Hagerstown City Park

Hagerstown City Park Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts and Lower Lake
39°38′10″N 77°43′50″W / 39.63611°N 77.73056°W / 39.63611; -77.73056
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

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.

History

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

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

• 
  Walking path through willows in Hagerstown City Park.
• 
  Hager House and Museum
• 
  Lower Lake with Potomac Towers in the background
• 
  Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
• 
  Walkway encircling Lower Lake

References

External links

• 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