Summary
Hagerstown City Park is a public urban park just southwest of the central business district of Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The park is located at the junction of Virginia Avenue, Key Street, Walnut Street, Prospect Street, and Memorial Boulevard.
Hagerstown City Park Historic District | |
 Washington County Museum of Fine Arts and Lower Lake | |
   | |
| Location | Roughly bounded by W. Howard St., Guilford Ave., Memorial, S. Walnut St., and the Norfolk & Western RR tracks, Hagerstown, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°38′10″N 77°43′50″W / 39.63611°N 77.73056°W |
| Area | 525 acres (212 ha) |
| Architect | Burnap, George |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001017[1] |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1990 |
History edit
In 1916, under pressure from the public, the City of Hagerstown purchased land to be used for the City Park. The Maryland State General Assembly passed a bill creating a five-member Park Commission in 1918. Three years later, a swamp in the park was drained creating Lower Lake. And in 1924, Mr. and Mrs. Singer donated the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts to City Park.[2]
City Park has been called "America's Second Most Beautiful City Park"[3] and has been designated as a local Preservation Design District since 1989. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.[1] The district also includes the surrounding industrial area and residential neighborhoods. It consists largely of a late 19th and early 20th century residential area with most houses dating from 1890-1930.[4]
Attractions edit
There are numerous walking paths and playgrounds in the park as well as athletic facilities such as lighted tennis courts and a baseball field. An outdoor concert stage which holds city events is located in the center of City Park. Also within the park is Park Plaza, a luxury condominium complex. Also available in the park are walking trails, paddle boats, and even fitness events.[5]
Additionally, many of Hagerstown's most visited museums can be found within City Park:
- Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
- Mansion House Art Gallery
- Western Maryland 202 Locomotive Display and Museum
- Hager House and Museum, once home to Jonathan Hager, founder of Hagerstown.
Gallery edit
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Walking path through willows in Hagerstown City Park. -
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Lower Lake with Potomac Towers in the background -
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Walkway encircling Lower Lake
References edit
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ City Park History Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine Hagerstown, MD A Great Place to Live Work and Visit, 2004. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
- ^ ""America's 2nd most beautiful park".... - Review of Hagerstown City Park, Hagerstown, MD".
- ^ Paula S. Reed (June 1989). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Hagerstown City Park" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
- ^ "City Park Challenges | Hagerstown, MD - Official Website". www.hagerstownmd.org. Archived from the original on April 23, 2017.
External links edit
- City Park History
- Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
- Jonathan Hager House
- Western Maryland Ry. 202
- Hagerstown City Park Historic District, Washington County, including photo from 1989, at Maryland Historical Trust
- Boundary Map of the Hagerstown City Park Historic District, Washington County, at Maryland Historical Trust