If you are looking for a vacation spot this summer, but don’t want to go too far away, and like camping, swimming and hiking, consider this.

Drive to the traffic light in Clarendon, make a right turn, drive five miles and you are there. You have arrived at Chapman State Park, managed by Russell native Tyson Martin. The park is 862 acres and includes the 68-acre Chapman Lake on the west branch of Tionesta Creek, adjacent to Pennsylvania Gamelands and the Allegheny National Forest.

The park is named for Warren native Dr. Leroy Chapman. Born in 1881, Dr. Chapman served the Warren Community for 60 years as a physician, member of the school board and county Pension Board. He was Warren County coroner, Warren mayor and a state Senator. Dr. Chapman is credited with legislation to have the state acquire, and set aside, the land which became the State Park in 1945. Prior to that time, the land was used by a series of sawmill owners, who harvested timber in the area over a period of years. Folks who are interested in the logging railroad era of lumbering in Pennsylvania should see Book 8, Tionesta Valley, by Walter Casler, who documents the early years of the property; the book can be found in the Warren Public Library.

Construction of the dam, which created Chapman Lake at the park, was begun in 1949. The park was opened for day use in 1951 and camping facilities (81 sites) were built and opened in 1956. Since that time, a beach has been opened, winter facilities established, cottages and yurts and a concession structure built, and facilities with showers and flush toilets added. All of the facilities are served by a road system within the park and connecting with the adjacent Pennsylvania Game Lands and the Allegheny National Forest. Roads are open to biking.

There are 10 hiking trails varying in difficulty and length from short, easy trails of a few tenths of a mile on level or near level ground (the former Tionesta Valley Railroad grade), to longer, hilly trails up to 2.75 miles length. Some trails support hiking and biking in season and snowmobiling and cross country skiing during the winter months. Park managers tell me that they are happy to have volunteers to help maintain trails.

I personally remember being at the Chapman State Park during the winter when a polar plunge was planned. It was plenty cold enough wearing winter clothing, coats and gloves, but a group of perhaps a dozen folks (not me) stripped down to bathing suits and plunged into the water. It makes me shiver just thinking about it.

In closing, Manager, Tyson Martin added: “We host a variety of events at Chapman from the US Canoe Association’s youth sprint races to the Warren County Winterfest. These events are organized by outside groups that enter into an agreement with the park to utilize the facility. Our park-sponsored events are posted on our Facebook page and on our calendar of events page and of course, flyers posted throughout the park.”

A visit to Chapmen State Park is a worthwhile family activity any time of year!

ROAR

JULY 12, 2021

The regular ROAR meeting was held at the township office at 6:30 p.m. Karen Martin, beautification chair, saidshrubs have been pruned and flowers look good. Martin also reminded the group that she and Doris Trumbull are chairing Front Porch Days scheduled for the evenings of Aug. 14-15, when residents welcome passersby to visit their front porches for refreshments and conversation. This event has been held in Warren and has been a great success. All Pine Grove residents are encouraged to participate in this collegial event.

Art Sager, Canoe and Kayak Launch chairman, noted that the launch sign will be erected at Larimer Park soon. Brush cutting at the launch site has not been done yet. The frequent rainy weather over the past few weeks has impeded scheduling the work for the township crew. Faye Schwanke, special events co-chair, said the ROAR’IN at LARIMER concert on July 5 featuring the music of Bay Allen was a great success.

Rusell

From Page D1The next ROAR meeting is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 2.

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RUSSELL AUXILIARY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

The auxiliary will hold its fall rummage sale on Sept. 24-25. Donations can be dropped off at the Russell Fire Hall on Thursday Sept. 23, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, will be a $1 per bag sale from 8 a.m. to noon. This is a big fund raiser for the fire department and supports purchase of equipment and supplies.

SUPERVISORS REPORT

JULY 14, 2021

The rainy weather has deterred the township’s efforts to oil and seal several roads. The town has had to cancel a number of scheduled applications due to the rain. The type of oil used to seal the roads cannot tolerate any water. Town officials said they hope the weather will stabilize and give crews some dry days to complete all the applications planned for the summer.

The week of July 19, the IA Company is to begin milling of the streets scheduled for an asphalt overlay. The milling should be done in a couple of days followed in a few days with the paving and seal coating. Again, we are hopeful the weather will cooperate to complete all of the paving in the next two weeks. Another project slated for this summer is the rebuilding of the lower half of the Hultberg Road. This will be funded through a grant from the Warren County Conservation District with in-kind contributions from Pine Grove Township. The upper half was completed three years ago through a similar grant. The work will include removal of some trees to increase daylight hitting the road, ditching, improving drainage, graveling, grading and compacting of the gravel. The work is scheduled for September.

Pine Grove Township’s revitalization group, ROAR, has obtained a grant to build a kayak/canoe launch at Larimer Park in Russell. Township employees will build the launch, which will include grading of the creek bank and placing some rocks along the upstream side to protect it from erosion. The site will eventually have picnic tables and grills for picnicking.

The Board of Supervisors has been looking at the question of whether the Big Four Road should remain open due to concerns about the cost to bring it up to an acceptable standard for a dirt road with the amount of traffic that uses it. The supervisors have begun evaluating all the input it has received to date and identifying options for the road. It is anticipated a decision regarding the future of the road will be made in September or October. Meanwhile, littering and dumping of trash along the roadway remains a significant problem.

The township recently purchased a couple of pieces of equipment. A new utility tractor went into service a couple of weeks ago and should greatly improve the efficiency of preparing roads for oiling/sealing, as well as help with snow removal. Also, this month, the township received $133,000 from the American Rescue Plan. This is the first of two annual payments. The town is holding the money in reserve pending guidance for allowable uses of the funds and the accounting procedures that apply to it.

The Board of Supervisors meets regularly with representatives of the Russell Volunteer Fire Department. Much of the discussions center on the pervasive problem confronting all fire and emergency medical services – that being manpower shortages. Together, the board and fire department are exploring ways that we may be able to provide incentives to encourage volunteerism and remaining in service to the community. For the quarter ending June 30, the department averaged about 19 EMS calls per month and responded to a total of 21 general alarms including three structure fires. As of the first six months of this year, the department has been involved in nine structure fires.

Pine Grove Township residents are reminded that the Board of Supervisors meets the second Wednesday of every month at the Township Office on East Street. The meetings begin at 7 p.m. The agenda for each meeting is posted 24 hours in advance on the township’s website, www.pinegrovetownship.org and in the lobby of the Township Office.