Evening star., 1945-04-19
FerryServiice
To Roosevelt
Island Urged
Establishment After
War Recommended
By Planning Board

Establishment of ferry service to
the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
Island after the war was recon-
mended today by the National Cap
ttal Park and Planning Commits
sion.
Roosevelt Island, which lies mid
way in the Potomac River between
Key ard Lincoln Memorial Bridges,
was purchased a number of years
ago for $364,000 and recently was
presented to the Government for
preservation as wilderness" park
as a memorial to the former Presi-
dent.
The recommendation will be r.
ferred to the Theodore Roosevelt
Memorial Commission for its ap-
proval, since all plans for the de-
velopment of the island are subject
to joint agreement between the me-
mortal commission and the National
Park Service, which has custodian
ship.
If plans materialize the ferry
Will operate from the north end
OF Columbia Island to the southern
tip of Roosevelt Island, a water
distance of about 500 feet. This
would provide continuous service at
intervals of about 10 minutes during
daylight hours.
Causeway Plan Discarded.
The planning commission dis
carded previous plans for the erec-
tion of causeway to Roosevelt Is
land from the Virginia mainland
at Rosslyn plaza. Army engineers
had consistently objected to cause
way at this point because it would
interrupt with the free flow of the
river, it was explained.
Suggestions for a pontoon bridge
or suspension bridge connecting
with the island also were discarded. !
The Planning Commission regards
the development of Roosevelt Island
as an opportunity to have a truly
wilderness area in the midst of the
Capital to meet recreational needs.
Trails will be developed in the is
land and picnic parks, but there will
be no commercialization There is
no intention of making it small
Coney Island" the commission said
Service will be postponed until
Congress has appropriated necessary
funds for its operation, the construc-
ton of a landing pier and an auto
mobile parking space on the Virginia
side.
The National Park Service would
be expected to operate the ferry.
Playground Name Change.
The Planning Commission voted |
to change the name of the old Alb
bott School Playground to the Alex
ander Graham Bell Playground
That is necessary, it was said, be-
cause a new Bell vocational high
school is to be built near the play
ground site at Brentwood Park to
replace the present Abbott School.
1t was desirous to have the names
coincide. --. ~ sa44 /
Flood conditions in Rock Creek
and the old Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal also will receive attention to-
day.
Reports will be received at the
planning session on re-
cent public hearings that resulted
in the rejection of Army Engineer
plans to dam the Potomac River at
Great Falls.
Harry Thompson of the Office of
National Capital Parks will report
on accumulated flood damage in
Rock Creek Park. Planning officials
said, however. the damage was mot
bad" but that corrective measures
are necessary. Suggestions for
remedying flood conditions along
the scenic canal route above George
town will be made by John Nolen,
director of planning.
Gen. Grant to Explain.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man of the planning commission
and Brig. Gen. John J. Kingman,
chairman of the Board of Review
for Rivers and Harbors will report
on the status of the proposed Army
Engineers project for developing
waterpower in the Potomac basin.
So far as the Washington area is
SOilCcl lico, tIic pIOpOSdl LOT uyQTO-
electric. power at Great Falls,
which would have flooded a large
area along the Canal, is not likely
to be revived at any time soon.
Gen. Kingman is the War Depart
ment's representative on the plan
ming commission.
Mr.. Nolen will report on the con-
troversy involving the recent re-
port of the National Industrial
Conference Board on housing and
will analyze some of the criticism
that has been directed against it.