Dedication held for restored Harvey Stone Park and Pavilion at McDaniel

The $1.4 million renovation of Harvey Stone Park and Pavilion, supported by a grant from the State of Maryland and private donations, including a leadership gift from McDaniel Trustee Carroll L. "Splinter" Yingling '68 and his wife, Susan Morales Yingling '70, M.S. '00, has transformed the facility into an outdoor living-learning laboratory and will host student gatherings and campus events.

Business and community leaders, including McDaniel Trustee Carroll L. "Splinter" Yingling '68 and his wife, Susan Morales Yingling '70, M.S. '00, joined McDaniel College President Julia Jasken and others from the college on April 16 for the official dedication of the restored Harvey Stone Park and Pavilion.

The $1.4 million renovation has transformed this historic landmark on campus into an outdoor living-learning laboratory for use by the college’s Environmental Studies department, as well as students in other programs, such as Biology and Cinema. Student gatherings and campus events also will be hosted at the facility.

The renovation combines historic preservation with new modern elements, including an open-air pavilion for use as a functional outdoor classroom, new restroom, storage building, and accessibility improvements. The completed project also includes a plant garden that will be maintained by Agrifood Program fellows in Environmental Studies.

Funding has been supported by a $2.3 million grant from the State of Maryland, which was also used for educational environmental spaces at the McDaniel Environmental Center, along with private donations, including a leadership gift from the Yinglings.

"Thanks to the generosity of Splinter and Sue, this cherished pavilion can now once again serve as a vibrant outdoor gathering and learning space, offering opportunities for hands-on learning, collaboration, and discovery," President Jasken said. "It once again can be a resource for our faculty, inspiring new ways to teach, engage, and connect disciplines to the world around us. It's once again a resource for our alumni whose fond memories of the pavilion take us back almost to its very founding in 1934. And, it can now once again serve as a connection between McDaniel and the broader Westminster community, welcoming neighbors, partners, and visitors to share in the life of the college in a setting that is both beautiful and meaningful."

Built in 1934, Harvey Stone Park and Pavilion is named for Harvey A. Stone, who served as superintendent of buildings and grounds at the college for 48 years. The pavilion was built in an octagonal shape, housing large stone fireplaces, benches, and a stone table, with an outdoor amphitheater surrounding it, to use as a social space for hosting events and as an outdoor classroom. It is surrounded by on-campus walking and hiking trails.

The architect is Marshall Craft Associates of Baltimore and contractor is Lewis Contractors of Owings Mills, Maryland.

Jasken Harvey Stone — President Jasken speaks at the dedication

Sue and I love this campus and love this school as it truly did change our lives. We are happy and so fortunate to be able to give back to the place that meant so much to both of us. May this renovation inspire others to give back in whatever way you can — with a little bit of your time, little bit of your talents, maybe a little bit of your treasure. Our hope is for this place to benefit the campus community and the Westminster community for another 90 years.

Carroll L. "Splinter" Yingling '68