Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-03
Timely Review

Your eOlUOrlal OF June "a,
entitled Timely Review" ex-
presses the opinion that the
George Washington Parkway
should be completed to Great
Falls eventually but agrees
that the Senate committee
was correct in holding up
funds for the Federal share of
land acquisition costs because
of 1.-THE storm of opposition to
the 1899 proposal"
1 will concede that the Hay
den committee cannot be
blamed for deleting the APP
preparation when it appeared
that the program met with
displeasure from some of the
supposed beneficiaries. 1t is
unfortunate, however, that
the committee was not willing
to proceed with the land
acquisition (Which is all this
appropriation covered) and
let the argument about park
way or road location within
the acquired parkland be de-
termined later.
The delay is likely to prove
extremely costly to Federal,
State and local governments,
if indeed it is ever purchased.
In the earlier sections within
Fairfax County, State and
local funds were available for
several years awaiting Federal
action while land values in the
areas skyrocketed making the
land acquisition cost almost
two times original estimates.
1t is extremely doubtful if
the opposition of the various
interests involved in this sit
uation can be satisfied by any
kind of restudy or compromise
arrangement.
Naturally, the river-front
landowners take a dim view of
losing their river frontage even
for a price and have suggested
using, as access to the park,
State Highway No. 1913 which
is proposed to be made four
lanes in the future. 1t would
appear to me, however, that
there is more merit in having
a four-lane parkway near the
river, where few property own
ers and very little improved
properties are involved, than
in widening picturesque No.
1913 through the very heart Of
an already existing estate
type residential area. Ger
tainly it would be more bene-
fetal to the users.
The opposition of the group
which fears Federal owner
ship and control of the park
areas can be satisfied only if
the project is killed, or If Fair
fax County alone finances the
purchase and maintenance of
this parkland including the
PEPCO acres. The chances of
the latter seem somewhat re-
mote at this time in view of
the many essential capital
needs of Fairfax County's
rapidly growing population.
Indeed. there is considerable
question about whether Fair
fax County taxpayers alone
should provide a park which
will in fact be regional in
nature.
The reasoning of the conser-
walton groups which have OPP
posed this land acquisition is
beyond my comprehension.
Apparently they would prefer
that this natural wonderland
of the Potomac Valley remain
restricted to the use Of the
individual landowners rather
than put into Government
ownership and preserved for
the use Of all the residents Of
the Washington area. The
objection of these groups to
the encroachment of a four
lane parkway through the
center of the park was, per-
haps, justified but apparently
they were not satisfied with
the decision Of the National
Capital Planning Commission
and National Park Service to
reduce the access road to a
"two-lane. park-type road"
and locate it near the edge OF
the parkland.
1t is sincerely hoped that
these very vocal groups will
not be allowed TO kill a project
which has been long planned
and sorely needed.