Evening star., 1953-04-10
Planners See
Repeal as Fatal
To Park System
Nearby Commission
Cites Federal Stake
Under Crumton Act

Direct or indirect repeal of the
Federal Capper- Park
Acquisition Act would be fatal
to the Metropolitan Area park
system, the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission said yesterday.
In a prepared statement, the
commission expressed deep ap-
prehension over reports the
Budget Bureau had cut $780,
900 slated for park and acquisi-
ton in fiscal 1854.
Referring to its parklands, the
Maryland commission said:
Either outright repeal of the
act or establishment by Congress
of a definite policy of failure to
make appropriations hereunder
would be fatal to the metro
politan park system for the Ma
tion's Capital"
With the help of Federal
funds. the Maryland planners
have obtained some 5000 acres
of parklands along the stream
valleys leading into the District.
Completion of the comprehen-
sive park plan calls for acquisi-
ton of another 5,141 acres.
Warns of Sacrifice.
1.-The United States has a
tremendous stake in these parks
which would be sacrificed either
through outright repeal or in
direct reputation of its COM
mitments." the commission said.
The commission also pointed
out the Federal Government
now has a voice in the acquisl-
ton and development of the
Maryland parklands.
The planners noted the Fed
eral Government now has some
control over whether arterial
highways should be routed
through these Capper-Cramton
Parks. Referring indirectly to
the State Roads Commission
proposal to extend one leg of the
relocated Route 240 through
Rock Greek Valley into the Dis
trict, the commission said.
1T would be most unfortunate
If the Congress should decide to
abandon these controls and
forfeit all interest in and control
over the park system in Mary
land thus far acquired"
Cite Agreement.
Such step, the planners said,
would involve outright repudia-
ton of the basic agreement ap-
proved by former President
Hoover and Maryland's late Gov.
Albert c. Ritchie.
Repeal of the agreement
directly or indirectly-"would
necessarily require Maryland to
re-examine the park plan from
the standpoint of Maryland
alone" the commission said.
Such a re-examination might
result in the decision to dispose
of certain parklands now owned
by the commission so that funds
could be obtained for purchase
of lands better utilized by Mary
land residents alone. the COM
mission warned.
Estimated Loss in Funds.
Some members of the commits
sion feel the Stream-valley
parks have been purchased not
only for Marylander's use but
also for benefit of District resi-
dents.
The commission stands to lose
some 1926, 900 in Federal match
ing funds under the economy
minded Republican budget Of
ficer's cuts. Another $590,000 to
be gained through a commission
bond issue also would have to
be Cancelled, a commission
spokesman said.
The Maryland commission has
received no funds for park
acquisition from Congress in the
last two years. The commission
said yesterday it did not feel
this established "a definite pol
icy which would constitute an
indirect method of repudiation
of the agreement"
The commission yesterday also
agreed to make an outer circum-
ferential route from Potomac,
Md, to route 301 a controlled
access major highway paralleled
by service roads. The road will
call for a 150-foot right of way
for most of its length.