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Contact: Catherine Bragaw, 301-491-6265
Contact: Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles, 202-619-7177
HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The National Park Service (NPS) is working with local communities to relocate the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (C&O Canal) headquarters from Hagerstown to Williamsport, Md.
“We are pleased to be staying in Washington County and look forward to continuing and growing our relationship with the Williamsport community and the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau,” Superintendent Kevin Brandt said. “As a good neighbor, the NPS is committed to ensuring the new headquarters and visitor center reflect the community's interests and honor the area’s character and history while serving park and visitor needs.”
As part of its commitment to collaborate with the community, the NPS invites community members and interested members of the public to an informational meeting on January 8, 2019, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Williamsport Community Building located in Byron Memorial Park. NPS staff want to hear ideas and thoughts on the relocation of the park’s headquarters to the former Miller Lumber Company site, located in the Williamsport Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The NPS is also looking for historical information on the Miller Lumber site from the community including photographs, historical data or stories. This information will be used by the NPS and Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) to contribute to the documentation of the site and to plan for the headquarters.
Hearing from members of the community is a critical piece of the planning process. Over the next six months, the NPS will hold additional public meetings to discuss next steps in the project.
There are three ways to comment during this 30-day public review period, January 8 - February 8:
- In person at the public meeting on January 8, 2019, 7-8:30 p.m.
Byron Memorial Park
2 Park Road
Williamsport, MD 21795
- Online through the park Planning, Environment & Public Comment webpage for the Public Participation in Plan to Move C&O Canal NHP Park Headquarters - https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CanalHeadquarters
- By mail for letters postmarked by February 8, 2019:
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
attn: HQ Relocation Project
1850 Dual Highway Suite 100
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Approximately 5 million people visit C&O Canal each year. In 2017, more than 420,000 of these visitors came to Williamsport, spending nearly $6 million in the local community and supporting more than 800 local jobs. The move, which was announced in September, is expected to bring an economic boost and over 75 jobs to Williamsport.
Since 2002, the C&O Canal headquarters has been located in Hagerstown, Md.
Last updated: December 14, 2018