Peace Valley Park
Encyclopedia
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,380. The borough is the county seat of Bucks County.- History :...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. It is part of the Bucks County
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
Park System. The park surrounds Lake Galena
Lake Galena (Pennsylvania)
Lake Galena is a reservoir in Peace Valley Park, Pennsylvania, in the United States, created in 1974by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek.-History and Hydrology:...
, a 365 acres (1.5 km²) lake created by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek
Neshaminy Creek
Neshaminy Creek is a stream that runs southeast through Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Neshaminy Creek proper rises south of the borough of Chalfont, where North Branch Neshaminy Creek and West Branch Neshaminy Creek meet. Neshaminy Creek flows lastly between Bristol Township and Bensalem Township...
.
Activities
The park provides numerous recreational opportunities including playgrounds for children, facilities for hiking, biking and fishing, and sail- and paddleboat rentals. Barbecue and picnic areas are also available throughout the park. The park has over 14 miles of maintained biking and hiking trails, 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 Buck 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.
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. 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, ranging from common sparrows to bald eagles and other birds of prey
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
. Other common and oft-sighted fauna include white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, groundhogs, various species of fish, and turtles.