Chapter 5 PPaarrkkss aanndd RReeccrreeaattiioonn LLaannddss ooff JJuunniiaattaa aanndd MMiifffflliinn CCoouunnttiieess Parks and Recreation Lands of Juniata and Mifflin Counties The Great Outdoors Inventory of Park and Recreation Lands Juniata and Mifflin Counties have unrivaled outdoor recreation resources. About 150 square miles of Different types of park and recreation lands serve the two Counties are dedicated to outdoor recreation different recreational purposes. State park and and conservation as state game lands, forests, and nature-based recreation lands are usually sites of parks. That is over one out of every five acres in hundreds of acres and larger, set aside primarily for Juniata and Mifflin Counties! Residents and visitors conservation of natural resources with appropriate can hike, camp, mountain bike, horseback ride, public use for recreation and enjoying the natural watch wildlife, canoe, fish, hunt, and enjoy cultural setting. State lands are destinations for day-long or and historic experiences in more than 96,000 acres multiple day visits including overnight stays. County of public land including Pennsylvania Fish and Boat parks are usually over one hundred acres and can be Commission areas, three state forests, five state as large as thousands of acres. County parks gamelands, and one state park. The resource-based preserve natural, cultural, and historic resources; recreation opportunities available to Juniata and offer enjoyment of scenic resources; and sometimes Mifflin County residents are commonly listed house a special use facility such as a skating rink, among the most positive aspects of life in the swimming pool, amphitheatre, camping, Counties. environmental education centers and other regionally significant facilities. Visitors tend to Close to Home Parks spend a half-day to a day in county parks depending on the facilities available. Municipal parks provide Many municipalities throughout the Counties have close-to-home recreation opportunities for nearby parks to serve the recreation needs of the citizens for both scheduled organized programs such community. These parks are diverse in size and as sports, camps and playgrounds, and special events facilities, ranging from large community parks like as well as the self-directed opportunities to socialize, Derry Township Park (45 acres) which attract relax, exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Visitors tend visitors from throughout Mifflin County to the one to spend under an hour to several hours for acre playground in Newton Hamilton Borough. Fire scheduled events and activities in municipal parks. companies as quasi-public organizations have facilities for outdoor recreation; primarily athletic fields for sports as well as indoor facilities for social gatherings and other public uses. Additionally, the school district campuses in the two Counties contain facilities that could serve the public for recreation. Citizens have expressed the need for additional active recreation facilities, linkages between existing parks, and more recreation programs. Commercial Enterprise Private recreation lands include sportsmen’s clubs, golf courses, and campgrounds. These facilities are important destinations that draw visitors to the Counties. The golf courses and other commercial recreation expand upon the facilities offered by the local municipalities. Chapter 5 - 1 Parks and Recreation Lands of Juniata and Mifflin Counties State Recreation Lands in Juniata Table 5-1 – Juniata and Mifflin Counties State Public Lands and Mifflin Counties State Lands Acreage Location The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has 12 public State Forests recreation and natural resource areas in Juniata and Bald Eagle State 33,037 Armagh, Decatur Mifflin Counties. These landholdings are located Forest, District #7 Townships Mifflin Co. Tuscarora State 36,394 Mifflin Co. primarily along the northern and southern ridgelines Forest District #3 (18,804):Wayne, of each County. Bratton, Granville Townships Juniata State Forests Co.(17,590):Lack, Tuscarora, Beale, The mission of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry Milford Townships is to ensure the long-term viability, productivity and Rothrock State 11,381 Brown Township, Forest District #5 Mifflin Co. health of the Commonwealth’s forests and to Total 80,812 conserve native plants. The Bureau cares for state State Game Lands forests under sound ecosystem management to retain State Game Lands 7,122 Mifflin Co. (2,731): their wild character and maintain their bio-diversity No. 107 Derry, Decatur while providing pure water, opportunities for low Townships Juniata Co. density recreation, habitats for forest plants and (4,391):Fayette, animals, sustained yields of quality timber, and Fermangh Townships environmentally sound use