Moraine Regatta attracts thousands to state park
MUDDY CREEK TWP — Thousands of visitors flocked to Moraine State Park and Lake Arthur for the park’s annual centerpiece event, the Moraine State Park Regatta, over the weekend of Saturday, Aug. 2, and Sunday.
Mike Hall, a volunteer for the regatta board of directors, estimates that around 12,000 people showed up Saturday, Aug. 2, with 8,000-10,000 expected on Sunday.
“(Last year) we had rain, we had mud, we had heat,” Hall said. “I've been doing this for 25 years. This is probably the best Regatta weather we've had.”
Attendees got a chance to have an up-close look at a LifeFlight helicopter, one of six operated by Allegheny Health Network. The helicopter normally is kept at Pittsburgh/Butler Regional Airport when it is not flying.
“We’ve brought in the LifeFlight just to do some PR and to promote community awareness of the resource,” said LifeFlight specialist Nico Soler.
The LifeFlight’s two-day stay at Moraine was briefly interrupted Saturday afternoon when the helicopter had to be called into service to respond to a vehicle accident in Jackson Township.
“Right now, they’re in service,” Soler said. “They’re showing the community about the resource, but if there’s an emergency, they’ll leave.”
The regatta was an opportunity for youngsters to be introduced to various outdoor activities, including sailing with the Moraine Sailing Club, archery with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and fishing demonstrations with the Sea Scouts Ship 5168, based out of Portersville.
“We are helping them learn how to cast,” said Janel Rowley of the Sea Scouts, who oversaw the fishing demonstration for youths 15 and younger. “And then, after they feel comfortable casting, we get them set up with a worm so they can go out and fish. There's really no competition. We just help them learn how to fish, and if they catch their first fish of the day, we get them set up with a certificate.”
Also on hand was Pittsburgh Flying Disc, which was there to promote the sport of disc golf in Western Pennsylvania. The group installed five “holes” for visitors to practice shooting into.
“Most of the people there are volunteers to the community,” said disc golf aficionado Howie Kocher. “We take care of the courses that we use for the game of disc golf. We're just trying to promote our involvement in the community and the game.”
Moraine State Park has an 18-hole disc golf course, which Kocher said is one of the highest-rated in all of Pennsylvania.
Sunday morning also featured the regatta’s annual 5K run, with 91 competitors racing over the Sunken Garden trail which partially overlooks Lake Arthur. 42-year-old Jason Smith of Wexford crossed the line first with a time of 21:28.65, while 19-year-old Delaney Mansfield of Mars was the fastest woman, finishing with a time of 21:59.54.
More in Local News
