Evening star., 1954-06-09
Park Belt Road
Put 10 Planners
For Approval
Design Already
Has Endorsement Of
z Commissioners
By George Beveridge

by George Beverage
Design plans of the contro-
versial inter-county belt road in
a Maryland part of Rock Creek
Park. plus extensive DEVELOPMENT
plans for the lark Itself, are
expected to be approved today by
the National Capital Planning
Commission.
The long-awaited plans, pre-
pared by the landscape architect
firm of OlmSted Bros. of Brook
line. Mass, are playing a key
role in court suit brought in an
attempt to block the road.
Beyond the legal question.
however, the drawings Pre- pose a
vast expansion of park use. with
four major new recreation areas,
riding stable, parking facilities,
new access roads and park build
ingS.
The cost of the improvements
exclusive Of the parkway--waS
estimated tentatively at 81
million.
The planning commission
moved up It's monthly meeting
to today with the obvious inten-
ton, if the plans al approved,
of sending them quickly to the
u. S. District Court for the Dis
kriof 0f C0I1,V,oI1io
Key to Court Ruling.
The pending suit. brought by
owners of property along the
park area between Wisconsin
avenue and Forest Glen, chal-
lenges the commissions author
ity to approve the belt road,
on grounds that it is an illegal
park use. The planners argue
the road is a parkway" which
does not violate such uses. The
court has said it can't rule on
the issue until the plans are
completed to show the roads
effect.
The plans were approved yes
terday by both the Maryland
National Capital Planning Com
mission and the Maryland State
Roads Commission, then rushed
to the Federal planners last
night.
In an eight-page statement ac-
companying the plans, Olmsted
Bros. explained in detail reasons
for the parkway design and the
proposed park improvements.
Here are its highlightS:
THE PARKWAY ROUTE.
At its west end, Wisconsin
avenue would be elevated and
split with separated lanes for
northbound and southbound
10 traffic. The belt parkway would
pass beneath Wisconsin, con-
Meeting west of Wisconsin with
the southeast leg of U. S.
Route 240.
East of Wisconsin, the belt
road would hug the southern
edge of the park a few feet
above park level, except for an
overpaSS at Cedar lane. About
a mile east of Wisconsin, the
road would dip out of the park
through corner of the Bethesda
Naval Hospital property. It
would pass about $500 feet
across private property, over
passing Connecticut avenue and
Kensington parkway, then re-
enter the park. It would con-
tinue to hug the southern part
of the park until overpaSSing
Jones Mill road and Rock Greek
at Forest Glen. 1t would leave
the park at that point.
Connection Planned.
Roads commission plans call
for connecting the belt road, at
the point it leaves the park near
the naval hospital property, with
continuation of the Route 240
leg. The 240 leg would be ex-
tended to the EaSt-WeSt High
way, near Beach drive.
The divided lane parkway
would have a maximum right
of-way of about 110 feet, with
two lanes in each direction. ES-
sentially, the Olmsted firm said.
it will be "a border drive" with
its sides merging naturally with
the f1attish floor of the park"
Park Design.
'Olmsted Bros. said Maryland's
Rock Greek Park serves primarily
regional rather than local pur-
poses." Such local uses as "tot
lots" and neighborhood play
grounds, therefore. it said,
should not, in spite Of their
values per Sc, be allowed to en-
croach seriously on the broader
overall values of a naturalistlc
park of this type and i'm
portance."
On that premise, it proposed
these four major new recrea-
tional areas:
Near East-West highway and
Jones Mill road; just north of the
parkway near Forest Glen; near
Wisconsin avenue north of the
point the belt road leaves the
park; in a northern park portion
paralleling Wisconsin avenue op-
posite Saul road and Everett
street.
Plan Includes Ponds.
The latter three play areas in
clude large ponds suitable for
boating and fishing. The recre-
alton provisions include play
grounds, baseball diamonds, court
games, archery, an outdoor the
atrical area and craft buildings.
In the northernmost portion of
the park at Garrett Park road
near Wisconsin avenue, the rid
ing stable would be located.
PARK ACCESS.
Driving access from the park
way to the park would be pro-
vided at Forest Glen, Cedar lane.