City works on eroded streams

April 04, 1997

By JULIE E. GREENE

Staff Writer

Work to repair erosion at streams in City Park and Funkhouser Park is expected to be completed over the summer.

Work on Marsh Run in the north end of City Park is expected to begin in two weeks, said Rodney Tissue, Hagerstown's assistant city engineer.

"It's eroded. It's a maintenance problem. It's unsightly," Tissue said of the stream that runs from a storm drain along Walnut Street to Park Circle, eventually entering Antietam Creek.

Stormwater from about 800 acres in the West End drains into Marsh Run at that storm drain, Tissue said. The velocity of the water shooting out of that drain has eroded the stream's banks.

Limestone rocks that are piled near the stream will be placed around the stream's bends and several trees will be planted to prevent future erosion, Tissue said.

A chain-link fence will be installed around the storm drain to prevent people from climbing inside the drain as well as to deter graffiti, he said.

A grate in the stream below the fence will catch trash traveling through the storm drain.

Work on the City Park stream could be completed by mid-July, at which time similar stream restoration would begin at Funkhouser Park, Tissue said.

Rocks and trees will be used to prevent erosion along Hamilton Run in Funkhouser Park, he said. That work could be completed by mid-August.

Environmental Quality Resources Inc., of Rockville, Md., will restore the streams for $188,000, Tissue said. The projects will be funded with $69,000 in grants from the Maryland Department of Environment, a $50,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency and $69,000 in city funds.

The Rockville company also is enclosing an open storm drain at the National Little League field along Eastern Boulevard for $9,000, Tissue said. That work should be done next week.

Hydro Conduit Corp. donated the pipe for the storm drain at the field, which will be covered to prevent the drain from becoming a safety hazard, he said.

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