Long before anyone paved the first walking trail or planted wildflowers, the land that now forms Bollinger Park comprised part of the agricultural patchwork that defined Taneytown’s economy and identity. Situated off Fringer Road, the gently rolling fields were typical of mid-20th-century farmland in Carroll County—home to rotating crops and livestock, bounded by stands of trees and the occasional creek.

The land remained in private hands until the late 20th century, most notably within the Bollinger family, whose roots in Carroll County stretch back for generations. According to deed and land transfer records, Percy James Bollinger (1901–1989) held the title to the property for many years. Following his death, Pauline R. Bollinger (née Becker) inherited the land, and the family subsequently transferred it in the 1990s. These quiet, internal changes recorded as non-arm’s-length deeds reflected a close-knit family with strong ties to the land.

Although few public records detail exactly how the Bollinger family used the site, its location and condition suggest that traditional farming activities were likely conducted there. County planning documents confirm farmers cultivated the land well into the 1990s, considering it part of the region’s productive farmland. Over time, however, as residential growth spread and the city began considering options for green space, the property took on new significance.

The land was used for agriculture until 2014, when the City of Taneytown purchased the 91-acre tract from its then-owner, David F. Garrett. Although the sale was not publicly announced at the time, the city’s vision was evident: to convert the rural property into a passive park dedicated to environmental restoration and public enjoyment. In addition, the city had previously acquired two adjoining parcels from Robert Dayhoff in 2003, one nearly 4 acres and the other almost 7 acres, at no cost.

City planners acted with care. The land, which had long supported crops and perhaps grazing animals, required sensitive stewardship. Rather than adding baseball fields or playgrounds, officials embraced the site’s natural beauty. Old fields were restored as wildflower meadows. Trees were planted along the creek. An environmentally friendly porous paved walking trail, stretching almost a mile, was designed to follow the natural contours of the land, providing gentle access to both the woods and open spaces.

This approach was in keeping with a broader shift in municipal parks: rather than only accommodating sports and structured play, Bollinger Park would offer serenity and quiet. It would be a place where brook trout swam in Piney Creek, where milkweed and black-eyed Susans bloomed each summer, and where walkers could spot bluebirds, deer, or butterflies along the trail.

In naming the new park, the city paid tribute to the land’s lineage. "Bollinger Park" stands as both a geographic marker and a symbolic gesture. It honors Percy and Pauline Bollinger, and by extension, the many farm families who shaped Taneytown’s agricultural identity.

Though the Bollingers no longer live on the land, their impact is still visible. The vast fields, bordered by creek and woodland, offer a glimpse into a past when agriculture was the region’s lifeblood. And in preserving the land, the city ensures that the community’s connection to its farming past is not lost amid modern development.

The Bollinger family name also appears elsewhere in the county, including with other landowners such as Francis L. Bollinger and his wife Mary Jean, who operated the nearby "Chenopodium Acres" farm in Westminster. While not directly connected to the park site, these individuals reflect the broader Bollinger presence in Carroll County and reinforce the family’s enduring legacy as stewards of the land.

Today, Bollinger Park is a work in progress and a symbol of possibility. The City of Taneytown manages the site as a conservation park, open daily from dawn to dusk. It lacks traditional amenities like playgrounds or sports fields, but that is by design. Instead, it invites walkers, birders, and nature lovers to wander through wildflowers, listen to the rustle of leaves, and experience the quiet beauty of the Carroll County countryside.

Public events have begun to take root slowly. In 2024, the city hosted a "Birds & Bourbon" event at the park, combining a guided birdwatching tour with tastings from local distilleries—an example of how passive parks can also host creative, community-focused programming. The event was well received, drawing visitors who may not have previously explored the park.

Though plans to expand amenities – such as constructing a meditation garden complete with a gazebo, reflection centerpiece, and curated inspirational touches – have been slow due to a current shortage of funding, city officials have indicated their intent to keep the park focused on quiet, low-impact recreation. The former farm fields will continue to be transformed into passive, natural landscapes, retaining habitats for native species and offering visitors a haven for reflection and rest.

Bollinger Park’s story is a quiet one - told not in grand headlines but in thoughtful decisions: a family choosing to retain their land across generations, a city choosing to protect it, and a community choosing to explore and cherish it. From the Bollingers’ legacy of stewardship to the city’s modern investment in natural beauty, the park embodies both continuity and change.

In a fast-developing region, Bollinger Park offers something increasingly rare: open space that invites not activity, but stillness; not competition, but contemplation. It is a living landscape - rooted in the past, open to the present, and preserved for the generations yet to come.