SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS

BOROUGH PARK

PARK ANNOUNCEMENTS

(updated June 2008)

Sewickley Heights Borough Park To Conduct Visitor Survey During Summer of 2008

When?  - Park visitors may be asked to answer some questions about park use upon entrance to Sewickley Heights Borough Park on weekends during the summer of 2008.

Who and Where?  - Park staff and volunteers will be gathering information from park visitors entering the park through the main entrance off of Fern Hollow Road.

 Why Are We Doing This Survey? - As part of a larger effort to improve the visitor’s experience at Sewickley Heights Park, the Borough is surveying park users to find out why they come.  This information will help in the formation of policies and practices that would make it work best for all who use it now and may use it years into the future. Thank you for your time and consideration in helping to make Sewickley Heights Park a more enjoyable place for all.

Don’t Try Trail Maintenance on your own!

We welcome volunteers at Sewickley Heights Borough Park.  However all trail maintenance and other volunteer projects must be coordinated with the Park Ranger or Park Naturalist.  To join our volunteer list, contact Park Ranger, Thad Jones at shparkranger@comcast.net or Park Naturalist, April Claus at fhncnaturalist@verizon.net  or call 412-741-7536.

Deer Exclosures in Sewickley Heights Borough Park

Over the last year, the Sewickley Heights Borough park staff has joined forces with the Village Garden Club, local school students, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Robert Morris University Biology Department to erect several deer exclosures in Sewickley Heights Borough Park.  Deer exclosures are simply fences that are erected around the perimeter of area that historically has contained a diversity of native plants.  Exclosures are used for plant preservation, education and scientific research. Botanical surveys will be made on the plots before the exclosures are built to gain some baseline data and then visited by local school students over the next few years to witness the recovery of wildflowers and tree saplings in the absence of deer browsing.

Regarding the Closing of Waterfall Trail to Equestrians

In August of 2005, an equestrian was severely injured after falling into the ravine along the waterfall trail.  This area is particularly unstable and difficult to access by medical personnel.  In recent years, this trail has narrowed as result of erosion and has become a safety hazard.  To prevent further erosion on an already damaged trail and danger to equestrians, the Borough of Sewickley Heights has decided to temporarily close this trail to equestrians.  We regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Signs will be posted marking alternate routes.