Evening star., 1952-03-22
Planners Fear Future
Of Nearby Park Lands
Under Funds Slash
By Nelson M. Shepard

Planning officials feared today
the future Of Federal financing of
park lands In nearby Maryland
and Virginia under the Capper-
lCramton Act Is at stake. unless
a new and more economical ap-
Iproach to the problem can be
worked out to the satisfaction
|of Congress.
With Capper-Cramton funds
slashed, and grants withheld from
long planned projects in the areas
outside Washington, the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission late yesterday voted to
abandon the 21-year financing
policy with respect to the four
proposed small stream valleys in
Maryland. It was a hard dose for
the Federal group to swallow and
still harder for the Maryland
INCPPC to agree to, as they are
prepared to do.
At present, the policy is a dis
tinct aid to neighboring States.
One-third Of the cost of land
acquisitions for parks would be
financed through a Federal grant;
the remaining two-thirds through
an eight-year Federal loan to the
State planning commission bear
ing no interest. For two years
now, Congress has refused to go
along with this ong-established
policy. and NCPPC is studying
new approaches to the problem
with the assistance of Maryland
officials
Alternative Proposed.
As an alternative, it is now
proposed that Congress appropri-
ate one-third of the cost as an
outright grant but eliminate the
loan feature. That would mean
Maryland would have to raise the
two-thirds cost Immediately. in
stead of being given an eight-year
period Of grace-without paying
interest.
Congress may be more agreeable
to such a proposal. planning Of
flcials believe, for other as well as
economy reasons. Under the
present policy it is necessary each
year to have Congress appropriate
the amount of Federal funds
needed to defray the expense of
any part of a project being built
within that year
Whether the two planning COM
missions can save any part of the
100000 program requested for
the small valleys is uncertain.
The land will cost a lot more next
year probably and the price will
go up each year.
If Congress agreed to the pro-
posal this year, the two projects
along Northwest Branch, one in
Rock Creek and the other in the
Paint Greek area. would require
only $150,000 from Congress.
Maryland would have to put up
lthe rest from bonds or other fin
ancing of its own.
Capper Memorial Endorsed.
The commission indorsed and
will explore the idea of the Dis
Itrict Recreation Board for a me-
mortal in the park system to the
late Senator Arthur Capper, Re-
publican, Of Kansas.
For many years one Of the most
influential members Of Congress
lin District affairs. Senator Cappel
sponsored the Capper-C -Cramptor
Act and initiated the legislation
which created the planning COM
mission.
The memorial, as proposed
would concentrate on some central
Feature Of the park system. The
lplanning commission appointed
1.-THE committee to confer with a
lsimilar committee Of the Recrea-
ltion Board to work out the idea
The planning representatives viii
be John Nolen. jr.; Conrad L
Wirth and Brig. Gen. Bernard l.
Robinson.
| Little Action Taken.
This months Federal planning
session was marked by much dis
Icussion but little action. The
lgroup discussed the Southwest
lredevelopment project from every
possible angle. The Districts pro-
Iposed long-ranged highway prob
lem received similar treatment
lSo did the recent act authorizing
Ia study Of another bridge site to
Ispan the Potomac River some
where within the District bound
laries. On this. planning officials
Twill confer with all the interested
lagencieS.
| On the matter of changing zon-
ling regulations to permit more
stories in buildings without chang
ling the height limits in particular
Zones, NCPPC directed its STAFF tc
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