Friends of Memorial Lake State Park Complex

01/16/2025

Working in 19 degree weather today, we finished cutting up the cherry wood at the Equine Lot and then cleared the EMS trail at Swopes Valley. Lots of trees!

01/12/2025

The January 26 degree temperatures and the snow didn't stop us.
We removed 3 large, 1 medium, and one small fallen trees from the Swatara Rail Trail this on Wednesday the 8th of January.

05/14/2024

Thank you to the Park Staff for making it possible for us to do the work for which we are receiving this recognition.

02/22/2024

Long day yesterday! Finished up after the full-time staff cleared over half of the Bear Hole Trail and then cleared the Rail Trail from Swopes Valley Road to Sand Siding Road. Removed 5 fairly large trees from the cliffs along the Rail Trail.

01/22/2024

We cleared one large, two medium, and two small trees today on Bear Hole Trail and the Swatara Rail Trail.

09/29/2023

Can you tell us where and when the pictures below were taken? Comment if you can...

09/28/2023

Yesterday Boyd Big Tree Conservation Area received lots of TLC from local volunteers. The Friends as well as members of the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club were on scene to work around the Stroh Cemetery and to install new rock water diversion bars on the section of Janie Trail between Lower Janie and Coach Trails.

Many thanks to Tim, George, the two Marks, and Chris for installing the new water bars.

The SATC “Rock Crew” has been installing and maintaining the water bars on the trails at both Boyd Big Tree and Joseph E. Ibberson Conservation Areas since both parks were established. They also installed and maintain the stone steps on the trails going up the steep north side of Blue and Peters Mountains. Tim, the “Rock Crew” team leader for the past 30 or 40 years, told me they needed eight volunteers with heavy duty pry bars to position some of the larger stone steps. This group of past and present volunteers has over the years made our local parks and trails significantly more accessible. Again, many thanks to all involved and JOB WELL DONE!

09/21/2023

Removing Dead Trees from Stroh Cemetery at Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area. We contracted Snyder Tree Service to remove 7 dead trees that would eventually fall and damage the tombstones in the cemetery. The Friends Group paid $3,100.00 to have the trees removed from the cemetery and are cutting up and selling the dead oak for firewood.

08/05/2023

A fun and educational morning spent with members of the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club. The BMECC maintains 65 miles of the Appalachian Trail, part of which runs through Swatara State Park.

This morning we received some excellent training on basic trail blazing techniques and tools as well as Appalachian Trail Conservancy and BMECC blazing standards. The basic blazing skills will come in handy at Boyd Big Tree, J. E. Ibberson, and Swatara State Parks.

We learned Rules 1-3 of blazing:

Rule Number 1 - Don't Drip!

Rule Number 2 - Choose Location Wisely

Rule Number 3 - DON'T DRIP!!

07/21/2023

06/25/2023

Tuesday, two of us worked on clearing the fence line at Stroh Cemetery. Wednesday, ten of us continued clearing the debris on the island and in the main creek channel below the Swopes Valley Boat Launch, and Saturday it was more work at Stroh's and gardening at Swopes Valley Trailhead.