July 8, 2019Hagerstown City Park

Hagerstown City Park is a gorgeous park the features walking trails, a picturesque lake, several museums, and public art. The park was even rated the most beautiful city park in America by escapehere.com, a tourist destination website.

There are many trails perfect for taking a relaxing walk in City Park. You can view a map of a few different paths here. A three-sided kiosk located across the bridge at the Virginia Avenue entrance to the park provides a color-coded map of the trails as well as information about each one. There are a series of markers, known as wayside exhibits, that provide information about sites within the park.

Hagerstown City Park is home to the following destinations

Hagerstown Railroad Museum & Steam Locomotive Engine 202 – The Hagerstown Railroad Museum features hundreds of signs, signals, bells, telephones and tools that were used by railroad workers throughout history. Most of the items in this significant collection came from the Western Maryland Railroad Company. Of special interest are an 1885 Pump Car and an 1875 Velocipede; both vehicles transported workers to rails or rail cars to make repairs. The crown jewel of the museum is Steam Engine 202. This Locomotive was built in 1912 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and it carried passengers and baggage between Baltimore and Hagerstown. It was retired in 1953. Totaling 77 feet in length, the engine weighs 415,000 pounds. Steam Engine 202 is the only Western Maryland road-type steam locomotive in existence. In addition to the locomotive and its coal tender, six cabooses are also on display.
Jonathan Hager House & Museum – Visit the refurbished home of Hagerstown’s founder, Jonathan Hager, built circa 1739. This one of a kind house museum is staged with historic furniture and artifacts. Take a guided tour of the restored limestone homestead fortress built over a never-failing spring for an authentic educational heritage experience unlike any other. Located at 110 Key Street in Hagerstown City Park in Washington County, Maryland.
Valley Art Association at the Mansion House – A Georgian-style mansion house built by John Heyser in 1846. Today, the mansion serves as the headquarters for the Valley Art Association. Here, at the Mansion House, one can view and purchase the works of over twenty local artists. The old Mansion House creates a beautiful setting for the art that is displayed.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts – The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts contains permanent collections of Old Masters, American paintings, sculptures, textiles and Oriental art. Regularly occurring new showings feature new artists, ethnic collections and traveling exhibits. Sunday afternoon chamber music recitals are a Museum tradition.
Peter Buys Band Shell – A central feature of City Park, the Band Shell hosts summer concerts by the City Park Lake. The current Band Shell was erected in 1960, and is named for Peter Buys, conductor of the Municipal Band from 1920 to 1959. Park benches seat 250, and visitors are welcome to picnic on the open lawn area.

Hagerstown City Park also includes part of the Hagerstown Cultural Trail. You can walk the trail from City Park into the Arts & Entertainment district in downtown Hagerstown!

With so many trails and interesting destinations, Hagerstown City Park is the perfect place to take a walk! Walking is a great way to be more active and is the most popular physical activity among adults. Like other kinds of regular physical activity, walking at a brisk pace also may offer health benefits, such as lowering your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes; strengthening your bones and muscles; helping you burn more calories; improving your fitness; and lifting your mood. Find tips to help you get started walking here.

May 31, 2019 by hannah.person

Enter the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest!

The contest runs June 1, 2019 – August 31, 2019. A randomly selected participant will win a Fitbit Versa!

How to enter:

Take a picture of yourself walking, biking, or boating at one of the trails on Washington County Pathfinder at https://washcopathfinder.com
Like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page.
Send your picture through Facebook Messenger to the Washington County Pathfinder page and include the name of the trail and/or park where the picture was taken.
You may submit multiple entries, one for each different trail you take a picture at. For trails that are located in parks, you may submit one entry per park.

Encourage your friends to like your photo to vote for it! The most-liked photo will win a free entry into HEAL’s Color Splash 5k fun run on September 28th!

To vote for a photo, you must like the Washington County Pathfinder Facebook page and like your favorite photo entry.

Other Rules:

A person can only win one of the two prizes.
You do not have to live in Washington County to enter, but you must be able to come to the Washington County Health Department to pick up your prize if you win.

