Improvements Underway At Washington Monument And Gathland State Parks

Middletown, Md. (April 5, 2012) – Construction and preventive maintenance at the monument and museum at Washington Monument State Park may temporarily affect access to these attractions. The park itself will remain open throughout the construction period.

Visitors will still be able to access the Washington Monument and the views from South Mountain during the repairs, slated to be completed by the end of April, although the park may have to close the stairwell to the top of the monument at times. The Washington Monument State Park museum is currently closed so that state-of-the-art exhibits can be installed. The Maryland Park Service (MPS) has opened a temporary museum in the superintendent’s residence on spring weekends.

The MPS is upgrading two museums at nearby Gathland State Park as well. All three museums are tentatively scheduled to reopen in mid-June.

Additionally, Washington Monument State Park is reconfiguring a parking area so that buses can more easily access the park. Funded by a State Byways Grant, this will make Washington Monument State Park an attractive stop on the National Road (Maryland Alternate Route 40). This work will take place in April and May. The parking lot near the trail to the monument will be open during this construction.

Located atop South Mountain, Washington Monument State Park is named for the first completed monument dedicated to the memory of George Washington, a rugged stone tower that was initially erected by the citizens of Boonsboro in 1827. The site atop South Mountain was selected for its outstanding eastward and westward views.

For more information on Washington Monument State Park and Gathland State Park improvements call Greenbrier State Park at 301-791-4767..

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages nearly one-half million acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 11 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov