[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S6620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GREENBELT, MARYLAND

 Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 75th 
anniversary of the city of Greenbelt, the first planned community in 
the United States built by the Federal Government. Greenbelt was 
envisioned as a social experiment by Rexford Guy Tugwell, a friend and 
adviser to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The town was built under 
the authority of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act. It was 
designed to provide low-income housing and drew 5,700 applicants for 
the original 885 residences. The first families arrived on October 1, 
1937. They were chosen to meet income and other criteria, including a 
demonstrated willingness to participate in community organizations.
  Most early residents were under 30 years of age and were from diverse 
religious backgrounds. They were blue and white collar workers, but due 
to the segregation at the time, no African Americans were able to 
purchase homes or live in Greenbelt. Physically, Greenbelt was designed 
as a complete city with homes, businesses, schools, roads, recreation 
facilities, and town government. Homes were clustered in 
``superblocks'' with a system of interior walkways permitting residents 
to go from home to town center without crossing a major street. Streets 
were designed to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic and 
community amenities and businesses were centrally located for easy 
access.
  The first residents were pioneers in community engagement. They 
quickly formed a government--the first city manager form of government 
in the State of Maryland. They formed the first kindergarten in Prince 
George's County, started a journalism club that today continues to 
publish the weekly Greenbelt News Review, formed the Greenbelt Health 
Association, established police, fire and rescue squads, and opened the 
first public swimming pool in the Washington area in 1939. Greenbelt 
Consumer Services, Inc. operated the grocery store, gas station, drug 
and variety stores, barber and beauty shops, movie theater, valet shop, 
and tobacco shop, and over the years, as needs arose, citizens formed 
numerous cooperatives.
  The Federal Government built an additional 1,000 homes in 1941 to 
accommodate families coming to Washington in connection with the 
defense programs of World War II. In 1952, Congress voted to sell off 
the Greenbelt towns, and citizens in Greenbelt formed a housing 
cooperative which purchased the homes. In 1997, when Greenbelt 
celebrated its 60th anniversary, the U.S. Department of Interior 
recognized Historic Greenbelt as a National Historic Landmark.
  Today, many of the original features of this planned community still 
exist, although the city itself has expanded to include additional 
shopping centers, high-rise office buildings, garden apartments, 
townhouses, and private development. Around a dozen original families 
still live in Greenbelt, passing on the cooperative spirit and sense of 
community that has made Greenbelt a thriving city and a special place 
to call home.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the residents and 
the city of Greenbelt on successfully nurturing 75 years of community 
planning, cooperation, and engagement.

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