Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-06-28
Sought
For ParkL
In AZ Budget
Request for Funds
To Complete Projects
TentotiveIy Approved
BY NELSON SHEPARD.

A 100000 estimate for purchase
OF lands to complete playground
and park projects was disclosed to-
day as the objective of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion in the 1947 budget.
In approving the budget request
tentatively. officials said the Execu-
tive Committee had been directed
to discuss the items with the Dis
trict Recreation Board. Individual
items were not disclosed prior to
submitting the proposal to the
Budget Bureau, tit was said the
areas sought for development were
scattered in outlying as well as
downtown sections.
Before the monthly planning ses-
sion convened, Federal officials said
that 100000, if approved by the
Budget Bureau, would restore the
annual expenditures made pos
sible under the Capper- Cramton
Act in prewar years.
Out of an original authorization
of 100000 for the acquisition of
new land, made available under this
act, approximately $6,0000OO re-
mains unexpended. Wartime restric-
lions curtailed land purchases this
current year to 1894 900, as compared
with $500 900 the previous year when
three large playground areas were
acquired
Contracts Approved.
The com mission announced
through Norman C. Brown, land
purchasing officer, that it had ap-
proved several contracts for the ac-
QUESTION of properties within the
lines of the proposed Cardoza Play
ground area at Ninth street and
Rhode Island avenue NV.
Mr.. Brown said these sale con-
tracts, at agreeable prices, did not
mean that immediate possession was
being requested. Title to the prop
critics is being sought, however, to
make the desired area available for
development.
One private interest group wishes
to establish seaplane base on the
water front, officials said.
Seaplane Base Prospects.
Commission members say the only
prospect of getting a seaplane base
close enough to Washington to be
of any use to private owners would
be to establish it somewhere in the
harbor. That would involve some
change in harbor regulations and in
the harbor itself, which is under the
authority of the District Commits
sioners. For this reason it was not
believed the proposal would get far.
The commissions staff is to make
a progress report on its study Of
postwar airport sites available in the
Metropolitan Area Virginia plan
ming officials have co-operated close
ly and now it is proposed to line up
, Maryland officials.
. Plans for the re-alignment of
Fourth street NV, on the west side
, of the Mcmillan Reservoir to i'm
prove conditions regarded as real
traffic hazard" also will be consid-
cred. Agreements must be reached
with the Howard University officials
and the United States District En-
gineer's Office before anything can
be done
i Report on Subway Plan.
The proposed subway is due for
another airing at the sessions. A
report will be made on the public
hearings held by the District Com
miSsioners on June at which spe-
clfic recommendations were asked
of the Planning Commission. Gen.
orally, the planning officials are OPP
posed to pressing the subway mat
ter at this time and would prefer
opening up more north and south
and cross-town traffic arteries.
Proposed developments for East
Capitol street, as modelled by VIII
liam T. Partridge, architect con-
sultant, will be studied. The model
prepared by Mr.. Partridge and sub
mitted for the first time, is an archi-
tect's idea of how the street will
appear lined with monumental
buildings.
The planning session closes to-
morrow afternoon with a conference
dealing with the proposed new Fed
eral courts building in Washington,
Some of the Federal judges will at
tend to present arguments in favor
OF the building to relieve the con-
gested conditions in the District
courts. The Planning Commission
approved a new court building be-
fore the war and hopes it will be
one OF the first Federal buildings tn
be erected in the postwar program.