Evening star., 1953-04-28
Virginia Park Plans, in Infancy,
Would Die if Fund Is Scrdpped

admit they just were not inter-
ested in park development when
the Capper-Cramton Act was
passed. Rapid growth of the
nearby areas, however, has made
them realize that parks are nee
esary now.
The Federal Government built
the Mount Vernon boulevard
from Mount Vernon to Washing
ton. The parks and recreational
areas connected with this boule-
ward are all Federal.
The boulevard has been in
coprorated into the George
Washington Memorial highway,
which is to extend from Mount
Vernon to Great Falls on the
Virginia side. skipping Alexan-
dria. On the Maryland side. the
highway is to extend from Fort
Washington to Great Falls, skip
ping the District.
With the Mount Vernon prof.
ect as the first leg, this project
now has been completed in Arl-
ington County to Lorcum lane,
and acquisition of the remainder
or the land necessary to get it to
the Fairfax County line is about
completed.
The Federal government pays
half the cost of the land and the
State the other half under the
Capper-Cramton Act.
Fund Cut From Budget.
Acquisition of land in Fairfax
County was scheduled to begin
this year. But the Federal Budget
Bureau cut out 100000 allocated
in the National Capital Plan
ming Commission budget for the
Federal Governments part of
the first leg in Fairfax.
The State Legislature ap-
propriated $154,000 for the
project and Fairfax County had
indicated it was willing to raise
the other half of the money
needed to match the Federal
funds.
On the Maryland side, Moth
ing has been done on the
George Washington Memorial
Parkway from the District to
Fort Washington. In Montgomery
County. the land is about IS per
cent acquired, but nothing has
been constructed.
Virginia Indicates Interest.
There is some concrete evil
dence of Virginia's awakened in
terest in the park situation. in
addition to all the paper plans.
Fairfax County has a 40-acre
tract on Accotink Creek, one of
the streams in the valley de
velopment program. It is desig-
mated for a park. but no develop
ment has taken place.
Earlier this year, Fairfax
County bought the 15-acre Great
Falls Park on the Virginia side
of the Potomac River. It cost
$37,717 and was purchased from
the receivers of the defunct
Washington & Old Dominion
Railroad which established the
park so years ago.
The county also leased go acres
in conjunction with Great Falls
Park for 500 a month.
The county park authority also
has four small tracts which will
be developed into Fairgrounds
and certain other tracts set aside
in new housing developments for
future playground. Falls Church
has a new playground near the
new Falls Church High School.
In Arlington County. Lubber
Run Park was opened in 1041.
This recreation and picnic area
Is about 10 acres.
Glencarlyn Park, consisting Of
q acres, was added TO the Ar
lington County park 3ystem in
1914 when the land was trans
ferred from State ownership.
It stretches between 'Carlin
Spring and Long Branch.
Arlington County also has a
recreation system consisting of
some 33 Fairgrounds and centers,
many of them in connection
with school buildings.
Alexandria Sets Its Goal.
Alexandria has a total Of $50
acres in parks and Fairgrounds.
Two undeveloped parks are
Angel Park, 8 acres, and For
rest Park, II acres. Angel Park
is being developed BY the Junior