Evening star., 1953-12-23
CIorifies Stond on Expresswuy

The National Parks Association be-
lieves it should clarity its position
opposing the proposed expressway
through Rock Creek Park, in view Of
the statements published in The Star
that it is lobbying for selfish property
owners" and that it has not studied
the plans.
The association is interested in the
matter because the National Capital
Parks are a part of the national park
system. It's primary purpose is to in
crease public understanding of the value
Of all national parks, and of the need
for public vigilance to prevent their
deSecration. At the moment, the as
Sociation is striving to prevent flooding
Of such areas as the Grand Canyon,
Mammoth Cave, Glacier National Park,
and Dinosaur National Monument. the
logging of the incompatible rain forest
in Olympic National Park, and similar
destruction of many other areas as
proposed by various commercial inter-
ests. It is doing so purely in the ma
tional interest, and derives no gain from
its activities. It is not lobbying organ
ization. and is too experienced to sup
port any program not thoroughly stud
led and soundly conceived.
The people of the District and adja-
cent Maryland and Virginia. who are
properly alarmed at the serious traffic
situation here, are in mood to grasp
at any proposal that offers relief from
it. They have not recognized that the
proposed expreSsway has major de-
t11n nT
Greek Park as an exhibit OF natural
beauty unique in the world, urgently
needed by those who live and work here
to provide surcease from the tensions
of urban living. It would be tenn
porary palliative, funneling commercial
traffic into the heart of downtown
Washington, from which it could escape
only if further expensive facilities were
built to deposit it into the most seri-
ouSly congeSted area in Virginia. II
would create a situation that perhaps
could never be corrected.
Plans Of the Maryland highway au-
thorities call for an expansion of Route
240 and its relocation to bring it to the
East-WeSt highway at Rock Greek Park.
From there, the increased traffic would
have no way to continue efficiently. It
is obvious that once this is done. it will
be demanded that the six-lane express
way continue all the way through Rock
Creek Park. After the construction
equipment is through with the park,
there will be little left to preserve.
In contrast to this outstanding ex-
ample of inept planning, with its de-
struction of incalculaDle values, there
has been approved and published by the
National Park and Planning Commis-
sion detailed comprehensive plan OF
how the Capital city should be devel-
oped. It is an excellent plan, but
for certain official stubborneSS, would
now be proceeding. toward realization
Among other proposals, it calls for two
major circumferential highways that
would route trucks and other through
traffic around the heart of the District
and across the river by two bridges one
above and one below the present struc-
lures. This logical approach to the
problem would give permanent relief to
our traffic congestion.
The speople themselves, who use the
parks and derive irreplaceable values
of priceless quality from them must
actively inform their officials that these
parks are not free land, to be abused or
mishandled They are the most valuable
treasures of city famous for it's love-
illness, and must be protected for our
present enjoyment and for the welfare
of the people of the future.
Fred M. Packard,
Executive Secretary.
National Parks Association.