Evening star., 1954-09-23

Old Industrial
School PARKING
Plan Protested
Youth Council Asks
Property Be Used
For Recreation

The Commissioners Youth
Council today protested plans to
use the old Industrial Home
School property on Wisconsin
avenue, long contemplated for
recreation development, as a
fringe parking lot.
A potential tug-of war for the
property appeared in the making
with budget requests for next
fiscal year by both the Recrea-
ton Department and the Motor
Vehicle Parking Agency to de-
velop the site for their respective
purposes.
The Youth Council, meeting in
the District Building, voted to
notify the Commissioners it re-
affirms a previous resolution In
dorsing transfer of the property
for recreation use and objects to
It's use as a parking lot.
Suggests Dual Use.
Meanwhile, Engineer Commis-
sioner Louis w. Prentiss, who Is
aware of the request by both
agencies, suggested the possibil-
ity of a dual-use of the Industrial
Home School site.
He thought the parking agen-
cy might pave, light, provide &C
cess roads and use the property
during the daytime for offstreet
parking. Then the Recreation
Department could erect its shell
ters and make its other improve
ments, taking advantage OF the
paved and lighted areas at night
for games and using the other
areas during the day.
Gen. Prentiss said he was mot
surprised" at the Youth Coun-
ellis concern but he said the
problems might be worked out
comparatively. ..... .s.
these people have got to re-
alize that District-owned prop
erty Is at a premium" he said.
He added that no one group
should expect to have 24-hour
control over property which could
be used on q cooperative basis.
Site Recently Vacated.
The site was vacated this sum-
mer when the Industrial Home
School moved to the new Chill
dren's Center at Laurel, Md.
Recreation Supt. Milo F. Chris
tiansen said, also. that the Rec
reation Board would be polled
for it's expected protest against
a change in the plans for rec
reation usage Of the property
Mr.. Christensen. at the same
time, alerted the Youth Council
to a possibility that another tract
contemplated for recreation de-
velopment is being eyed by park
ing authorities. This Is the En-
cry tract on Georgia avenue.
The recreation head said he
had received inquiries from Dis
trict property officials about the
Recreation Boards plans for that
site. He said that funds for its
development as recreation cen
ter also are included in the new
budget request.
The Industrial Home School
property, in the 2400 block Of
Wisconsin avenue, includes about
five acres of ground and a s.
room school building. Mr.. Chris
tiansen said it would lend itsel1
well to recreation development
for all age groups.
Points to Planning Work.
Both the Recreation Boart
and the National Capital Plan
ming Commission requested it
transfer to recreation use IL
1945, he noted. He added tina
q good deal of work had gon'
into planning for the proposed
center.
The Emery tract. Mr.. Chris
tiansen noted, was sold to th'
District in 1916 for $204,Q00
which he said was an advantage
Gus price. It was based on tn
owners understanding of it
proposed community use TO
recreation and library purposes
The tract contains from sever
to eight acres.
Mr.. Christensen suggested
and council members agreed
that this was a matter in which
the area youth committees wouls
be vitality interested.
II think it is very importan
that we protect what areas w
have left for our youth ant
recreation" said Mr.. Christian
sen.