Evening star., 1950-11-07
Planners Select
4 Stream Valley
Areas for Parks
Fix Boundaries
Of 800 Acres in
Nearby Maryland
By Nelson M. Shepard

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission has fixed
boundaries Of about 800 acres in
four nearby Maryland stream VAL
leys for inclusion in the Metro
politan park system.
Officials also announced, at the
close of the monthly meeting late
yesterday, they have singled out
large areas in, Montgomery Coun-
ty to complete the George WASH
ington Memorial Parkway from
Great Falls into Washington.
About two-thirds of the acreage
needed had been acquired earlier.
Without estimating the extent
of these lands set aside for pur-
chase, officials said they consist Of
some small islands in the river
and numerous "odds and ends"
dotting the Upper Potomac shore
in Montgomery County. On the
Virginia side of the river, the
planning commission is engaged
now in surveying and appraising
the route Of the parkway above
Key Bridge to Great Falls.
Some in Prince Georges.
John Nolen, jr., planning direc-
tor. said the acreage in the stream
valleys will be purchased from
available Capper- -Cramton Act
funds. Singled out for acquisition
are units along Rock Creek and
Sligo Branch in Montgomery
County and in the Northwest.
Sligo and Paint Branches in
Prince Georges County. These
are not the first lands set aside
for park purposes in these stream
valleys, it was explained, but they
constitute the first parcels in the
Northwest and Paint Branches.
Planning officials believe they
are step nearer solution of the
problem involved in improving
the entrance to Georgetown at
Twenty eighth and M streets NV.
They approved an alternate
plan" in the event Congress fails
to enact desired legislation.
Under proposed legislation, the
triangle on which a gas station
and the old Georgetown Boys
Club now stand would be trans
ferred to NCPPC for park pur-
poses. Civic associations have
urged this solution.
AmOco Proposes Alternative.
A conference with the American
Oil Co.. however. worked out a
satisfactory alternate plan. The
company wants to build a new gas
station On the site. If it buys the
Boys Club, it has agreed to set
back its station 25 feet from the
Pennsylvania avenue side and
also reserve Is by so feet of the
apex OF the triangle for a small
| park.
An agreement was reached with
the National Capital Housing
Authority to incorporate it's pro-
posed low-rent housing project
in the central Northwest section
within the boundaries Of a slum
area which is to be redeveloped.
The commission apparently
came to terms with John Ihlder,
executive officer of the National
Capitol Housing Authority, over
a proposed housing development
in the central northwest area,
Under an agreement NCHA will
be given a site within the boun-
darieS of slum area. which will
be rebuilt under the Urban Re-
development Act.
Funds Must Be Approved.
This means. however, that Mr.,
1hlder's project will be incor-
porated as part of the general
plan for redeveloping one of the
poorest downtown sections. Final
approval of the Federal Housing
and Home Finance Agency must
be obtained, for it holds the purse.
string.
Plans were approved for the
new District Chapter building Of
the American Red Cross. This
will be erected on E street, be-
tween Twentieth and Twenty
first streets NV.