May 27, 2019 by hannah.person

Walking is great exercise and a healthy way to get around, but make sure you stay safe while walking near traffic! Here are some tips from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Look Up. Look Out. campaign. The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration’s (MDOT SHA) pedestrian safety campaign includes both drivers and pedestrians, because pedestrian safety is a two-way street. Pedestrian safety is an issue that affects the entire community; young and senior, drivers and walkers, in the day and at night. On average, more than 100 pedestrians are killed each year in Maryland. Most of the incidents are preventable. The Look Up, Look Out campaign reminds drivers and pedestrian to stay alert, and follow the rules of the road and traffic laws. Pedestrian safety is always important, but everyone should be extra vigilant in the fall and winter seasons, especially in the morning and at dusk. With the time change, the days are shorter and visibility is lower when the sun sets. Pedestrians should wear light and reflective clothing when traveling after dark and drivers should remain alert, attentive and prepared to stop for pedestrians.

MDOT SHA offers the following tips that are best practice year round:

For pedestrians:

Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far from the traffic as possible.
Press the pedestrian signal button and wait for the walk signal.
Always stop at the curb and look left, right and left before crossing a street.
Watch for cars turning in or leaving driveways.
Wear light or bright colored clothing, especially at night.
Pay attention and take off headphones while walking – no texting or playing games.

For drivers:

Always stop for pedestrians. It’s the law in Maryland to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks!
Follow traffic signs, signals, and markings.
Don’t run red lights.
Observe posted speed limits. Speeding only makes it more difficult to stop for pedestrians.
Keep your eyes on the road. It’s illegal to use a handheld phone/device or text while driving.

Check out this pedestrian safety tip card.

Follow the tips in this interactive infographic to avoid being hit by a car while walking.

May 13, 2019 by hannah.person

There are lots of places to walk in Hagerstown. Check out this map for a few downtown routes and all the points of interest you can walk to in the city. Some of the most appealing points of interest are the public art pieces throughout the city. There are many pieces of public art along the Hagerstown Cultural Trail. Here’s a few highlights of public art around the city. Take a walk and visit them in person!

Biking Through History

This mural on the University Parking Deck on N Potomac Street was painted by Barbara Ingram School for the Arts students.

The Fishing Lesson

This sculpture can be found at City Park and is accompanied by a children’s book of the same name by Amanda Hart Miller.

The Welcome Tree

Painted by volunteers, this mural on the Memorial Blvd underpass shows a cheerful message to the children who walk past it on their way to school.

Rivulet

One of the newer additions to the Cultural Trail, this interactive sculpture features two seats.

Butterfly and Hot Air Balloon Sculptures

These sculptures were painted by students from Barbara Ingram School for the Arts and can be found in various locations around the city.

This Little Light of Mine

This Maryland-themed mural can be found at University Plaza downtown.

Picture from artist Eric B Ricks’ Twitter

View to Wesel

This mural at 45 W Franklin Street shows a view to Hagerstown’s sister city since 1952: Wesel, Germany.

Building Blocks aka Mural of Unusual Size

No mention of public art in Hagerstown could leave out this unusually large, colorful mural along the Cultural Trail.

These are just some of the many public art pieces in Hagerstown. Walking, being outdoors, and viewing art can all boost your well-being. With spring here, now is a great time to get outside and view the art in Hagerstown in person!

May 1, 2019 by hannah.person

May is National Bike Month! Check the events calendar and visit bikehagerstown.org to view all the bicycle events happening this month. May 8 is Bike to School Day! Bike to Work Week is May 13-19 and Bike to Work Day is May 17.

Why is cycling such a great physical activity? It’s aerobic exercise that also builds muscle, it’s easier on your joints than other activities like walking or running, and it’s a lot of fun! There are many trails you can cycle on in Washington County, including the 10-mile Hub City Bike Loop in Hagerstown!

