Bird / Nature Watching
"New Discoveries in PV Park"
Pleasant Valley Park is turning out to be one of the most interesting places in
Murrysville. Ever since the Westmoreland Bird & Nature Club conducted a winter ecology outing there in early February, people have been returning to check out its other features as spring unfolds.

Long Tail Weasel Video (by PixController)

Ruffed Grouse (Images by Bill Powers)

Species Observation Reports

Fields, Flowers, Woods
Murrysville parks and Westmoreland Conservancy Nature Reserves are mostly wooded areas.  Pleasant Valley Park contains large open areas that were formerly farm fields or pastures.  These fields are starting to regrow, but still allow for viewing wild flowers that grow in sunny areas. The park contains a Pawpaw tree which is native to this area but is fairly rare.

There is a large stand of native Dogwood trees growing on a West facing slope of former pasture.  To view the Dogwoods when in bloom,  follow the old farm road East until you walk past the old storage building and past the dip in the road.  After the dip, turn right and walk down hill through the field and look for the Dogwoods on the slope.

Peace and Quiet
Pleasant Valley Park's large size makes it a great place if you are looking for peace and quiet.  There is an isolated, fairly steep-sided valley East of the center of the park.  When you are in this remote valley, chances are you will only hear the sounds of nature unless a plane flies overhead.  To hike to the valley, start following the old farm road from the parking lot.  Continue following the road as it curves around clockwise.  Eventually you will come to a fork in the farm road, take the left fork and by continuing to going down-hill, you will come to a small stream in the valley.  You can cross the stream and walk up or down the valley.  Stop and enjoy the peace and quiet. You can return by the same route or try hiking up an unmarked trail next to a side ravine that will connect back with the farm road. (Click image for a larger view. )

Conservation Classroom
The 4-H Conservation Club uses PV Park as the location for their monthly project book meetings. PV Park has become the club's "Classroom" on a number of occasions, where kids have learned about nature and conservation while participating in fun activities. They explored the park on a species scavenger hunt, looking for as many different species of plants and animals as possible.They learned how to determine how old a tree is; what poison ivy looks like; and much more during a Question and Answer walk with a naturalist from the Westmoreland Conservancy. They created a bird house out of recycled materials, that they can put up to attract birds to their yards. They practiced making a tree rubbing for the Adopt-a-Tree project book. They also made an ABC board of plants and animals that can be found in PV Park.