Westmoreland County Parks Passport www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks The Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation maintains ten parks and five trails, designed to provide visitors with a variety of benefits and experiences. Parks and trails are open year-round, providing picnic and play areas, recreation programs, fishing areas, athletic complexes, as well as plenty of open space, forests, and streams for visitors to discover. More importantly, parks provide opportunities for living and learning, as well as improved health and wellness. WHT Ackermann Nature Preserve 2 PARKS INFO Westmoreland County offers 55 outdoor pavilions to reserve at Cedar Creek, Twin Lakes, Mammoth, and Northmoreland Parks. These facilities are great places to celebrate birthdays, family reunions, graduation parties, and more. Also available are 3 indoor, climate-controlled Activity Centers with indoor restrooms and kitchen facilities at Cedar Creek, Northmoreland, and Twin Lakes Parks. Pavilions and Activity Centers can be reserved online 365 days in advance at www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/ parks. The Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation hosts several fun yearly festivals and programs at four regional parks. Major festivals include: Mammoth Fest (Mammoth Park), August Fun Fest (Cedar Creek Park), and the Labor United Celebration (Northmoreland Park). These festivals are family-friendly and feature carnival amusement rides, craft & food vendors, musical performances, and more. The Bureau also hosts 3 free, all-ages Fishing Derbies; Summer Environmental Programs for kids and families; Halloween-themed Hobgoblin Hikes, Summer Concert Series, Senior Games for adults age 50 & up; and more! For a full Schedule of Events, please visit our website: www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks 3 CEDAR CREEK PARK Cedar Creek Park in Belle Vernon is a beautiful park for families and visitors. An off-leash dog park, 20 outdoor pavilions, an indoor Activity Center, destination playground, winter sports area, amphitheater, and access to the Great Allegheny Passage and Youghiogheny River are just some of the amenities at this picturesque park. One of Cedar Creek’s most unique features is the Cedar Creek Gorge in the northern section of the park. Walk along the gorge trail to see a breathtaking view of the surround landscape, including many spring and summer wildflowers. Cedar Creek Park 453 Evergreen Drive Belle Vernon, PA 15012 (724) 929-4352 Total acreage in 2021: 480 acres 4 For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks MAMMOTH PARK Mammoth Park, a favorite picnic spot for Westmoreland County residents and visitors, contains a 24-acre lake for fishing and canoeing/kayaking, 14 outdoor pavilions, walkways, playgrounds, athletic fields, tennis and dek hockey courts, a radio-controlled model airfield, and the Giant Slide Complex destination area. The Giant Slide Complex features two 100-foot stainless steel slides, a 40-foot plastic slide for younger visitors, a cargo climbing net, and plenty of photo opportunities and benches in a fun area for the whole family. Mammoth Park 254 County Park Road Mt. Pleasant, PA 15666 (724) 423-5132 Total acreage in 2021: 410 acres For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks 5 NORTHMORELAND PARK Northmoreland Park is the largest Westmoreland County park, with a 17-acre lake for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking; a BMX track; premier athletic fields for baseball, softball, and soccer; 11 outdoor pavilions; indoor Activity Center; newly renovated tennis courts; model radio-controlled airfield; playgrounds; and more. Bring the whole family for a picnic and walk or hike the many trails around the park. Northmoreland Park 280 Markle Road Apollo, PA 15613 (724) 727-7616 Total acreage in 2021: 525 acres 6 For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks TWIN LAKES PARK Twin Lakes Park is one of Westmoreland County’s premier recreation destinations. Located near Greensburg, Twin Lakes Park offers lots of fun amenities for the whole family. The original park boasts two lakes for fishing, an indoor Activity Center, 8 outdoor pavilions, Boat House concessions, Vietnam Veterans and Reflection Island memorial areas, playgrounds, and accessible walkways. The Twin Lakes Park “Peach Park” Expansion Area, located off Georges Station Road in Greensburg, features a skate park for skateboarding and freestyle biking, an off-leash dog park, 2 outdoor pavilions, a boundless accessible playground, outdoor amphitheater, dek hockey rink, winter sports area for tubing and sledding, NEOS electronic playground, community gardens, and fitness trail. Twin Lakes Park 219 Twin Lakes Road Latrobe, PA 15650 (724) 837-8611 Total acreage in 2021: 505 acres For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks 7 OTTO & MAGDALENE ACKERMANN NATURE PRESERVE A hidden treasure in North Huntingdon, maintained by the Westmoreland Land Trust The Otto & Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve offers natural beauty and discoveries, whether you visit for a casual walk or a full day of