of mineral resources. State Game Lands 534 Oliver Township, Mifflin No. 113 Co. The Rothrock State Forest is named for Dr. Joseph State Game Lands 1,086 Delaware Township, No. 171 Juniata Co. Trimbel Rothrock, a native of Mifflin County, who is State Game Lands 1,263 Lack Township, Juniata recognized as the Father of Forestry in Pennsylvania. No. 215 Co. State Game Lands 6,940 Tuscarora, Spruce Hill, The State Forests provide nature based recreation No. 88 Turbett Townships, opportunities including fishing, camping, hiking, Juniata Co. mountain biking, horseback riding, birding, and Total 16,945 canoeing. The majority of non-vehicular trails in the PA Fish & Boat Commission Areas two Counties are located within the state forests. 5 fish and boat 31.9 Juniata Co. access areas Van Dyke Research 23.2 Thompsontown Rothrock State Forest Station Borough, Juniata Co. 4 fish and boat 17 Mifflin Co. Hiking, backpack overnight camping, birdwatching, access areas photographing wildlife, hunting and fishing in Laurel Creek 66.8 Mifflin Co. season, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross- Reservoir country skiing, mountain biking, berry picking, auto Penn’s Creek 421.9 Mifflin Co. touring, picnicking, and even firewood cutting are all available in Rothrock State Forest. The Mid- Total 560.8 State Trail traverses a portion of the Mifflin/Centre State Park Reeds Gap State 220 Armagh Township, County boundary of Rothrock State Forest. Park Mifflin Co. Other State Recreation Areas U.S. Rt. 322 Scenic 8.2 Armagh Township, Overlook & Mifflin Co. Roadside Rest Area Source: Compiled from State Agency data Chapter 5 - 2 Parks and Recreation Lands of Juniata and Mifflin Counties Bald Eagle State Forest State Game Lands The Bald Eagle State Forest hosts all the major game The mission of the State Game Lands is to provide species typically found in Pennsylvania, including protected lands for hunting and wildlife protection, deer, bear, wild turkey, and other small game. Along although recreation activities are permitted on a the Mifflin County section of Penn’s Creek the limited basis. State Game Lands permit hiking and Pennsylvania Fish Commission has established a use of designated routes for horses and bicycles "catch and release" stretch of stream where year- during specific periods of the year (prohibited round trout fishing is permitted. Driving and Monday-Saturday from the last Saturday in walking for pleasure are major outdoor recreational September to the third Saturday in January, and after uses of forest lands. The District has 340 miles of one p.m. from the second Saturday in April to the drivable roads and about the same number of miles last Saturday in May). Snowmobiles are also of trails. There are five designated scenic drives. A permitted on designated routes during specific segment of the Mid-State Trail and portions of the periods of the year. Juniata County State Game White Mountain Wild Area and Penn’s Creek Wild Lands have approximately 15 miles of trails Area are located in the Bald Eagle State Forest in designated for bike and equestrian use and Mifflin County. approximately five miles for snowmobiles. Mifflin County has no designed trails on over 3,600 acres of Tuscarora State Forest State Game Lands. Tuscarora State Forest offers nature based recreation PA Fish & Boat Commission opportunities throughout the year. Trails are available for hiking, cross-country skiing, mountain There are nine PA Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) biking, and equestrian use. Hunting and fishing are fish and boat access areas in Juniata and Mifflin popular throughout the Tuscarora State Forest land Counties, primarily along the Juniata River and one in Juniata County. Motorized camping is area on Tea Creek. In addition to the five Juniata accommodated in 27 designated camp sites in County access areas, the PFBC owns the Van Dyke Tuscarora State Forest in western Juniata County Research Station in Thompsontown Borough. In and Huntingdon County. Informal hike-in camping Mifflin County the PFBC owns two properties in is permitted, but occurs infrequently in the Tuscarora addition to the four access areas: Laurel Creek State Forest in Juniata County. Reservoir north of Milroy and land along Penn’s Creek in Armagh Township. One of the five access The Karl B. Guss State Forest Picnic Area is located areas in Juniata County is the newly developed in the State Forest in northwestern Juniata County Lewistown Narrows access area that includes a along East Licking Creek Drive. The area provides concrete boat ramp, handicap accessible fishing facilities for picnicking and fishing and includes an platform, and parking area on 2.6 acres. A towpath open area for informal field games. The picnic area trail extends along the Juniata River from the PFBC provides a