Evening star., 1947-09-18
Aid Of Citizens
Sought in Plans
ToBeautifyD
Advisory Committee
Of 100 to $50 Needed
Gen. Grant Says
By Nelson M. Shepord

Maj. Gen. U. s. Grant III. chair
man, disclosed today the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission is attempting to organize
an unofficial citizens advisory COM
mittee on plans "for beautifying
Washington and its environs."
The committee should have a
membership of 100 to $50, he said,
chosen for public spirited interest
in present and future development
Of the National Capital. The Wash
ington Board of Trade and the
Citizens Council on Community
Planning and other groups are be-
ing asked to suggest some names.
The monthly meeting of the plan
ming body was opened today and
the suggestion for the advisory COM
mittee was to be considered along
with business.
Norman G. Brown, land purchas-
Ing agent, was authorized to file
condemnation proceedings on the
remaining five and one half acres
needed for extension of the White
haven Parkway between Forty
fourth street and Foxhall road NV.
This is one of the newet traffic
highways being developed in that
section.
Nine Lots Sought for Playground.
Mr.. Brown also announced con-
dennation will be filed promptly
on nine lots between Second and
This is one of the newest traffic
Third and H and I streets NV. for
development of Seaton Playground
The old Seaton elementary school
Is located in this square and event.
ually is to be replaced by a new
school. The District government is
joining with the planning commits
sion in acquiring property extending
from the school west of Third street
between H and NV.
Three apartment houses on the
square on which the Seaton school
is located will be left standing, Mr..
Brown said, because. of high land
costs.
Planning Primer" Proposed.
Discussing the need for co-opera-
tive effort in planning proper
ly for development of the Wash
ington Metropolitan Area, Gen
Grant also disclosed he hopes
to obtain liberal funds for the COM
pilation of a primer" on planning
for circulation in the schools and
local colleges. The idea was used
with much success, he said, in Chi
cago about 25 years ago. 1t stimu-
lated cityWide interest in civic
planning with result, he said, that
all bond issues for that purpose
were supported successfully.
There is distinct need in Wash
lngton, Gen. Grant pointed out, to
educate youth in proper under
standing of the various Federal
projects proposed for local develop
mert. He has not yet taken up the
idea with the Board of Education
but hopes to obtain its cooperation
In introducing courses in the schools
dealing with city planning as it
affects the National Capital.
New Member at Session.
A new member of the Planning
Commission was present at today S
session. He is Albert Preston
Greensfelder of st. Louis, named by
President Truman for a six-year
term on the commission to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation
of William a. Delano of New York
City.
Mr.. Greensfelder, prominent engi-
neering architect, has had planning
experience on city. county and State
boards in Missouri. He was chair
man of the city planning commits
sion in st. Louis for a number of
years and director of it's chamber of
commerce.
Off-street parking and public
building priorities will be discussed
by the planners tomorrow. Revised
plans for the proposed Pan Ameri-
can Administration Building, proper
ly known as the annex, will be SUBJ
mitted.
Early Start Planned.
Planning officials said the Pan
American annex should be started
at an early date, the project being
independent of Federal building
plans for the Capital, since it will
be financed by the Pan American
Union. The building will be "com-
parable" to the Federal Reserve
Building and will be located on the
triangle directly south of the In
terror Department Building. 1t will
face on Constitution and Virginia
avenues NV.
A report also will be made on
studies of the New York avenue
playground at First street NV, a
neighborhood in which both white
and colored citizens reside. The
playground now is used by white
children. Future uses to which the
playground shall be put probably
will be decided today.
Studies made of Anacostia Park
especially in connection with the
wild rice marsh now used as bird
sanctuary, will be considered at the
afternoon session. The marsh was
included in the 1927 recommends
tons for the development of the
park but interferes, it was explained
with proposed extension of the roac
along the east bank of the Ana.
costa.
hahInron Torraro fi3i1one