Peace Valley Park

Peace Valley Park is a 1,500 acre (6 km²) park located near Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Bucks County Park System. The park surrounds Lake Galena, a 365-acre (1.5 km2) lake created by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek.

Peace Valley Park
View of Lake Galena at Peace Valley Park from dam
TypeCounty park
LocationNew Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Nearest cityDoylestown, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°19.61′N 75°11.33′W
Area1,500 acres (6.1 km2)
Operated byBucks County Parks and Recreation
OpenYear-round, 8 AM to sunset[1]
StatusOpen
Forest in Peace Valley Park
A sailboat on Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park

Activities

The park provides numerous recreational opportunities including playgrounds for children, facilities for hiking, biking and fishing, and sail- and paddle-boat rentals.[1] Barbecue and picnic areas are also available throughout the park. The park has over 14 miles of maintained biking and hiking trails,[2] many of which (including those around the lake) are paved.

Although most of the park is open to the public, access to some areas is restricted in the interest of wildlife preservation.

Lake Galena freezes over most winters; ice-skating and ice-fishing are also popular during the winter months.

Nature Center

Located at the northeast end of the park (immediately on the lake) is the Peace Valley Nature Center, a facility maintained by the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation. The Nature Center has educational, bird-watching, and recreation facilities. The Center has a staff of 5-10 people and is partially powered by a photovoltaic system.

Ample parking is available immediately adjacent to the Nature Center, which also includes a small gift shop.

Carolyn "Corey" Jarin was the founder of Peace Valley Nature Center.

Wildlife

Park facilities are dedicated to both the preservation and observation of wildlife. The Nature Center has a bird blind open to the public year-round.[2] Access to some areas of the park is restricted in the interest of wildlife protection.

The park is filled with hundreds of species of flora and fauna. Over 250 bird species have been sighted at the park,[2] ranging from common sparrows to bald eagles and other birds of prey. Other common and oft-sighted fauna include white-tailed deer, groundhogs, various species of fish, rabbits, and turtles.

References
  1. "Peace Valley Park (1500 Acres)". 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  2. "Welcome to PVNC". 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.