Evening star., 1950-02-07
Expresses Hope That Bridge Plans
Will Not Interfere with Anacostia Park

To the Editor of The star
This letter is prompted by three facts:
l. conversation I had one evening with
the late Miss Mabel Boardman, then 1920
Commissioner of the District of Columbia,
about the Anacostia River Park.
2. The fear expressed at the December
meeting of the Committee of 100 for the
Federal City that the plan, recommended by
the D. c. Commissioners for building q
bridge across the Anacostia River in line
with East Capitol street. would imperil the
proposed National Arboretum, an important
feature OF the Anacostia River Park
5. The report in The Star of January 26
that Gen. Young "also questioned whether
the overall plans for the Eastern Mall were
not in need of fundamental revision"
For background. I quote the following
testimony of Col Byron Bird, chief of Engi-
neering Division, given April 7, 1s4s, on the
D. c. appropriation bill:
THE reclamation of the Anacostia River
mats is project adopted SO years ago by
Congress for the reclamation of the extensive
mosquito-laden and unsightly marsh areas
along the Anacostia River with the view to
use OF this area as park for Washington.
The area is l,848 acres.
1T will afford to the east and northeast
sections of the city what Rock Creek Park
offers to the northwest section and Potomac
Park TO the southern section.
1T will contain tracts set aside for the
development by the Department of Agricul-
ture as a part of the National Arboretum
and Botanical Gardens and the nationally
famous water lily ponds near Kenilworth.
1T will also make available protected
water areas for boating and canoeing not
elsewhere obtainable in the D. c.
"The Anacostia Park will thus provide
facilities and scenery seldom found within
the confines of Metropolitan area such as
this.
"A total of SO 914, ,722O 90 has been appro-
pr1ated for the project to date april II,
1948.
"A recent estimate would indicate that
approximately $6,5o000O would be required
for the total completion of the job. However,
the present working estimate is $4,290 O0O"
Walter Fowler, budget officer, testified: IT
agree with the witness (Col Bird) that it
will be one of the garden spots of the city
when it is finished. 1t will consist Of a
beautiful series of lakes and islands in the
middle of the river.
eve ID. c. do not own it. 1t is in Federal
title"
Miss Boardman was an educated woman
OF ample means and had travelled widely.
She said she found that cities that had
extensive parks, particularly water parks,
were most attractive and afforded much
pleasure and relaxation to the people She
said she could visualize this area of 1900
acres, developed as planned. being unrivaled.
She expressed great interest in the Arbore-
tum and Botanical Gardens and thought they
would probably be the most interesting and
instructive features in the park (Note: The
Department Of Agriculture advised me that
work on the Arboretum has been in progress
for the last twelve years..
About one-third Of the park lies south
of Massachusetts, avenue. is completed and
given over to dry land sports, golf courses,
football fields, tennis courts, baseball dia-
monds, large modern swimming pool and
large brick field house.
The north wo-thirds Of the park is about
so per cent completed.
Massachusetts avenue, the south boundary
OF Fort Dupont Park joins the two parks
together. making total area of about $500
acres.
The Anacostia River Park was designed
and planned by the best talent available,
men outstanding in this type Of planning.
I hope nothing will be done that will
interfere with the development of the park
as planned and for which the District tax
payers, have already paid almost $4,000 ,00o
CHARLES A. BARKER.