On February 8, the Dauphin County Commissioners introduced plans for a new county park along the base of Peter’s Mountain in Middle Paxton Township. At more than 400 acres, Detweiler Park is set to become the largest of the county’s parks.
The park will include over nine miles of trails through a diverse array of gardens, fields, forests, and meadows. A variety of wildlife, including deer, woodpeckers, hawks, and bluebirds, can be seen in the area. Trails will be open daily from dawn to dusk.
The property was owned by the Detweiler family, who operated the Harrisburg Telegraph, WHP television, and Stackpole Books.
The family donated $897,500 to help the county purchase the $2.4 million property. An $887,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and $607,500 in gaming funds from Hollywood Casino covered the rest of the cost.
Detweiler Park will open to the public in late spring 2017. Visit the park website to learn more about the trails. The website also includes a map, information about park facilities and guidelines, and an option for outdoors enthusiasts to provide feedback about what they would like to see at the new park.
