Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-06-21
Two Groups
Attack Plans
For Parkway
50 Attend Hearing
Called to Register
Reaction of Public

ke0ctIon OF Public
Citizen and conservation n
groups turned out in force today
to blast the long-planned route
Of the George Washington Me-
mortal parkway near the C&O
Canal in Washington and Mary
land.
About so spokesman and resi-
dents were on hand at a public
hearing held by the National
Capital Planning Commission.
and called at the instigation of
Senator Murray. Democrat of
Montana.
The Senator. chairman Of the
Senate Interior c o m mittee e,
|swamped by protest letters from
the area, ordered the planners
to report a public hearing re-
action to the proposed route and
to possible alternate locations
drafted by the planners.
New Source Of Money Needed
Two alternates would move
the parkway further inland from
the canal but would require ex-
Itensive private property acquisi-
ton.
One would knock out "a
homes at a cost Of $l.1 million.
The other would take 80 homes
at a cost Of 100000.
John Nolen. jr., commission
director, noted that all Of the
land to handle the parkway has
been acquired specifically for
that purpose with money con-
tributed equally by the Federal
Government and Maryland. He
warned that Maryland has stated
1t cannot advance any additional
funds and that I'VE can't move
unless there are new sources Of
money"
The protests fell in two groups.
One deplored damage to the
natural canal area and the
other protested impact on pri-
vate homes in the Brookmont
MD area just across the Dis
trict line.
Some Support For Idea
There also was scant support.
however. for the alternate routes
and their further destruction Of
private property. The most COM
mon plea was that the parkway,
planned to extend from Great
Falls to Fort Washington. be
built along the line Of Mac
Arthur boulevard.
District Engineer Commits
sioner Thomas A. Lane told the
citizens they should realize the
land was bought specifically for
a parkway and without such a
plan it would have remained in
private hand for uncontrolled
development. The citizens. how
ever. insisted that the canal area
has developed a distinctive rec
reation and wilderness character
which should be preserved at all
costs in view Of the steady urban
growth in Washington.
Neill Phillips, representing Il
civic and conservative groups
urged that the parkway be nc
closer than 300 feet to the canal
at any point.
Protest Time Limitation
Edward j. Seymour Of the
Civic League Of Brookmont pro-
posed that the parkway follow
around the Brookmont com.
munity via the Little Falls park
way to Macarthur boulevard
then follow that road. Brook
mont is the residential ares
hardest hit by the present route
Anthony w. Smith Of the
Gao Canal Association attacked
the commission for waiting SC
long for the hearing and fol
limiting witnesses to 10-minut,
testimony. He said the parkway
should contain only two lanes
not four as proposed. and urgeC
| that 1t be built on the hillside
just next to Macarthur boule'
q, ward.
Others who attacked the pres
ent plan included DR.. Spence
J Smith Of the National Park
{ Association. John Cover, Syca
more Island Club: Robert Harri
4 gan. Canoe Cruisers Association
( and Miss Ann Winsor, a long
: time resident Of the area.