Building demolition started to make room for Hagerstown pocket park

March 07, 2012

Demolition of two vacant buildings near the corner of North Locust Street and East Avenue has started to make room for a new Hagerstown community pocket park, a city official said this week.

City Engineer Rodney Tissue met Tuesday with the Hagerstown City Council to talk about the park’s plans and a suggested name.

In January, the mayor and five-member city council reviewed an initial concept plan and suggested staff meet with people in the neighborhood to get feedback on the park design and name.

Tissue said city staff met Feb. 23 with about 13 residents at Otterbein United Methodist Church. Residents chose a contemporary layout for the park with some tables and appropriate trash receptacles. No lights were requested, but residents wanted a police camera to monitor activities at the park, which would be closed from dusk to dawn.

The park plan calls for several shade trees, a playground area with slides and a brick retaining wall to be constructed around its perimeter.

The community suggested naming the park in honor of Margaret Greenawalt, who lived on West Washington Street and ran a confectionery during the Civil War. City council members were in favor of the suggestion.

However, council members expressed concerns about possible loitering in the area, especially since it is located on a corner.

Tissue said he expects demolition of the two buildings to be completed by the end of April. Once designs are completed and bids are secured, construction could begin in July or August and finish up in early fall.

The majority of the work would be done by city staff.

— C.J. Lovelace

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