Evening star., 1949-06-30
'Parque America Plan
To Be Placed Before
Park Planners Today
By Nelson M. Shepard

A proposal to establish a
'Parque America" in Washing
ton, in the vicinity Of the Pan
American Union Buildings. was
on the agenda of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission. which opened its month
ly meeting today.
Chief interest of NCPPC is the
matter which would require Con-
gressional sanction, was said TO
be the selection and approval Of
o suitable site, preferably on
Constitution avenue. About the
only site available Is now occu-
pied by temporary Navy buildings
east Of Seventeenth street.
"Parque America" would glorify
the history and cultural pursuits
of the 81 American republics. and
for that reason, 1t was said, q
park Of considerable size would
be necessary. The triangle be-
tween the new Pan American An
mex Building and the Interior
Department, it was said. is much
too small.
Site for Mellon Fountain.
The planning commission also
has been asked to determine A.
nally on the site of the proposed
Andrew w. Mellon Memorial
Fountain. suggested at the inter-
section of Fifth street and Con-
stitution avenue NV. The Fine
Arts Commission has approved
the site. and NCPPC has had 1t
under consideration for some
time.
A. e. Demaray, vice chairman
Of the planning commission and
its executive officer, presided at
the opening of the two-day ses-
sion. Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III,
former chairman, was invited to
attend.
A preliminary survey of land
purchases for the 1851 fiscal year
was on today's agenda. John
Nolen, jr.. director of planning,
will ask the commission to dis
cuss all recreation items with the
: District Recreation Board, the
usual procedure before final &C
ton by NCPPC.
The question of racial segrega-
ton in connection with play
grounds will come up only Incl
dentally when the staff is in
formed of letters the planning
commission has received on the
subject. Mr.. Nolen explained
These letters refer to the COM
missions action last month in
voting to remove racial designa-
tions" from the city's playground
map. No action Is called for.
Report Hinges on Funds.
There is really no change in the
status Of the report on the Com
prehensive Plan for Washington,
although Rolfe McKeever, a plan
ming consultant, will advise on
what progress has been made dur
ing the past month. Publication
of the report, when it is COM
pleted, depends on NCPPC re-
ceiving the $4,000 appropriation
to defray the expense. The House
allowed the amount but elimin-
ated $53,700 requested to defray
expenses Of redevelopment project
planning. NCPPC is awaiting final
congressional action.
The commission also expects to
act on the proposal to provide
an additional access road into the
Rock Creek Potomac Parkway for
eastbound traffic using the K
Street Viaduct. This would be
done by opening Twenty-seventh
street NV. and connecting 1t
with G street which would in
volve new connections with the
parkway.
Before NCPPC closes Friday.
members will take an inspection
trip along the Mount Vernon Me-
mortal Highway and along the
new Spout Run roadway in Arl-
ington County. The commission
is interested in trying to get Vir-
ginia authorities to protect the
approaches at the point tena-
lively selected for the bridge
across the Potomac. connecting
Alexandria with Shepherds Land
ing on the Maryland side.
Planning officials say the Vir-
ginia authorities apparently have
ignored the pleas. since real estate
developments are springing up in
the vicinity Of the bridge ap-
proaches.