Evening star., 1948-01-13
GIover-ArchboIdP Park
Freeway Plan Pushed,
|AssaiIed at Hearing
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By Harold B. Rogers

The proposal to construct Arizona
avenue as divided "freeway"
Glover-Archbold Park was
strongly advocated and bitterly at
tackled today before House District
Subcommittee.
Representative Murdock, Demo-
crat, of Arizona, sponsor OF the
pending legislation; the District
Commissioners and others advo.
Gated the project as a necessity to
ease the flow of traffic from the
Northwest section Of the city.
Strongest opposition came from
Charles C. Glover, jr., and Mrs. Anne
Archbold, representing donors Of the
park, and some citizens associations
nearest the park.
The Northwest Council of Citi-
zens' Associations, however. through
its president, Gordon Atherholt,
supported the District Commission
ers and claimed to represent all
but a few OF the citizens associa-
tiors in its Jurisdiction.
Compromise Plan Studied.
Opponents cfaimed the land had
been dedicated for park purposes
and should be preserved as such.
Critics charged that four-lane
divided highway would destroy the
recreational value of the area and
violate the purposes for which Con-
gress had authorized its acceptance.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair
man of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, headed
the list of critics opposing the high
way. He told the committee, how
ever, that his commission was con-
sidering a possible compromise So
luton at its meetings January 20
and 81, and would file report later
with the House committee.
He limited that he would propose
an express parkway" instead Of the
proposed Arizona freeway.
Record Held Open.
Representative Beall Republican,
of Maryland, chairman of the House
District Subcommittee on Public
Service, Streets and Trafflc, an
nounced as the hearing closed, that
he would keep the record open for
further statements from either ad-
vocates or opponents Of the project
until February 2.
The committee will reserve de-
cision until after the record is COM
plete, he said, but no further hear
! ings are planned.
| Details of the project were laid
before the committee by Capt. H.
C. Whitehurst. District director OF
highways, and his planning engi-
neer, D. S. Brinkley. Using elab-
crate charts and maps, they in
insisted that the population and
motor vehicle traffic expansion by
1890 necessitate such freeway.
Supporting the project also were
Washington I. Cleveland, manager
of the District division Of the
American Automobile Association,
and Ernest F. Henry, speaking for
the management Of the Westches-
ter Apartments.
Cost Set at 3 to 4 Millions.
The contention Of Mr.. Atherholt
that his council spoke In favor Of
the project for several citizens as
sociations in the area except Fox
hall Citizens Association was at
tackled by Edward v. Gosvenor.
president of the Glover Park group.
He said the Glover Park citizens
at a meeting last night unanimously
opposed the project.
Mrs. Mary L. Kenworthy OF the
Hardy Home and School Association
declared the park was accessible
and used by hundreds Of people,
especially children, despite the claim
of District officials that it was in
accessible.
Rear Admiral c. s. Stephenson,
U. S. NJ, retired, of Foxhall Citizens
Association said he would sell his
home and move out of Washington
If the freeway was developed as a
I "desecration of the park and
hazardous to children.
: Capt. Whitehurst, questioned by
. committee members, estimated thai
on a basis of a tentative plan tht
freeway, which would run 3h4 miles
from Canal road to Tenley Circl,
: NV, would cost somewhere between
E 50, 900 900 and s4,ooo,ooo.