exploration. The 59-acre Preserve holds trails and natural areas as well as historic man-made features. Come to enjoy the Preserve’s forest, flora, and fauna! Discover small waterfalls, wildflowers, stone quarry, scenic overlooks, and the Blue Dell Run stream and floodplain. The Otto & Magdalene Ackermann Nature Preserve is 2 miles from US Route 30 via Leger or Ardara Roads. You will find an Information Kiosk stocked with brochures/trail maps, scavenger hunts, and walking sticks for your use while visiting. For more information, please visit the Westmoreland Land Trust’s website at www.westmoreland-landtrust.org. Total acreage in 2021: 59 acres 8 For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks BRIDGEPORT DAM PARK Bridgeport Dam is a multi- purpose flood control dam on Jacob’s Creek. The park offers fishing, hunting, and nature study opportunities. There are also soccer fields on the spillway of the dam. The permanent water pool is 70 acres in size and includes a boat launch. Bridgeport Dam is located in the village of Bridgeport, 1/4 mile east of Mt. Pleasant Borough. The park is accessible via State Route 981 North from Mt. Pleasant, and State Route 982 South from Latrobe and Greensburg. Bridgeport Dam Park accessible via Routes 981 North and 982 South Total acreage in 2021: 322 acres For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks 9 CHESTNUT RIDGE PARK & ACME DAM PARK Chestnut Ridge Park features a 25-acre recreational pool that expands during flood periods and includes a boat launch area. A walking trail, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor recreation opportunities are also available. Chestnut Ridge Park is located near Acme, one mile south of State Route 31 between Mt. Pleasant and Donegal. Acme Dam, located in Chestnut Ridge Park, provides anglers with an excellent panfish fishery. Yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkin seed, black crappie, and brown bullheads were found in good numbers, as well as largemouth bass. Chestnut Ridge Park and Acme Dam Park are accessible via Route 31 between Mt. Pleasant and Donegal Total acreage in 2021: 189 acres 10 For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks SEWICKLEY CREEK WETLANDS The Sewickley Creek Wetlands Interpretive Area is a 26-acre environmental education area with trails, an observation deck, and parking area. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission constructed this site to replace the wetlands that were lost during the construction of the Amos K. Hutchinson Toll Route 66 bypass. The Sewickley Creek Wetlands are located in Hempfield Township, and the park is accessible via the Arona Road exit off Toll Road 66 in New Stanton (west of North East Drive). Sewickley Creek Wetlands is accessible via Arona Road exit off Toll Road 66 Total acreage in 2021: 26 acres For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks 11 ANN RUDD SAXMAN NATURE PARK Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park is one of Westmoreland County’s best kept secrets, tucked away behind the bustling commerce of Route 30, two miles east of Greensburg on Donohoe Road. Although diminutive in size, Nature Park offers limitless opportunities to observe and study our natural world. Over 16 stops along an approximately 1-mile Discovery Trail educate visitors on forests, plants, streams, trees, and the history of this special place. Dogs are welcome to visit the park, but please be sure to stay on the established trails so as not to disturb the wildlife or wildflowers. Take only pictures… leave only footprints! Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park Between 194 and 214 Donohoe Road, Greensburg, PA 15601 Total acreage in 2021: 64 acres 12 For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks HISTORIC HANNA’S TOWN Historic Hanna’s Town was established in 1773 as the first county seat west of the Allegheny Mountains. The 177-acre park is operated by the Westmoreland Historical Society and is open to regularly scheduled guided tours. The Westmoreland History Education Center offers an exhibit gallery, classroom, museum shop, and library. The Education Center invites visitors, educators, and researchers to discover local history and its connections to broader historical narratives. Historic Hanna's Town consists of the reconstructed Hanna's Tavern, three re-located log houses, a reconstructed Revolutionary War era fort, and a wagon shed that houses an authentic late 18th century Conestoga wagon. For more information, please visit the Westmoreland Historical Society’s website at westmorelandhistory.org. Historic Hanna’s Town 809 Forbes Trail Road Greensburg, PA 15601 (724) 836-1800 Total acreage in 2021: 177 acres For additional information, visit www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks 13 LOYALHANNA GORGE This 1,283-acre greenway, which is approximately 3 miles in length, is a recreation and scenic area located along Route 30 between Latrobe and Ligonier. The Gorge cuts through Chestnut Ridge and is located on both sides of Route 30 and the Loyalhanna Creek. Comprised of steep slopes covered with forests, the gorge is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.