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

Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man, disclosed today the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission is attempting to organise
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.
Gen. Grant said the suggestion
for an advisory committee would be
considered at the monthly meeting
Of the planning body which opened
today with a new member in at
tendance. 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 commis.
sion IN st. Louis for number OF
years and director Of its chamber
|of commerce,
Planning Primer" Proposed.
Discussing the need for co-opera-
tive effort in planning properly for
the Washington metropolitan area,
Gen. Grant also disclosed he hopes
to obtain liberal funds for the COM
|pilation of primer" on planning
for circulation in the schools and
local colleges. The idea was used
with much success, he said, in Chi
cago about rs 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 a distinct need in WASH
|ington. Gen. Grant pointed out, to
educate youth in a proper under
standing of the various Federal
Iprojects proposed for local develop
ment. 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 1t
Iaffects the National Capital.
At today's session the commission
will resume its study OF 194s budget
festimates undertaken at the July
meeting. In accordance with recent
policy, the estimates for land acqui-
sitions will include only undeveloped
property and the completion Of
projects interrupted by the war and
excessive prices.
( OF street parking and public
building priorities will be discussed
tomorrow Revised plans for the
proposed Pan American Admins
ltration building, popularity known
as the annex, will be submitted.
Early Start Planned.
Planning officials said the Pau
American annex should be started
at an early date, the project being
Independent of Federal building
plans for the Capital, since 1t viii
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, q
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 q bird
sanctuary, will be considered at the
afternoon session. The marsh was
included in the 1927 recommended
tions for the development OF the
park but interferes, 1t was explained,
with proposed extension Of the road
along the east bank of the Ana
costa.