Being active is an important part of staying healthy and feeling good. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, physical activity can reduce your risk of several chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer, improve your sleep, increase your energy and self-esteem, decrease depression, relieve stress, and help you live longer. Those are just some of the benefits of regular physical activity! Even if you don’t meet the physical activity guidelines recommendation of 150 minutes a week of activity, a little bit of activity has benefits over doing nothing! Check out this article from the American Heart Association about why physical activity is so important for your health and well-being.

April 15, 2019 by hannah.person

Join the City of Hagerstown’s Parks Fitness Challenge and get moving this May! The challenge runs May 1st – May 30th. Visit Hagerstown parks and complete different challenges at each park for the chance to win some neat prizes!

There are so many parks and trails in the city, it’s easy to find someplace to be active! And did you know that you can do a whole body workout just using common park equipment? Check out these videos to see how:

Bench Workout

Picnic Table Workout

Swingset Workout

March 13, 2019 by hannah.person

Check out this blog post from America Walks that features Mary McPherson, a Program Manager at the Washington County Health department who completed the Walking College Fellowship Program last year.

Here’s a quote from the article:

Mary McPherson, Program Manager at Washington County Health Department and 2018 Walking College Fellow, took full advantage of the networking opportunities when she attended the Walk/Bike/Places Conference held in New Orleans last year — part of the Walking College activities — and it paid off, literally.

“Traffic Garden Pitch Gets Unexpected Funding

None of this would have ever happened without the Walking College Fellow experience. I learned so much, formed wonderful partnerships, and became much more confident in my ability to create change,” says McPherson.

The conference allowed Mary to hear about projects being implemented around the country. During one breakout session she connected with a few folks who talked about “Traffic Gardens” for children. Mary loved the idea and took it to heart, hoping to bring the concept to Hagerstown. After careful brainstorming with her new contacts she made a pitch to her connections in Hagerstown as well as the folks at the Maryland Department of Health. The idea was welcomed quickly and the health department was awarded $20,000 to educate children and build a Traffic Garden in Hagerstown.

Traffic Gardens are gaining traction as a fun but practical educational model for children learning how to get around by bike and hone their bicycling skills. It’s also a hands on, simulated way to teach kids how to safely use and share the road with all other users across the spectrum of active mobility modes.

“It will be amazing to have a place where children can enjoy their bicycles in a safe environment, learn the rules of the road and hopefully become life long bicycle enthusiasts… I feel that in all of my 20 years of work in public health, this could be the one project that will truly make a difference in the health of our community,” says McPherson.

You can learn more about Traffic Gardens in this blog post from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

The Traffic Garden in Hagerstown is expected to be completed this year. We’re looking forward to having a safe and educational place for children to ride their bikes in Hagerstown!

December 20, 2018 by hannah.person

The American Public Health Association has a goal to get people to take 1 billion steps by the start of National Public Health Week during the first week of April. The challenge starts January 1st! Sign up and learn more here.

The Billion Steps Challenge supports broader health promotion efforts and the intersections between community design and active living, such as 2015’s “Step It Up: The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities.” We hope you’ll join us in advocating for programs and opportunities for all people to engage in physical activity in their communities.

The Challenge begins Jan. 1, 2019, with a goal of reaching more than 1 billion collective steps by APHA’s National Public Health Week celebration the first week of April. We hope you’ll join us!

Sign up for the Billion Steps Challenge on the MoveSpring website or by downloading the MoveSpring app (available at Google Play or in the App Store). If asked, enter “APHA2019” as the organization code for APHA’s Billion Steps Challenge.

September 24, 2018 by hannah.person

What is Walk Maryland Day?

Walk Maryland Day is a celebration of our official state exercise–walking! It’s also a call to action to promote awareness about regular walking for physical activity and improved health, engaging Marylanders with fun walks of all sizes and shapes.

See pictures, event highlights, and read our Walk Maryland Day 2017 Report here.

Do you love walking? Become a Walking Leader! It’s easy, just go for a walk and invite others to join you. It’s that simple! Become a Walking Leader by registering here.

