Evening star., 1953-08-04
Study by Staffs
Urged 10 Solve
Ri. 24O Dispute
Planners Propose
Thot All Agencies
Work Out Settlement
BY George Beveridee

Oy SeoI9e beverage
Agencies involved in the fight
over the proposed extension Of
Route 240 into Rock Creek Park
will be asked to designate staff
experts to work together in at
tempts to solve the controversy
This proposal, the first step
toward a joint attack on points
of disagreement, was made yes
terday by officials of the Ma
tional Capital Planning Com
mission and the Maryland-Na-
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Robert M. Watkins, chairman
of the Maryland commission,
and John Remon, acting chair
man of the Federal planners,
said representatives Of the Dis
trict Highway Department, the
Maryland State Roads Commis-
sion and the National Capital
Parks should participate.
81 don't like this idea of every
one going off in his own direc-
tion," Mr.. Remon said. "It's
time to try to get something done
and kill off some of the con-
versation."
New YOrk's Solution Watched.
AS the initial move. Mr.. Wat
kins proposed that a meeting be
held by representatives of the
groups who made a two-day in
Spection tour of New York'S
parkway system last week. The
trip was made to see how New
York has resolved highway prob
lens involving the use Of parks.
He said he wanted an effort
made to try to get agreement
on principles seen in New York.
as they bear on the Route 240
project. Staff directors of the
two planning groups were in
Structed to set up the meeting
as soon as possible.
While there were no specific
instructions for the future, Mr..
Remon and Mr.. Watkins indi-
Gated that such a staff commit
tee should try to clarity the is
sues and agree on as many as
they can.
The Maryland Roads Commis-
sion proposes to bring south
east leg of Route 240 through
Maryland parts of the park, to
dead-end at East West highway.
The intention is that it would
be brought from the District line
to downtown Washington by the
District Highway Department.
The Maryland planners indorse
the project, but the National
Capital Planning Commission is
firmly against it.
Litigation Seen as Alternative.
Unless a solution is reached
earlier, the dispute between the
roads commission and the Fed
eral planning group is almost
certain to be decided in court.
Mr.. Watkins also suggested the
possibility of a study of the issue
by an outside highway and park
expert whose objectivity could
not be questioned" He said the
expert should have the stature
of Robert Moses, under whose
direction New York's highway
and park systems have devel-
oped for two decades.
Mr.. Watkins said it might be
ga Utopian idea" to hope that
all parties to the dispute would
agree on such a study, but that
it was worthy of consideration
John Nolen, National Capital
Planning Commission director,
had been prepared yesterday to
present a plan showing his
groups alternative to the roads
commission project. The plan
proposes that Route 240'S south
east leg would continue SOUTH
ward only to an intersection with
the proposed inter-county belt
highway. The latter road runs
through Maryland parts of Rock
Creek Park between Forest Glen
and Wisconsin avenue.
Peace Cross Plan Offered.
Mr.. Watkins, however, sug-
gested that Mr.. Nolen show the
plan to the group of staff Off
cials, rather than hear an expla-
ntion of its details yesterday.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Watkins asked
the National Capital Planning
Commission to approve a sepa-
rate proposal involving Bladens-
burg-Peace Cross f1ood-control
measures.
Under the proposal, the Mary
land planners would trade seven
acres of land they own border
ing the Fort Lincoln Cemetery
for Is acres of cemetery-owned
land within the flood-control
project line.
Mr.. Watkins said owners of
the cemetery also have agreed
to build a 6,000-foot road around
the cemetery to the District line.
In turn, the Maryland commits
sion would remove from cemetery
property an area tentatively ear
marked for future expansion of
AnacoStia Park.
Mr.. Nolan said he would at
tempt to present the proposal
to the National Capital Planning
Commission at it's Thursday
Friday meeting this week.