Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-04
Planners Heed Plea
On Freeway Route
Will Consider
Change Sought
By Citizens
BY GEORGE BEVERIDGE

The National Capital Planning
Commission agreed today to con-
slider a citizens appeal that the
approved route of the multimil-
lion dollar Aanacostia freeway be
moved closer to the banks of the
Anacostia River between the
South Capitol and East Capitol
Street Bridges.
This action was highly unusual
because the planners and the
District Highway Department al
ready have agreed to a route
along the eastern edge of Federal
park land several hundred feet
from the river.
The siX-lane freeway, Sched-
uled for early construction, is de-
signed as a bypass road linking
the proposed Jones Point Bridge
to major new Maryland super
highways in the Kenilworth area.
Along the old part of Ana
costa it follows the western
side of the Baltimore g. Ohio
Railroad tracks. The chief
reason for this location was
Federal park officials insistence
that it be kept out of parklands
bordering the Anacostia River as
much as possible.
Stress Effect on Schools
A delegation of Anacostia
business, civic and school leaders
told the planners today, how
ever, that this route would de-
stroy many residential and BUSH
ness properties and cut off vital
recreation areas now used by
students of Anacostia High
School and Kramer Junior High.
Urging that the road be moved
to the river side of the Ana
costa Park recreational facilities
the citizens rested their main
case on the effects on the two
schools.
John D. Koontz, Anacostia
High principal, and Assistant
Superintendent of Schools John
Riecks stressed that the schools
were built in their present loca-
tons with the understanding
that students would have access
to the fine recreational facili-
ties" in Anacostia Park.
In its presently approved route.
they contended, the freeway
would cut off access and create
severe noise disturbances only a
few hundred feet away from the
schools.
!, They said Kramer Junior High
, and AnacoStia High now rank
among the best in the country"
in recreational facilities. But If
the schools are denied access to
Anacostia Park, each will be
seriously Substandard" in rec
reation space Immediately sur
rounding it, they said.
i Enrolment to Soar
! Mr.. Koontz said the problem
is especially critical because Ana
costa Highs enrolment will go
to 1900 this year, 2,40O next
year and God knows how many
; after that"
Mr.. Koontz said it seemed to
be a question of whether it is
more important to save some
crabapple trees by having the
road in one location and saving
the children in another"
1 Albert c. Tayman, Fort Davis
Citizens Association president,
said it appeared that "in an eff
fort to save the golf course and
the river drive. we have sacri-
feed everything else"
The delegation was led by Will
liam j. Smith. president of the
Southeast Council of Citizens
Associations.
Others Back Change
Others urging the route change
included Frank H. Maxey.
Southeast businessmen Associa-
ton president; Lloyd Wineland,
dr., Commissioners Youth Coun-
Gil chairman. and Irving Yochel-
son of the Anacostia Liens Club.
Edward j. Kelly, National
Capital Parks superintendent,
asked the citizens if it wouldn't
be better if the freeway were
removed entirely from the Ana
costa Park area. The citizens
said it would. but that they
recognized a need for the Free
way and were not attempting to
block 1t.
Acting Commission Chairman
John A. Remon assured the citi-
zens the request will be studied
and referred to a special COM
mittee headed by Floyd w.
Owens. Mr.. Owens committee
will work with Park and City
Highway officials in the difficult
job of trying to obtain agreement
between these two groups.