Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-11-01
Park Highway
Becomes Issue
In Campaign
Byrd Hits McKeIdin's
New Plan in Fight
On Rock Creek Rood

VII NUN SISSN NOO0
Controversial plans to build .
major road in Maryland through
part of Rock Greek Park have
developed into a last-minute
campaign issue in the Byrd
McKeldin gubnatorial race.
Both Gov. McKeldin and his
Democratic opponent. DR.. n. G.
Byrd, have issued statements
with broad political overtones-
obviously seeking support or
Montgomery County resident
groups opposing the road plans.
Involved is Cd the proposed
intercounty belt route, which
would run through the park
between Wisconsin avenue and
Forest Glen and ca q southeast
leg of U. S. Route $40. which
would drop of the belt route
to link with East-West highway
near Beach drive.
McKeldin Statement.
The first bid for support was
made late Saturday by Gov. Nc
Keldin, in a telegram saying an
alternate plan" has been sub.
mitted to the State Roads COM
mission that would permit the
southeast leg to be built without
using the park stretch.
The Governor said he would
direct that the State Roads
Commission consider this plan
in the light of my desire to save
the Rock Greek Park"
DR.. Byrd, losing no time get
ting into the issue, was more
definite in his promise.
'If elected, / viii find a way
of avoiding the use of Rock Creek
Park such as the present Repub-
lican administration contem.
plates +. !" he said in a tele-
gram.
Byrd Charges Trick.
! DR.. Byrd also accused Gov.
McKeldin of having "a change
of heart in the Governors
eleventh-hour telegram" which
amounted to political trickery."
DR.. Byrd did not give any in
dication of how he might carry
out the campaign pledge.
The road-park issue has been
raging for about two years, with
the general conclusion that the
park is the only path the belt
road could take without pro-
hibitive land-acquisition costs.
Even the National Capital Plan.
ming Commissioner the van
guard of opposition to park uses
for roads-has approved the belt
) plan. while opposing the Route
240 proposal.
Rejected Plan.
It seemed clear that the "al-
ternate plan" referred to by Mr..
McKeldin in his telegram was one
drawn up-and rejected by the
Roads Commission-by Ernest r.
Henry. Washington attorney and
civic leader who lives near the
! controversial park lands.
!; Mr.. Henry's plan, proposing
the belt road be built over
largely-undeveloped private land
south of the park. was submitted
! within the past few months to
both State Roads and Maryland
! planning officials. Both groups
: rejected it.
The organized citizens group
headed by former Senator Gerald
P. Nye and called the Citizens
Action Committee for Fair Road
: Planning, made a new move early
? today to try to get a more definite
pledge from Gov. McKeldin.
: In a telegram, the group re.
minded Gov. McKendin he ha,
told it previously that he ha,
I deferred to the expert opinion
Of the State Roads Commission
i in the matter of road locations
Seek Qualification.
The group asked him to "clar.
ify" three apparent inconsist.
. encies" with his Saturday tele.
gram. They referred to the pre-.
vious rejection Of the (Henry)
alternate PLAN" charge thai
land already is being acquired
for the park road and a plea FOL
a more positive stand on the bel
road as well as Route $40.
In a new telegram to DR.. Byrd
the Nye group acknowledged
your fortnight statement.
One spokesman for the Ny.
group disclosed today that it pre-.
viously has authorized printing
Of thousands Of circulars urginI
: resident to stand by oul
!, friends The spokesman said tn.
circulars contained the name o.
DR.. Byrd, and not Gov. Nc.
: Keldin.