Evening star., 1947-07-31
Strip Acquired
AT Taylor Basin
For Highway
80 Acres on Potomac
To Be Extension of
Washington Parkway
Bv Nejson IA Sheoord
By Nelson M. Shepard

A 30-acre strip near the Taylor
Naval Testing Basin was acquired
today for extension OF the projected
George Washington Memorial Park
way on the Maryland side Of the
Potomac River.
Norman G. Brown, land purchas-
ing officer for the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
said II was the second largest area
purchased for the parkway in the
last seven or eight years. Approval
of the acquisition was given at the
opening of the two-day midsummer
session at which the planners are
preparing action on numerous park
developments in the District.
The acreage Is situated on both
sides of Macarthur boulevard In the
vicinity of what was formerly the
Anglers Club, now owned by the
Government. The area extends
from the boulevard to the old
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and
to the Potomac River, fronting about
one-thtrd of mile along the rivers
edge.
Parcel Is Condemned
Condemnation of a small parcel
of land to complete the Dakota
playground at Charming street and
South Dakota avenue NE, also was
authorized by the commission. The
playground, on which the planners
have been working for about five
years, will cover slightly more than
az acres.
Mai. Gen. u. S. Grant, Sd, COM
mission chairman, reported on the
program of 80 park projects for
which the commission has funds.
The program includes land acquisi-
tions to complete many small units.
he said. Some are additions, such
as little edges of Rock Greek Park
and the Palisades Park.
Meanwhile, Gen. Grant was to
be on the receiving end of g
100000 certified check from Prince
Georges County commissioners in
payment for the first unit of the
Anacostia Park extended into the
county. The beneficiary. however,
is the United States Treasury and
not the park program of the plan
ming commission.
Refund on Bonds.
The transaction is a refunding of
the eight-year, noninterest bearing
bonds given on behalf of the Mary
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission in return for
a Federal loan under the Capper-
Cramton Act which governs the &C
QUESTION of park lands in the Met
ropolitan Area. This loan helped
make possible one of the most i'm
portant park extensions in the
county. h 4
The commission will meet later
this afternoon with q committee OF
the District Recreation Board,
headed by Harry s. Wender. The
land purchasing program affecting
many schools was to be discussed. A
request also has been made for a
colored playground In the South
Brookland area north of Rhode Is
land avenue NE.
John Nolen, director OF planning,
was to report on the status Of 80
park and playground projects for
which funds are available. Many
condemnation suits are ready for
filing. Mr.. Nolen's staff also was to
make recommendations for the 1949
land acquisition program.
Also on the agenda was discus
sion with the District Highway De-
partment of the proposed Arizona
Avenue Freeway, which the District
proposes to build through two areas
sacred to the planning commission
the Archbold Park and the Glover
Parkway and Children's Playground.
Up to now, at least, the planners
have been opposed to such use of
these two natural park areas.