About the Plan
Why We Plan
Hagerstown’s Downtown is a vibrant hub of activity, offering something for everyone year-round. The City plays a key role in producing, sponsoring, and organizing a diverse lineup of events—from live performances and cultural festivals to sports and community celebrations. At the heart of it all is the lively Arts & Entertainment District, featuring landmark venues like the Cultural Trail, Maryland Theatre and the Washington County Playhouse, along with arts education centers, cozy coffee shops, and a variety of local restaurants that bring the area to life. Additionally, initiatives like:
have all reinforced Downtown Hagerstown’s identity as a place of authentic character, strong opportunity, and bold aspirations.
Recent investments like Meritus Park and long-term investments like the Cultural Trail prove that Hagerstown is serious about downtown’s success. These amenities attract visitors, catalyze private investment, create a sense of place, and help make downtown a regional destination. With these successes, downtown has continued to make strides in becoming a more vibrant and welcoming place. However, for a downtown to remain a vibrant and distinctive heart of the community, it requires ongoing visioning and collaborative consensus-building—a continuous process that is never truly finished. Sustaining this momentum takes energy and passion from both local leaders and residents, as well as from partners outside the community who are privileged to help shape its future. Hagerstown already has many of the foundational elements of a great downtown in place, but continued effort is essential to fully realize the community’s vision. This plan is therefore that opportunity to reflect on what has worked, assess what could be improved, and establish an actionable plan for the next 10 years of success.
