Evening star., 1947-08-02
Parking Banned
On 17th Streetin
Tidal Basin Area
Two-Hour Limit in
Prospect for Users
Of EIIipse Space
By Nelson M. Shepard

By Nelson M. Shepard
Automobile parking was ordere
banned today on re-opened Seven
teenth street from Constitution ave
nue. south to the John Paul Jone
statue at the Tidal Basin.
Coincident with this latest loss q
downtown parking space used al
most exclusively by Federal em
ployes. it was learned that all-da
parking on the roadways around tn
Ellipse apparently is doomed 4
favor of rigid two-hour parking rul.
While no decision has been reache
by the National Capital Parks Office
Superintendent Irving c. Root in
dicated parking would be limite,
in this convenient area back of tn
White House for the benefit of tour
ist motorists and users of athleti
fields on the Ellipse.
The Star learned today, however
that the State Department is bring
ing pressure to bear to reserve Ger
tain all-day parking spaces on tn
Ellipse for some of its employees
The isue is by no means settled.
AIS Spaces on Ellipse.
About ATS cars are accommodate,
along the Ellipse roadways at pres
ent, and virtually all of them remail
there during the entire working day
A contract for the repaving of tn
roadwayS has been let to CorSon
Gruman Co. and the $62,715 job /
supposed to be completed by Octo
ber 81. 4
Any order changing existing park
ing regulations on the Ellipse vii
be withheld until completion of thi
work. Il am rather inclined t,
think the return of au-day parkin,
in this area will be prohibited il
favor of a two-hour parking rule,
Mr.. Root said.
The parks superintendent is J,
member of the District Motor We
hicle Parking Agency, which ha
had the matter under the study ant
has recommended the establishment
of tWo-hour parking.
In any event, Mr.. Root declared
angle parking along the Ellipse i
out in the future.
Would Reduce Cars.
Under existing regulations, car
park at 90-degree angle on tn,
outside of the roadways and parable
on the inside. Omission of angl
parking, it was said, would mate
rally reduce the number of car
that could use the area.
Park officials are inclined to be
lieve 1t is time for tourists and user
of the athletic fields to be given
new parking deal.
Ever since the war, when "shar,
your car" tickets were issued ane
all-day space was reserved on tn,
Ellipse, the custom has been allowet
to continue. Now any one can parl
there. 1t is merely a case of VIII,
gets there first.
Mr.. Root said the parks Office feel
it has an obligation" to the peopl,
who 60 to the Ellipse to play foot
ball or baseball as many do tn,
year around. Few, If any, of then
can find a parking space on tn
Ellipse.
The same Is true for visitors t.
the public buildings that are within
easy walking distance. With two.
hour rule, tourists could make hur
ried visits to the White House, Cor.
coran Art Gallery, Pan American
Building, the Washington Monu
ment or Lincoln Memorial.
Temporary Ban in Prospect.
There has been no real obstruc.
ton to parking as yet on the Ellipse
but in the course of a week or 81
the number of cars accommodated
there will be limited. Eventuall,
all will be banned for the duration
Of the repaving job.
Seventeenth Street re-openes
today upon the completion of a re.
paving job that narrowed thi
heavily used roadway by six feet
That was enough to take out thu
passing lane" park officials said
Cobblestone cutters have been elm.
mated on Seventeenth street soutl
of Constitution avenue NV, anc
they are to be abolished on tn,
Enipse roadways. A neat curbins
will be installed along the latte.
Park officials said Seventeenth
street was narrowed mainly to pre-.
vent any serious interference with
its shade trees.
Distance Factor Cited.
Just how far the State Depart.
ment will go in trying to force ar
entering wedge along the Ellipse i!
not known. No other Federal de.
partment has reserved space alon;
streets for ordinary employees" i
was pointed out. Furthermore, L
was pointed out the Ellipse is a con
siderable distance from the nev
State Department Building. the ont
formerly occupied by the War De-
partment at Twenty first street ane
Virginia avenue NV. One area tn,
State Department is believed 10 b,
trying to take over for it's owl
parking is along the Fifteenth stree
side.
Park officials defend the ban OF
parking along Seventeenth street b,
pointing out that motorists can "jus
as we'll park in other nearby areas.
Some may have to walk a bit farthe
to work, it was said but soon ther'
will be much additional parking
space when temporary buildings ar
abandoned.
| IFuuifive charoe Dismissed