Walk Maryland Day Event Goals

Engage Marylanders in walking for daily physical activity. More than 2400 Marylanders participated in 2017.
Engage community leaders to boost event visibility and physical activity awareness.
Support safe walking in Maryland through enhanced state agency coordination (e.g., MDH, MSDE, MDOT, UMD extension, etc.).
Promote school participation in Walk Maryland Day (International Walk to School Day) by registering here. More than 100 schools participated in 2016 and 2017.
Promote worksite participation in Walk Maryland Day by directing Healthiest Maryland Businesses (HMB) and other Maryland worksites to walking resources.

Learn more about Walk Maryland Day here.

August 22, 2018 by hannah.person

Take the Washington County Walking and Walkability Survey at tinyurl.com/WashCoWalkingSurvey

The survey is intended to be taken by adults who live in Washington County, Maryland. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous.

An important strategy in the Washington County Walking and Walkability Plan is to assess the current state of walking and walkability in Washington County. Along with conducting various walk audits throughout the county, this survey will help us collect the information we need to assess the current state of walking and walkability in the county.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and help us achieve our vision of walking toward a healthier Washington County.

August 21, 2018 by hannah.person

The Washington County Health Department in collaboration with several other community organizations including the City of Hagerstown, Washington County Recreation and Fitness, Washington County Commission on Aging, YMCA of Hagerstown, Fort Frederick State Park, and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce; conducted a walk audit in downtown Hagerstown on July 10^th. A walk audit is where a group of people walk around an area and rate how walkable it is. Walkability refers to how easy and pleasant a place is to walk.

The walk audit was open to the community to participate in and several community members attended. The walk included sections of Washington Street and the Hagerstown Cultural Trail as well as Antietam Street and Summit Avenue. The Washington County Walking and Walkability team reviewed the suggestions that were made to improve walkability in that area. The City of Hagerstown already has plans to make most of the recommended walkability improvements.

Conducting walk audits in downtown areas of Washington County is one of the strategies in the Washington County Walking and Walkability Plan, which can be found at https://bit.ly/2LKF8xF

The plan was developed as part of an initiative from the Maryland Department of Health to promote walking and walkability. An important first step in the plan is to assess the current state of walking and walkability in Washington County. One method for this assessment is the Washington County Walking and Walkability Survey which can be found at https://tinyurl.com/WashCoWalkingSurvey and can be taken by Washington County residents until the end of August. The other method is conducting walk audits in downtown areas in the county. The walk audit in downtown Hagerstown was the first of what will be several throughout the county.

Another walk audit is currently planned in Hancock on August 15^th at 3pm. The walk will begin at the Hancock Town Museum and Visitor Center at 42 W. Main Street and will be about 1.5 miles long. The walk will include parts of the Western Maryland Rail Trail, Main Street, and Widmyer Park. The mayor of Hancock will be participating in this walk audit. All community members are welcome to attend! For more information about this walk audit, go to https://bit.ly/2KjqZ4U

If you have any questions or if you would like to become involved in promoting walking and walkability in Washington County, you may contact the Washington County Health Department Health Planning and Strategic Initiatives Division at mary.mcpherson@maryland.gov or 240-313-3349.

View PDF

June 29, 2018 by Admin

Most of us are aware of the benefits of exercise and spending time outdoors, but communities that invest in hiking, biking, and walking trails often see a stronger bottom-line. A healthier workforce means less time away from work, more productivity, and more opportunities for growth for local businesses. Additionally, given the high cost of healthcare and increasingly limited insurance availability, a healthier community means fewer tax dollars spent on uninsured patients.

But there is another economic advantage to investing in walking trails and pedestrian-friendly cities. Communities that make it easier for people to walk or bicycle can also trigger economic growth. Cities that are safe and accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists attract tourism, generate traffic for restaurants and other local businesses, and increase property values. From the Hagerstown bike loop and Cultural Trail, to new development in Williamsport along the C&O Canal, to the Western Maryland Rail Trail in Hancock and towns and villages throughout Washington County, our region has made great strides toward building healthier and more economically viable communities in recent years. So go take a hike—it might just help your bottom-line in more ways than one!

