Evening star., 1950-07-29
Kelly Expand
Park Use Here
As New Chief
Root Gets Planning
Duties as Chapman
Promotes Two Aides
By Nelson M. Shepard

Promotes Two Aides
By Nelson M. Shepard
From Edward j. Kelly, the new
superintendent of National Cap
ital Parks, Interior Department
officials said today that Washing
ton can expect an energetic. broad
visioned exploitation of its extern.
sive recreational system for the
benefit of all its residents.
Secretary Chapman, in three
surprise "meritorious promotions"
yesterday afternoon, named the
52-year- career assistant SUI
perintendent to succeed Irving c..
Root, who has headed NCP for
the last 10 years. Mr.. Root was
given the newly-created job of
community planning adviser to the
National Park Service in view of
his wide experience as city and
regional planner.
Involved in the third promotion
was Harry T. Thompson, assistant
superintendent under Mr.. Root
since 1945. He has been made
associate superintendent and, in
addition, was given a salary STEP
up. The Kelly Thompson team
has worked together harmoniously
on many park projects.
Change Expected.
The change in the superintend-
ency had been expected since last
April. That was when Secretary
Chapman sent Mr.. Kelly to the
District Recreation Board to re-
place Mr.. Root, at a time when
the Interior Department was
pressing its policy of non-segrega-
ton ip the anticipated reopening
of its six public swimming pools.
Mr.. Kelly not only represented
National Capital Parks on the
board, but he also directly repre-
sented the Interior Secretary. He
will continue in that capacity.
Secretary Chapman told report
ers, at the swearing in" of the
new park superintendent, that the
replacement of Mr.. Root "has
nothing whatever to do" with the
question Of segregation and the
problem it has created in the
Recreation Board.
"Mr. Root is a trained. techni-
cal planner, and he is now going
to do a phase of work that I par
ticularly want him to do" the
Secretary added.
It has been known for some
time that Mr.. Root has missed
the former planning duties which
at one time occupied his full time.
Vigorous Park Policy.
A few minutes after taking his
oath in Mr.. Chapman's Office, the
new superintendent sl let 1t be
known he intends to pursue a Wig
orous policy with respect to the
use of Washington's 10000 park
acres. A part of the system ex-
tends into Maryland and Virginia.
Washington has one of the
finest municipal park systems in
the world" he told reporters,
land it will be my policy to con-
tinue to make it serve the public
of the District and the thousands
of visitors who come here from
all parts Of the country"
For the time being the changes
will interfere little with individual
duties. Mr.. Kelly was promoted
to the post of assistant superin-
tendent last April, after serving
10 of his 19 years with MOP as
special assistant to the superin-
tendent. He came to the Office
as public relations officer in 1881.
The park police will remain un-
der his supervision. Mr.. Kelly
will replace Mr.. Root at the meet
ings of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. For
the past IL years Mr.. Kelly has
been a member of the Alexandria
City Planning Commission.
Lived Here 80 Years.
A native of Grand Rapids,
Mich, and former reporter on the
Grand Rapids Herald, Mr.. Kelly
has lived in the Washington area
for 80 years, except for three years
in Chicago. That was when he
was in the production Of docu-
mentary films. He served with
the naval air forces in France in
World War I and is a member of
the American Legion's National
Press Club Post.
During the past year, Mr.. Kelly
has expounded the Interior De-
partment's racial policy at public
meetings in the city and is 100 per
cent behind its stand on nom
segregation. With the opening Of
swimming pools on non-segre-
gated basis, he predicted last
June there would be no recur-
renee of the racial troubles that
broke out in 1949. There has been
none.
In commenting on the deserved
promotions for the three officials,
Secretary Chapman promised each
his whole hearted cooperation
and help. Turning to Mr.. Kelly,
he added: God help you, you're
going to need help"
In his new position, Mr.. Root
will advise the National Park
Service and Reclamation Bureau
on the technical phases of new