Permanent closure of Maryland Heights parking areas

 

How did the park decide to close the parking areas?

For an in-depth look at the decision-making process, see the StoryMap below.

On February 2, 2022, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park announced its proposal to permanently close the Maryland Heights parking areas to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, local emergency services personnel, and residents.The park solicited comments and alternative ideas through a virtual public meeting and a period of public comment.

The park received 75 written comments on the proposed closure and 35 people attended the public meeting to voice their questions, comments, and alternative ideas.

When the public comment period ended, park management analyzed the comments and grouped according to common themes and possible solutions. Staff used the comment themes and possible solutions to develop alternatives:

• No changes to parking areas
• Create additional parking lots – acquire new property or use existing property
• Reconfigure parking areas – reorient/restripe and/or seasonal closure
• Expand park transportation system – expanded service hours and/or adding route on Maryland side
• Permanent closure of parking areas

Park management evaluated and scored each alternative based on its ability to provide for visitor and employee safety, protect natural and cultural resources, improve operational efficiency, and provide for visitor enjoyment. The evaluation showed that the permanent closure of the parking lots was the best alternative. Based on these results, park management made the decision to permanently close the Maryland Heights parking lots.

 

Learn more about the decision-making process for the permanent closure of the Maryland Heights parking areas.

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Illegally parked vehicles create a one-lane road at the Maryland Heights trailhead

NPS photo/E. Sheetz

Why did the park close the parking areas?

The Maryland Heights parking areas became an increasingly problematic safety hazard for visitors, NPS law enforcement rangers, Washington County (Maryland) law enforcement, local fire and rescue units, park neighbors, and residents of the Sandy Hook and Dargan communities.

The parking areas, which could hold a maximum of 16 vehicles, were not large enough to handle the visitation the Maryland Heights trailhead now receives, creating a situation where illegally parked vehicles often extended into the roadway and blocked one lane of travel on a narrow, busy road.

The parking areas were closed since March 2020, originally as a COVID-19 safety protocol, but the NPS maintained the closures because parking safety-related incidents in the area had been drastically reduced.

 

Law enforcement responding to an illegally-parked vehicle

NPS photo/E. Sheetz

What were some of the safety hazards?

• Visitors exiting these spots had to back into traffic on a narrow, busy road.
• Illegally parked vehicles often blocked one lane of traffic and impeded law enforcement and local fire and rescue personnel from responding to emergencies on Maryland Heights or in the local area.

• When NPS law enforcement rangers responded to calls about illegally parked vehicles, they spent twenty minutes to an hour dealing with the situation instead of addressing other law enforcement and safety needs in the park.
  • In one two-month period in 2020, Washington County, MD and park law enforcement received 30 calls related to parking and safety issues in this location.
  • The Washington County, MD Sheriff's Office issued 203 citations for illegal parking in these areas in 2019-2020.
• Local residents were unable to pass through on Sandy Hook and Harpers Ferry Roads to get to and from their homes.

 

How can I get to the Maryland Heights trailhead or climbing areas?

Visitors can access the Maryland Heights trail and climbing areas by parking in the main Visitor Center lot (171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425) and riding the park shuttle to Lower Town. There is also limited parking available in the Lower Town Train Station and River Access lots. It is a short walk from Lower Town across the pedestrian footbridge to the trailhead and main climbing routes.

This method of travel offers the chance to explore four national parks in one visit: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.

For information on shuttle bus operating hours, please visit www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/hours.htm.

For information on park entrance fee options, including a park annual pass ($35.00), visit our Fees & Passes page.

Visitors to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park can hike or bike to the Maryland Heights trailhead from the access point at Dargan Bend, approximately 3 miles from the trailhead.

 

How do I learn more about the closure?

A virtual public meeting presenting a summary of the public comments received on the proposed closure and explaining the resulting management decision was held on May 26, 2022. See the video below to learn more.

 

Duration:

57 minutes, 50 seconds

Virtual meeting on May 26, 2022 on the park decision to permanently close the parking areas at Maryland Heights. Meeting included a presentation by the park superintendent on a summary of public comments received and the decision-making process, followed by a period for the public to ask questions.

 

A virtual public meeting explaining the proposed closure and providing time for questions, comments and alternative ideas was held on February 10, 2022. See the presentation slides and video below to learn more.

2.10.2022 Virtual Public Meeting on the Proposed Permanent Closure of the Maryland Heights Parking Areas - presentation slides

 

Duration:

1 hour, 20 minutes, 5 seconds

Virtual public meeting on February 10, 2022 on the proposal to permanently close the parking areas at Maryland Heights. Meeting included a presentation by the park superintendent on the proposal, followed by a period for the public to ask questions, provide comments, or pitch alternative ideas.