109 West North Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740
The Best of Maryland awards honor the ceaseless work of Maryland’s volunteers, architects, artisans, legislators, and many more individuals who are doing the essential work of protecting the places that make Maryland such a special place to live, work, explore, and celebrate. Here are this year’s winners.
Phoenix Award
Presented to individuals or organizations to recognize projects demonstrating excellence in the revitalization of threatened or abandoned historic resources.
Robert W. Johnson Community Center Pool Restoration
Nearby youth and day campers regularly used this 60-year-old pool each summer for free as part of local programs. Sadly, the pool was closed in 2016, without a path forward to pay for the costly repairs. With the support of local community leaders, in 2019 the Maryland Historic Trust, through the African American Heritage Preservation Program, awarded the Robert W. Johnson Community Center in Hagerstown a $100,000 grant to rehabilitate the historic pool. With additional state support, the renovation is at the finish line and perfectly weaves the past and present together in a way will revitalize, refresh, and enliven many splashing generations to come.
