Strategic Growth for a City on the Rise
Bringing in a New Chapter Built on Strategic Planning and Its Resident Wishlist
The city of Hagerstown is writing a new chapter, built on careful planning and purpose. With a new stadium, a major indoor sports complex, and a growing mix of retail and residential development, Hagerstown is investing in projects that strengthen the local economy and redefine what it means to live, work, and visit its historic core.
Two Forces for Economic Growth
When Meritus Park opened in May of 2024, it marked a turning point for the city, as thousands of visitors were drawn to the state of the art stadium. Moving forward, efforts are underway to grow and develop the surrounding areas, increasing downtown foot traffic and creating quality of life opportunities. “We’re trying to capitalize on the stadium,” City Administrator Scott Nicewarner acknowledges. “We are taking the initiative to help small downtown businesses take advantage of the 300,000 people that are coming through, especially between the months of April and October.”
The stadium is one of two major projects driving activity in the city’s downtown area. The other is the new Hagerstown Field House, a multi court, multi field indoor sports complex built on the site of the city’s former stadium. “Between the two facilities, they’re generating upwards of what I would say is 400,000 people a year that are coming into Hagerstown, who for the most part would otherwise not be here,” says Nicewarner.
“They are coming for a ball game, a youth tournament, a league activity, that kind of thing.” Although Meritus Park was a private venture, the Field House was developed by the City of Hagerstown and is operated by a third party. In addition, the City of Hagerstown has invested in a five story parking deck across from the stadium to make access convenient for visitors.
Retail Revival and Local Enterprise
Hagerstown’s ongoing revitalization is being shaped by a clear and evolving vision. Director of Planning and Economic Development, Jill Thompson notes, “In 2024 we completed a 10 year downtown plan, and we’re underway with developing a strategic direction for our next 10 years. We’re proud as a community that our efforts to revitalize our downtown are intentional and are driven by a roadmap for our future in terms of retail development.”
She says that as retail trends grow, the city is encouraging small business development. “A lot of retail is homegrown, and I think we have seen that shift as a result of the pandemic and the idea that people want to set out on entrepreneurial ventures.We also have incentive programs that help to drive those types of startup retailers,” she expands.
Through a $300,000 state grant, six new or expanding businesses have received up to $50,000 each. These include The Dog House, 96 Royal Beans and Cream, Next Chapter Café and Bookstore, Hagerstown Vintage, Juniper Café, and Summit Outfitters. Each of these adds to the unique charm of the city’s downtown, providing visitors and residents with a memorable and worthwhile experience.
Tourism, Sports, and Hospitality
Hagerstown is well known for its outdoor recreation and is gaining recognition as a hub for sports tourism. “We know part of the attendance at the stadium is those that are coming from outside the region to enjoy baseball,” Thompson says. “Also the Hagerstown Field House is providing the opportunity for groups to travel here that were going elsewhere for their tournaments. We hope that those visitors find the other amenities that we have in the community, so that they extend their stay to take advantage of other attractions.”
As a halfway point between Gettysburg and Winchester, and only 10 miles from Antietam, Hagerstown also honors its place in civil war history. Nicewarner details, “We have a great working relationship with our Convention and Visitors Bureau, and they do a fantastic job in directing those that want to make that circuit from Gettysburg through Antietam down into Northern Virginia. We’re really starting to see the benefits of that, and we want to be able to get more benefit from it.”
The city’s strategic plan includes developing more hospitality amenities to complement these attractions. Mayor William McIntire says that the next step is ensuring visitors have more reasons to stay. “We are trying to attract new hotels here, because we do see a huge uptick in the amount of people that are coming,” he maintains.
Economic Development Coordinator, Emily Conrad, points out that surveys conducted by the CVB showed that over 50% of respondents rated restaurants and dining as one of the top things that would attract them to downtown. “So, it’s great that we’re expanding that offering,” she highlights. “Also, the pandemic brought people to the area to see the history and tourism, but also the natural beauty. We have beautiful parks, and the parks bring people downtown as well.”
Downtown Development and Beyond
The next phase of Hagerstown’s growth is focused on mixed-use development and downtown living. Conrad describes the Updegraff development, a historic building across from University Plaza that was transformed into luxury apartments with retail and restaurant space below. “It is currently a bagel and brewing operation called Baile Bagels & Brews. It’s like an Irish themed pub,” she shares. “So imagine staying in your apartment with the beautiful panoramic views of the mountains. If you were to open the window, you could catch some live music coming in from the park across the street. You can take the elevator downstairs and get a nice bagel sandwich, and it’s all right along the Cultural Trail, which is another great attraction downtown.” This trail connects the Hagerstown Arts and Entertainment District to the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts located in City Park, an area with potential for further development in the coming years.
Along with this the city has close to 250 upper floor housing units in the downtown, in various stages of completion, underway or planned. Those have investment levels of more than $60 million,” says Conrad. “When you go citywide, we’re looking at nearly 2000 completed or planned housing units with investment over $250 million in housing in our city.”
The opening of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine has been another benefit for the community. “Besides John Hopkins and the University of Maryland, this is the third medical school that was established in Maryland,” Nicewarner recounts. “We already have the University System of Maryland that has an extension campus downtown. Many of those students do live downtown and are very positive about the direction it is taking. We want to be able to capitalize on that even more with the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine.”
Developments are in the planning stages throughout the city, from single family homes to apartment complexes. The goal is to introduce affordable options that help people purchase a home instead of renting. To support this, Hagerstown offers a $7,500 down payment incentive. “In Fiscal Year 2025, there were 82 people that were able to take advantage of that program, and 80% to 85% of them were first time homebuyers,” boasts Mayor McIntire. “That also helps us get younger as a city, because it’s going to be mostly students and young families.”
Looking Forward
As Hagerstown plans its strategy for the next 10 years, the city core remains a top priority. “We are going back to the beginning and creating foot traffic downtown,” outlines Mayor McIntire. “Through Downtown Hagerstown as well as our Main Street program, we meet with the business owners to get ideas, as well as coach them on how to market their business.”
Creating a community that is comfortable and inviting to residents and visitors is another part of the plan. “You’re not going to be any safer in another locality as you would be in Hagerstown,” Nicewarner emphasizes, “We have to make sure that people feel safe and that people feel welcome, not only in our downtown, but really anywhere within our city.”
Thompson says the upcoming plan will continue to be driven by community input. “We’ve done over 12 roundtable discussions, a public open house, and a survey with over 450 responses,” she says. “We really want to hear what our residents and our business owners and our community members want to see for the next 10 years.”
That collaboration is what keeps Hagerstown’s progress steady and meaningful. She concludes, “It’s targeted growth. It is also strategic growth. We are not leaving redevelopment of our downtown to chance. We’re very intentional about what we want to see, and we’re being guided by a data driven roadmap to get to the next phase.”
AT A GLANCE
Who: Hagerstown Maryland
What: A vibrant city with big plans
Where: Washington County, Maryland
Website: www.hagerstownmd.org
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The Flying Boxcars are Hagerstown’s hometown minor league baseball team. The team plays at Meritus Park, which opened its doors in 2024. Since then, the park has been named ALPB Ballpark of the Year, best tourist/seasonal attraction in the tri-state and best place to host a work event in the tri-state.
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Hagerstown Field House is a premier indoor sports and recreation facility offering leagues, camps, fitness programs, and events for all ages. With state-of-the-art turf fields, courts, and training spaces, it’s the community hub for staying active, competing, and connecting. Experience year-round sports, wellness, and fun under one roof.
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