Evening star., 1950-05-14
Citizens Indorse
North Virginia
Park Authority
Participation in New
CopitoI Planning
Group Also Booked

Creation Of q Northern Virginia
Park Authority and participation
by suburban communities in o
proposed new National Capital
Planning Commission have been
indorsed at a meeting Of citizens
Of the area.
Procedure for establishment Of
the authority was set up by the
Virginia General Assembly at its
last session. Since then. the gov
erning bodies Of Arlington. Alex
andria, Falls Chuch and Fairfax
County have taken preliminary
steps toward establishing the au-
thority and determining some
method of financing a park pro-
gram.
The citizens meeting, held Fri
day night in St. James School
auditorium. Falls Church. was at
tended by more than 100 residents
Of the four Jurisdictions.
The local governments were
urged to take prompt action in
forming the authority,
Called by Z Co-Chairmen.
The meeting was called by four
co-chairmen of a citizens COM
mite previously organized. The
chairmen are Tam Deering,
Arlington: A. E. Casgrain. Falls
Church; c. p. MeKenna, Annan-
dale. and DR.. c. L. Fifer. Alexan-
dria.
The group urged that Federal
legislation now under considera-
tlon be amended to provide the
same assistance in grants of money
and loans to Virginia that have
hitherto been given to Maryland"
Under existing law Maryland is
authorized to receive SIS million
in grants and SO million In loans
through the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
The citizens acted after re-
ceiving a report of the interim
committee on Northern Virginia
Parks. Members of the commit
tee are official representatives OF
the governing bodies of the four
counties and cities.
They are c. B. Runyon, Fair
fax County Board of Supervisors:
Samuel E. McCrary, Falls Church
City Council; Alfred E. Frisbie.
Arlington County Board, and Z,
j. Kelley, Alexandria City Council.
Citizens Approve Report.
The report. approved by the
citizens. urges passage of amend
ments to Federal legislation to
provide for Virginia representa-
ton on the new Capital Planning
Commission. which would be the
new name of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
The interim committee recon-
mended that the Governor Of
Virginia nominate a member Of
the Northern Virginia Regional
Planning Commission to the II.
member Capital commission.
Adjournment came after ex-
pressions of disappointment that
Fairfax officials have killed" q
proposal to acquire the Lake Bar
croft site.
John w. Brookfield of SPRING
field. chairman Of the Northern
Virginia Regional Planning Com.
mission, presided. After a motion
to adjourn had been seconded.
Mr.. Brookfield banged his gavel
to end discussion and closed the
meeting as at least two persons
sought the floor.
If had been asked to be
chairman Of a meeting about Lake
Bancroft" he said. Il wouldn't
have come"
Press releases issued before the
meeting and distributed to the
audience urged residents to at
tend Ito consider development Of
Lake Bancroft"
The 680-acre tract includes ia
acres of water which formerly
served as a reservoir for the Al
exandria Water Co.. on Columbia
Pike west of Baileys Crossroads.
1t has been sold to a Massachu-
sets group for private develop
ment.