Activities add up
MIDDLESEX TWP — Each year, outdoors aficionados find more and more to do at Glade Run Lake Park.
Once drained in 2011 due to a faulty dam designation, the lake now features fully stocked fishing areas, a boating launch, picnic areas and much more.
“The things you can do there, you can do any time of year,” T. Lyle Ferderber, Glade Run Lake Conservancy board member, said. “Hike on our trail; we have a one mile. You can paddle a canoe or paddle a kayak.”
The park reopened in 2017 after restoration efforts by the Glade Run Lake Conservancy members and has since become a hub of outdoors activity, projects and events.
Ferderber said he likes to spend time with his family enjoying the wildlife throughout the park and on the lake.
“I like to hike with my grandkids, and I like to paddle at the lake,” he said. “I like to see the life that you can see in the shallow water ... The fish are coming back with a vengeance”
Each year the lake is stocked with fish, many raised by area students for class projects.
“Last month Butler School District had a catfish release. The kids raise the catfish and bring them down to Glade Run Lake,” Ferderber said. “Also we had a trout release day.”
Those fishing may keep the trout they catch, Ferderber said, the rest are strictly catch-and-release.“This lake has an ability to raise very large healthy fish,” Ferderber said. “Every year they're getting bigger, and there's more of them than ever.”Glade Run Lake Park has also become a hot spot for bird watching, with area ornithologists praising the park for its wide variety of birds and inclusion of rare species.“Bird watching is truly something people can do and enjoy,” Ferderber said.He explained the park is home to over 150 different kinds of birds, along with two rare species.Area Eagle Scouts also built an osprey nest in the park, and bird watchers are now waiting to see if an osprey or bald eagle will make the nest its home.Additionally, park officials and volunteers have installed chimney swift towers at the lake.These towers are tall structures that mimic actual chimneys for chimney swift birds to roost in.Rick and Lisa Edmonds took their canoe on the lake in March to do some bird watching and spend time enjoying the beauty of the lake.
“We just enjoy the birds and the wildlife and the peace,” Rick Edmonds said.On their paddle around the lake, the Edmonds said they spotted ospreys and blue heron as well as turtles and muskrats.Rick Edmonds said for around $100, anyone can get a boat and do the same.“Buy a canoe or a kayak,” he said. “Come and enjoy it.”Ferderber said the conservancy hopes to see guided bird tours this summer, but no specific dates have yet been set.While the conservancy succeeded in reopening the lake, its members' work is not done.Siggy Pehel, conservancy president, said members are continuing the work to improve the park and met May 15 to discuss events and projects for the summer.Pehel said there's a concert planned for this summer at a farm nearby the lake, as well as cleanup days and several Eagle Scout projects to expand the hiking areas.Ferderber said the best way to stay up to date on events and goings on at the park is to follow “Save Glade Run Lake” on Facebook or visit their website at gladerunlakeconservancy.org.
