For Lebanon residents, there are few places as shady and welcoming as Coleman Memorial Park along West Maple Street.
All photos by Will Trostel.
LebTown headed out recently to capture a day in the park in pictures, including some photographs taken from a drone.
The 99-acre park was established in 1936 after the prominent Coleman family deeded the land to the city. According to the Coleman Memorial Park website, the park property was the site of several family mansions, which have since been demolished.
Shortly after the creation of the park, plans for a community pool were developed. LebTown covered the history of the Gingrich Memorial Pool in a two-part feature earlier this year.
Read More: Reflecting on the Gingrich Memorial Pool, pt. 1: Early history & design
Read More: Reflecting on the Gingrich Memorial Pool, pt. 2: Work & play
On some of the wooded pathways in the park, the ruins of the North Lebanon Furnace can be found. The furnace was built in 1847 and 1848 by Robert and George Dawson Coleman, continuing a family business. Their grandfather was Robert Coleman, whose purchase of several iron furnaces in the area established a vast family fortune.
The Veterans Memorial Amphitheater has previously hosted local musicals and performances, including last year’s production of “Godspell.” The Concert in the Park is set to resume on July 18 though, with the Mike Foltz Band performing at the Amphitheater with a suggested $3-5 donation. Find details for that event here.
The playground was still closed when LebTown visited last month due to COVID-19 restrictions, but fortunately the nearby Children’s Garden offers a great reason for kids to visit.
Read More: [Photo Story] The most-loved home gardens in Lebanon County
Though many pastimes of the park are not currently being held or only recently starting to resume, the grounds are still regularly maintained.
Several plaques placed throughout the park describe the mansions and estates that once filled the property. The last mansion, owned by George Dawson and Deborah Brown Coleman, was demolished in 1961. A carriage house still stands in the middle of the park, and the Friends of Coleman Memorial Park, which aids in park operations, hopes to one day renovate the building. This area of the park has also been recently the site of the Spinstock Flow Arts Festival.
Read More: [Photo Story] Spinstock Flow Arts Festival draws crowd to Coleman’s Park
The WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary Street Fair also took place in the park from 1989 to 1996.
Do you have a favorite spot in Coleman Memorial Park? Let us know and we might feature it in a future LebTown story.
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