Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-06
Citizens Back
Playground
ParkArea
400 Attend Meeting;
Debate Roges on
'UnsightIy' Facilities

SSS ~"
'UnsightIy' Facilities
The new playground for the
American University Park area
apparently had the backing of
a majority of the community's
residents today. after a tenn
pestuous public debate on the
15-year-old plan, which lured
nearly 400 citizens to a meeting
on the issue last night.
Staged by the American Uni
versity Park Citizens Associa-
ton. the preponderance of whose
members indicated they want the
playground at Forty-fifth and
Van Ness streets NV, the meet
ing filled to overf1owing the
basement of the Westmoreland
Congregation Church at Massa-
chusetts avenue and WeStmore-
land circle NV.
The debate several tim eS
threatened to get out of hand,
when angry members of the as
ISOLATION. opposing the new
facility, demanded time on the
floor to explain their position.
Garland E. Taylor, association
president, was the target of a
number of home owners whose
property adjoins the contem-
plated playground.
Opposition Shouted Down.
Mr.. Taylor, early in the meet
ing, ruled out of order member
of the citizens group who want
ed to explain the minority posi-
ton, after a favorable report by
the Park and Playground Com
mittee was made by DR.. Daniel
B. Lloyd, chairman. Mr.. Tay-
lor's decision. which he later
revised, brought on a torrent of
objection from the minority.
which lasted throughout the
four-hour debate.
But the issue was never really
in doubt-the citizens shouted
the opposition down at every
opportunity. DR.. Lloyd's resolu-
ton, passed at 10:40 pm, put
the association formally on rec
ord as backing the controversial
playground and calling for its
completion at the earliest pos
Sible time.
Earlier this year the District
allocated $4,000 to pay for the
development of the playground,
eliminating some Is years Of
agitation for such a facility by
the Northwest association. Neigh
borhood children demonstrated
Saturday in parade to point
up their demands for the play
grounds construction.
Points in Objection.
Opposition from the adjoining
home. owners was centered
around these points:
/. That they favor a neighbour
hood playground. but the pro-
jected construction of certain
facilities" on the site-a high
wire fence and a 40-foot COM
fort Station-Would be a null
sance
2. That such facilities would
tend to lower home valuations.
Charles S. Dixon. District
Government engineer, who lives
at 4425 Upton street NV, and
Alvin E. Liptz, a pharmacist, Of
4119 Forty-fifth street NV.
both entered strong objections to
the sanitary facilities of the
playground. Mr.. LiptZ was hoot-
ed down when he told the asso-
citation the playground would at
tract crowds" that would roost
on his "front-porch."
Mr.. Dixon. who clashed fire.
quently with Mr.. Taylor. accused
the association president of mis-
representing the position of the
playground opponents to the
newspapers.
Makes Distinction.
Everything you've said to the
press is wrong about u.s." he
shouted. You told them (the
newspapers that we don't want
a playground. This isn't true.
We do want a playground. What
we objected to were the facil-
itieS.'
M. E. Trotter, a landscape
architect with the Federal Hous-
ing and Home Financing Agency,
who lives at 1900 Forty-ninth
street NV. defended. the MAJOR
ity of citizens backing the play
ground at the Van Ness street
location. hitting back at the OPP
ponents as "a minority and a
pressure group"
Five speakers. among them
Harry C. English, District di-
rector of neighborhood centers,
addressed the citizens forum be-
fore the acrimonious debate got
under way. Mr.. English outlined
the scope of the playground.
construction on which recently
got under way.
Another speaker, James E.
Schwab, jr., a real estate man.
assured the citizens property
values of homes will not drop
because of the playground.
Also addressing the meeting
were Harold Gray. president of
the Palisades Citizens Associa-
ton, and Police Capt. Daniel o.
Fletcher of No. 8 Precinct.
Although the resolution favor
ing the playground was passed
overwhelmingly, one diehard
promised: We'll fight this thing
If we have to get an Injunction.
Estimated $4,000