Evening star., 1952-03-06
Parkway Battle.
Planning
Units Brewing
| Maryland and D. c.
Groups Expected to
Clash on Project
BY james 6. Deone


A battle between two planning
commissions appeared to be brew
Ing today over proposed extension
of Rock Creek parkway to Mary
land.
The two are the National
Capital Park and Planning Conn
mission, with jurisdiction in the
District, and the similarly named
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, which
operates in Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties.
The Maryland group soon may
decide to fight for the project.
The District body is expected to
oppose it.
Fred G. Tuemmler, top planner
for the Maryland commission,
gave the first hint of impending
battle last night. He called the
parkway extension inevitable.
No Oficial Action Yet.
Mr.. Tuemmler said he couldn't
speak for the six-man commits
sion. explaining it hasn't taken q
stand yet. But he stated:
my impression is they're in.
clined to like it."
Richard F. Green, commission
vice chairman and Montgomery
County park commissioner. has
told The Star he favors the plan.
Mr.. Tuemmler told a dinner
meeting OF the Silver Spring
Board Of Trade he feels the
through parkway has to come. He
said it would be tied in with both
the new National pike, now under
construction from Frederick, and
a projected northerly Montgomery
County roadway bypassing the
Silver Spring business section.
Plans for the Silver Spring by
pass will be ready to be made
public within two months, he told
the businessmen.
In 10-Year Plan.
Parkway extension is part OF
the 10-year, $40 million District
highway program recently pro-
posed by a special regional COM
mittee. City road officials favor
it, but park authorities and the
District Planning Commission
have vetoed similar projects in
the past.
Park Supt. Edward j. Kelly dis
approves, and there has been no
indication the planning body will
change its mind, either.
Maryland commuters would
benefit from the extension, de-
signed to ease congestion on Con-
necticut avenue and Sixteenth
street. But opponents contend that
congestion isn't bad enough and
the road would damage the park.
The proposal is for dual park
way on the parks west edge.
A staff member Of the District
Commission indorsed the parkway
move at last nights meeting.
Calls for Action.
Blair Lee III, recently named
an executive aide to the District
planners, told the businessmen
that ats up to Maryland official
bodies to get in and fight on their
own" on the matter.
Mr.. Lee emphasized he is at
odds with his commission's views.
A former vice chairman of the
Maryland planning body, he said
he had told the District commits
sion I'D be loyal to them in
everything except Rock Greek
parkway"
I'm a trojan horse" he laugh.
ingly told the businessmen.
E. Brooke Lee, former Mary
land State Roads Commission
chairman and Montgomery DEM
ocratic leader. also backed the
parkway plan.
The elder Mr.. Lee also sup
ported a demand by Sam Fig,
Silver Spring businessman, that
Western avenue from Rock Greek
Park to East-West highway bs
developed into q highway. The
road Is not cut through. but Mr..
Fig gave the right-of-way to tho
county five years ago.
Straight to Business Area.
Mr.. Lee described Western ave-
nue. as a straight shot into the
Silver Spring business district and
said it should be made a project
way up on the program" Sew.
eral other businessmen also In.
dorsed the proposal.
Planning officials said continua-
ton of the avenue across the park
would require q high-level bridge
and is unlikely soon because Of the
cost.
Mr.. Tuemmler urged prompt
acquisition OF a right-of-way for
q proposed circumferential high
way around the District. Prompt
action can save a tremendous
amount Of money, he predicted.
The planning official also called
for creation of Federal-Stat
agency modelled after the Port Of
New York Authority to administer
Ia co-ordinated public works pro-
gram for the District area. The
agency should have bond-issuing
authority and power to spend pub
ilic funds, he said.
The Federal Government should
Ipay q greater share In area high
way costs because Of Federal
|agencies here, he added.
Cundidntes to Speak
Two Maryland Democratic can
|didateS for Congress will make