A vibrant Blazing Star stands in full bloom during the annual "Celebrate the Bloom" event in July at Jennings Environmental Education Center. The native wildflower drew nature lovers and photographers alike.Harold Aughton/Special to the Eagle

Jennings Environmental Education Center is a great place to take a walk.

As recently highlighted by Business Matters and the Butler Eagle, the state park is 300 acres and, since 1980, the only protected prairie in Pennsylvania, containing numerous species of animals and wildlife. It is known for being home to the rare massasauga rattlesnake; as well as the blazing star, a lavender flower that rises on 4- to 6-foot stalks and attracts a variety of wildlife — including butterflies, moths, birds, amphibians and small mammals.

Every year, the park hosts many events that highlight its special features and the natural resources it provides to the people of Butler County and beyond, including Celebrate the Bloom, a festival-type event that takes place every July at the park.

The park is located in Brady Township with relatively easy access from Route 8. It’s a perfect place to visit on a weekend excursion or even as a post-work activity. Walking the land is completely free and so is entry to the events that take place at Jennings.

Employees of the park, as well as regular visitors and educators, have lauded Jennings as an educational marvel for the Butler County area, including Becky Thomas, an associate professor of parks and conservation in Slippery Rock University’s biology department. She said it well when she was describing what she does with her students at the park.

“The prairie ecosystem provides a ‘living lab’ for students to learn firsthand about things like endangered species management, native plants and insects, and the effectiveness of various land management strategies, such as prescribed burning,” Thomas said. “The prairie is also a local gem. It’s something we can be proud of, something we can connect to as residents of this place.”

— ET