HAGERSTOWN – Plans for an active and connected community in Cascade and Fort Ritchie are being developed in a partnership between Washington County Public Works and the University of Maryland Design Center for Environmental and Community Health.
The final presentation of the students’ ideas and recommendations will be held on at 3 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Fort Ritchie Community Center. Members of the public are invited to attend to view the students’ proposals to enhance the Cascade and Fort Ritchie area.
A community workshop was held on Oct. 14, and the UMD students integrated community input regarding the area’s assets, potential improvements and ideas for the future. On Nov. 6, the students presented their initial draft master and concept plans to a review panel, which included representatives from Washington County Public Works.
“We are excited to work alongside UMD to provide students with a platform for real-world experience while also gaining insight into potential improvements for Fort Ritchie,” said Washington County Public Works Director Andrew Eshleman. “It’s a mutually beneficial opportunity to support learning and community engagement.”
This partnership allows landscape architecture students from the University of Maryland to apply their skills to real-world challenges, offering fresh perspectives and potential solutions for the community. Depending on feasibility and resource availability, some of the students’ proposed ideas may lead to future engineering and project implementation under the guidance of Washington County Government.
For more information on the University of Maryland Design Center for Environmental and Community Health, please visit their website at https://larch.umd.edu/design-center-environmental-and-community-health-each.