June 29, 2018 by Admin

A period of very hot weather is …expected or about to occur…. Here are some things you can do to prepare for it.

Drink plenty of fluids. During hot to drink.
Replace salt and minerals. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
Schedule outdoor activities carefully. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body’s thermostat will have a chance to recover.
Pace yourself. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
Use a buddy system. When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness.
Don’t leave children or pets in cars. Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes. Anyone or any pet left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death. Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death.

Courtesy of the National Weather Service

June 29, 2018 by Admin

Hagerstown, Maryland, has always been known as a “Hub” city but now the paths that converge here are often hiking and biking trails. Because of our biking-friendly roads, the C&O Canal, our parks, and our well-marked urban bicycling lanes, Hagerstown was officially recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bicycle Friendly Community.

Just ten years ago Hagerstown had virtually no biking lanes. Now, thanks to public support, the support of local government, and Bicycle Advisory Committee, Hagerstown has over ten miles of urban bicycle lanes, bike racks are abundant, and the city hosts several well-known racing events including the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships.

For more information, visit: www.bikeleague.org/community.

To learn more about the bicycling in Hagerstown, visit: www.hagerstownmd.org/bicycling.

June 29, 2018 by Admin

Congratulations to Hub Labels, The Arc of Washington County, the Washington County Health Department, and Fahrney-Keedy! These local organizations have all been recognized for their commitment to supporting health and wellness programs in the workplace.

From the Maryland Department of Health:

On Friday, June 1, 58 Maryland employers were recognized as Healthiest Maryland Businesses Wellness at Work Awardees for their exemplary accomplishments in worksite health promotion. Howard Haft, MD, Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, congratulated awards recipients at the 9th Annual Maryland Workplace Health & Wellness Symposium, noting, “In public health, we strive to improve health through community-based efforts. Worksites are one place that many Marylanders spend a majority of their day and are a crucial setting in which to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Congratulations to all of the 2018 Wellness at Work Awards recipients.”

The Wellness at Work Awards are sponsored by Healthiest Maryland Businesses, the state’s initiative to support healthy workplaces. Any Maryland employer who is a member of Healthiest Maryland Businesses is eligible to apply, and there is no cost to be a member. Recognition criteria are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Workplace Health Model and applicants are asked to describe activities and share examples of policies and tools developed and utilized in the four areas of assessment, planning and management, implementation, and evaluation.

Employers may earn a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or On the Path award based on their activities to establish leadership support for wellness, create wellness committees, survey the needs and interests of their employees, set health improvement goals, and develop monitoring tools to track their outcomes over time. A complete list of recognized businesses can be found at www.healthiestMDbusinesses.org/awardsprogram .

Launched in 2010 and based at the Maryland Department of Health, Healthiest Maryland Businesses helps businesses create customized wellness plans, set wellness goals, and monitor progress. Six regional coordinators around the state provide personalized guidance to businesses of all sizes. To date, more than 270 businesses have signed on to take advantage of this program. To learn more about Healthiest Maryland Businesses services or membership, visit www.healthiestMDbusinesses.org.

July 8, 2019Hagerstown City Park

May 31, 2019Pathfinder Facebook Photo Contest

May 27, 2019Pedestrian Safety

May 13, 2019Hagerstown Public Art

May 1, 2019May is Bike Month!

April 15, 2019Parks Fitness Challenge

March 13, 2019Traffic Garden Coming Soon to Hagerstown

December 20, 2018Billion Steps Challenge

September 24, 2018Walk Maryland Day is October 10, 2018

August 22, 2018Walking and Walkability Survey

August 21, 2018Hagerstown Walk Audit Press Release

June 29, 2018It’s Physical, and Fiscal—Trails Have an Economic Impact

June 29, 2018Summer Heat Precautions

June 29, 2018Hagerstown is a Bike Friendly Community!

June 29, 2018Washington County is Home to 3 of Maryland’s Healthiest Businesses!

What is Walk Maryland Day?

Walk Maryland Day Event Goals

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