Moraine finally gets to celebrate its 50th year
Moraine State Park was working on big plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2020. Then COVID-19 got in the way.
“We had a big celebration planned for the 50th birthday that had a whole number of programs for the season,” said Natalie Simon, environmental education specialist at the park. “But, of course, it got shut down.”
“We still want to celebrate it, even though it isn't an even 50 — it's even better than 50,” she said.
Three years later, the park will mark its golden anniversary with a history event.
During the Thursday, May 25, presentation, visitors will learn what sparked the idea to create the park, which changed the area forever.
The park was one of the largest land reclamation initiatives ever undertaken in the state, with Pennsylvania workers plugging 422 oil, gas and water wells and acquiring 15,000 acres of land.
To create the park, two major highways had to be relocated, a dam built and 500 acres of strip mines reclaimed. Moraine was dedicated on May 23, 1970.
The park is named for the glacial moraines that cover its land. The moraines were formed at the conclusion of the last glacial period, a time when glaciers covered much of North America. A sliver of a glacier reached into Pennsylvania and, as the ice receded, left deposits of gravel, sand and clay, creating a landscape of gently rolling hills.
The park’s Lake Arthur, at 3,225 acres, is the largest man-made lake in the state. It was created by the damming of Muddy Creek and took 11 months to fill.
The History of Moraine State Park presentation is scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at McDanel’s Launch on the North Shore. Visitors will learn how the land has changed dramatically over time, “from the Ice Age to present day.” Anyone can attend.
Even if you can’t make it to the park for its anniversary celebration, take some time this summer to visit this recreational gem in our backyard.
Celebrate it. Enjoy it.
—JGG
