Evening star., 1949-10-25

SesquiFairS Site
Plans Today
Problem of Bridge
Across Anucostiu
As Yet UnsoIved

Plans for the development Of
the Anacostia Park site for the
Freedom Fair will be laid before
the District Commissioners today.
OF particular concern to the
Commissioners is the problem of
a bridge across the Anacostia
River. The District Highway De-
partment has recommended that
this bridge be constructed in line
with East Capitol street. Plans
for the fair. however, call for the
main entrance to be at East Capt.
tol street, with several buildings
between the entrance and the
river.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission favors a
different site for the bridge.
which would end the dilemma. It
believes the bridge should be built
in line with Massachusetts avenue
Sc.
Carter T. Barron, executive vice
chairman of the National Capital
Sesquicentennial Commission, and
Edward Boykin, director, were to
appear before the Commissioners
today. Commissioner John Rus
sell Young also is a member of the
Sesquicentennial Commission.
Problem of Dwellings.
Another problem about the site
is the presence of temporary
dwellings for 81 families in that
part of the park site the Freedom
fair plans to use. These dwellings
are south of Benning road. They
are mobile units of trailer type
the property of the Public Hous-
ing Authority. They were placed
on their present sites in 1914 and
1945 for colored war workers.
The PHA has been selling SINH
lar units which are on land leased
from private owners, the sales
usually being to the occupants on
condition that they move the
dwellings they buy.
w. P. Seaver, assistant commits
sioner of PHA, said: Naturally
We will be as cooperative as pos
sible with the Sesquicentennial
Commission
While the Sesqnicentennial
Commission is getting it's organ
ization in shape. it is working its
way through the preliminaries Of
other problems. Mr.. Boykin said
today he has a stack of applica-
tions from prospective conces-
sionaires. He said action will
await appointment of a conces-
sions manager.
Island Plans Dropped.
In early plans the entertain
ment area was to have been on
the two islands opposite the fair
site. It was found, however, that
the islands are low and muddy.
It is now planned to place the en-
tertainment area west Of the main
exhibit buildings. It would be
enclosed by the structure for a
roller coaster. with the entrance
to the area above the subter-
ranean part Of the ride.
Mr.. Boykin said one OF the
earliest steps to be taken is draw
ing up a schedule of events for
what is known as Plan A. This
includes an initial ceremony next
April IS, a parade with many
participants in costume, a prelim-
mary publicity campaign, produc-
ton Of a souvenir book and an
exhibit of historical paintings and
sculpture.
Meeting Scheduled.
Meanwhile. meeting of officials
OF the American Planning and
Civic Association was called for
Thursday at 3 pm. in the board
room of the Union Trust Building.
The group will discuss the 1850
National Citizens Conference on
Planning, which will be one of
the features of the sesquicenten-
NAL here. The conference is
planned for May IL to II at the
Hotel Statler.
Among those attending Thurs
days meeting will be Maj. Gen.
U. S. Grant III, president of the
association, and Horace M. Al
bright of New York, chairman Of
the board, who will preside.
A dinner will be held that eve
ming at Z o'clock in the Raleigh
Hotel.