
involve financial assistance from
the Federal planning group on the
basis of one third contributions and
two-thirds in loans.
Harbors Report Prepared
In accordance with recommenda-
tions of the new Rivers and Har-
borS Act, the commission has pre-
pared report Incorporating all pro-
posals made in the last 30 years for
land and water uses" along the
Washington water front. This re-
port will be submitted to Col John
M. Johnson, United States district
engineer.
Later in the afternoon, members
of the commission, headed by Mai
Gen. U. S. Grant III, chairman, will
visit the Corcoran Art Gallery to
see the exhibit of plans and models
OF postwar projects for the District
These were prepared by the commits
sion in cooperation with various
other Federal and District agencies
Tomorrow, Secretary Thomas S
Settle will report on the status of
The District of Columbia Virginia
boundary bill, to which ne has de-
voted much effort since 1881. It
has passed the House and was re-
ported favorably yesterday from the
Senate District Subcommittee. The
only difficulty involved in the PROB
lem now, Mr.. Settle said, is the mat
ter OF jurisdiction at the National
Airport.
The commission is prepared to re-
celve proposal from the National
Housing Agency that it assist in the
organization of continuing hous-
ing survey and study in the Wash
ington Metropolitan Area. Such a
study, it was said, would be Useful
to local agencies and private enter
prise in developing an orderly post
war program, now that priorities are
being lifted on new construction.
Housing Projects Planned.
Mr.. Jefters will present revised
reports on the redevelopment of
two housing projects in the Barry
Farms and Marshall Heights areas
of Anacostia. He also will tell about
revised plans for development of
the Turkey Thicket playground at
Michigan avenue and Tenth street
NE.
Two other important matters are
included on the afternoon agenda.
Mr.. Nolen will outline on a map the
distribution of possible postwar con-
struction project in the Metropoli-
tan Area. These will include projects
of both Federal and non-Federal
character. The survey was prepared
with the assistance of the Federal
Works Agencies and others with q
view to co-ordinating the program,
which is in line with long-range
planning for orderly development of
the Metropolitan Area.
The other matter involves the
treatment Of the intersection of
the Neutrality-suspicious. Parkway
with the proposed Annapolis Free
way. The location of the inter-
section is to be on the edge OF
Anacostia Park across the District
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