Hagerstown council tables proposal to ban fishing at Pangborn Park after hours of public comment

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Hagerstown Mayor and City Council on Feb. 25 moved to table a proposed immediate ban on fishing at Pangborn Park after more than an hour of public comment from local anglers, residents and a woman who documented an injured goose she said was entangled in fishing line.

Supporters of keeping the pond open said it is a low‑risk, accessible place for children, older residents and people with disabilities to learn fishing, while opponents said persistent littered line and abandoned tackle have harmed wildlife and public safety and argued for limiting fishing to supervised events.

The debate opened during the public‑comment period when Bill Ruling, representing the Antietam Fly Anglers, said the pond is “a perfect place for parents to take their children fishing for the first time,” and urged the council to prioritize education and proper disposal of fishing line rather than a ban. Jim Klein, founder of the Antietam Bassmasters, described two decades of youth fishing programs that he said draw families to the park and provide equipment and instruction.

Several longtime anglers said closing Pangborn would disproportionately affect older residents and those who can walk to the park. “To stop the fishing out there is gonna hurt all of us older people and the younger people that are just looking,” said Wayne Smith, who told the council he has fished the pond for nine years.

Renee Bergen, who urged the council to limit fishing to special, supervised events, described finding discarded hooks, knives and line and recounted rescuing an injured goose in July 2023. “It took four months of myself and my friend Amy and our constant commitment to catch him and assure that he received the much needed treatment and rehabilitation,” Bergen said, and added that she purchased a $350 net gun after she said she received no assistance from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources or Natural Resources Police.

Council discussion reflected competing priorities. A council member who introduced a motion to ban fishing immediately said staff and council had implemented several measures but that the problem continued and enforcement was difficult, especially in evening hours. Another council member said she did not favor bans generally and urged finding a compromise that would protect wildlife while preserving recreational access.

Rather than vote on a ban, the council voted to table the motion and asked that the item be returned for further discussion. The council indicated it wanted the matter addressed before the pond’s next stocking window and discussed scheduling further deliberation in March or April. The motion to table passed; the council did not take up a final ban at the meeting.

The city clerk recorded multiple emailed comments for the record, including letters from the Maryland DNR Freshwater Fisheries Program manager, the Big Hunting Creek Working Group coordinator, the presidents of local angling groups and several residents supporting either side of the issue. Council members said they had read the emails. The council did not adopt an enforcement penalty at the meeting beyond the existing statement that prohibited activity could be cited if observed by staff or DNR.

Next steps: Council members directed staff to return with additional information and options for limited or conditional use prior to the next scheduled stocking; no ordinance or code change was adopted at this meeting.