Evening star., 1954-11-01
Park Highway
Becomes Issue
In Campaign
Byrd Hits McKeIdin's S
New Plan in Fight
On Rock Creek Rood

Controversial plans to build q
major road in Maryland through
part of Rock Creek Park have
developed into a last-minute
campaign issue in the Byrd
McKeldin gubnatorial race.
Both Gov. McKeldin and his
Democratic opponent, DR.. H. c.
Byrd, have issued statements
with broad political overtones-
obviously seeking support Of
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 t2) a southeast
leg of U. S. Route 240. which
would drop off 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 telegram saying an
alternate plan" has been SUBJ
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, / will 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.
I It seemed clear that the '"al-
ternate plan" referred to by MIR.
McKeldin in his telegram was one
drawn up-and rejected by the
Roads Commission-by Ernest F.
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 has
told it previously that he has
deferred to the expert opinion
of the State Roads Commission
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," a charge that
land already is being acquired
for the park road and a plea for
a more positive stand on the belt
road as well as Route 240.
In new telegram to DR.. Byrd,
the Nye group acknowledged
your fortnight statement"
One spokesman for the Nye
group disclosed today that it pre-
viously has authorized printing
Of thousands of circulars urging
resident to stand by our
friends" The spokesman said the
circulars contained the name Of
DR.. Byrd. and not Gov. Nc