Evening star., 1948-04-29
New|andsPark
Shifted by D. E..
TO U. ). Control
Interior to Reserve
Military Road Area
For ChiIdren's Use
By Nelson M. Shepard

A small neighborhood woodland
park on the north side of Military
road between Twenty-eighth and
Thirtieth streets NV. was trans
ferred to the National Capital Parks
system today at the direction of the
District Commissioners in compli-
ance with suggestion of the family
of the late Senator Francis G.. New
lands of Nevada.
Formerly part of the Newlands
estate, the acreage recently was do
mated to the District by the heirs
of the Nevada Senator, who played
a large part in the development of
the old Chevy Chase area. An
nouncement of the transaction was
made at the opening session of the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commissions monthly meeting.
Supt. Irving c. Root of the parks
system said the park will be known
as the Francis G. Newlands Me-
Park and expressed gratifi-
cation that Mrs. Newlands Johnson,
a daughter of the Senator, had
taken the lead in bringing about it's
addition to the Federal park system.
Reserved for Children.
Through the generosity of many
families the National Capital Parks
office has received donations in the
past of tracts of land which it might
not have been able to acquire other
wise, Mr.. Root said.
The fountain at Chevy Chase Cir.
Gle also is memorial to Senator
Newlands.
Mr.. Root said the new acquisition
will be reserved as a play area for
small children, but will not be made
into a regular playground.
The planning commission an
nounced through Norman C. Brown,
its land purchasing officer, approval
of condemnation settlement on
1000 square feet of ground situated
on Thirty-second street Sc, as yet
near Branch avenue.
This is part of one-half mile strip
which is being acquired in the sec
ton for the Fort drive Mr.. Brown
said only about three small parcels
remain to be condemned to COM
plete this section of the drive.
Orders Condemnation.
The commission cracked down on
excessive real estate prices demand
ed for park lands by declining an
offer submitted on a small seven
room house within the lines of Fort
Reno Park. Asked what was re-
garded AS excessive" Mr.. Brown
said in this case it was between so
per cent and 100 per cent in excess
of appraisals of the property. The
planning commission ordered him
to proceed with condemnation in
this case
The commission also announced
the purchase of key property
needed to round out the Deanewood
Playground for colored, near Forty
ninth and Quarles streets NE. The
land consists of only quarter of an
acre. but was being sought as an
apartment site
Meanwhile, Federal interest in fu-
ture planning for the District CEN
tered today on an inspection OF
some of the larger institutional
grounds to determine if they afford
suitable sites for Government build
ings or recreational facilities.
To Visit DalecarIia.
One of the largest areas in which
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission is particularly
interested and which will be in
spected today is the large Dali
ecarlia reservation in West Wash
ington. 1t spreads for some 80
acres into Montgomery County, also.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man, has the master plan for WASH
ington in mind in visiting such areas
with his planning experts, Down.
town Washington is so congested
with public buildings that Federal
planners are being forced to look
to outlying areas.
Besides the Dalecarlia tract, the
planning officials will visit the
National Training School for Bows,
the Naval Observatory grounds
which are designated as the site for
new hospital center; the Soldiers
Home and the area along Klingle
road NV.
To Discuss Master Plan.
Tomorrow, the commission will
discuss its forthcoming report on
comprehensive plan for the Metro
politan Area.
Action is expected to be taken on
the revised plans for the great
plaza back of the District Building
on Fourteenth Street. The Public
Buildings Administration has offered
plan which would save most of the
badly needed parking lot The plan
calls for underground as we'll as
ci1rforo park;np