Clark Nature Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clark Nature Center |
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Dry bed of a seasonal creek in the park
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| Location | Newtown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 0.079 square miles (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 167 feet (51 m) |
The Clark Nature Center is a fun nature park in Newtown Township, Pennsylvania, USA. It's a great place to explore the outdoors! This park was created in 1997. The land it sits on has a long history, going all the way back to 1683 when William Penn first bought it from the Lenape people.
The park covers about 50.6 acres. It has lots of different nature trails made of dirt and wood chips. You'll find two seasonal creeks that flow through the park, which are especially cool after it rains. There are also benches placed along the trails where you can rest and enjoy the views. Keep an eye out for local wildlife like wild turkeys, deer, and sometimes even foxes!
The Newtown Creek is nearby, just across Swamp Road. This creek flows into the Neshaminy Creek. It forms the western border between the town of Newtown and Newtown Township.
Contents
History of the Land
The land where Clark Nature Center is today has a very interesting past. It has been owned by many different people over hundreds of years!
From William Penn to the Buckmans
In 1683, William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, bought this land from the Lenape people. He then sold a large part of it to Christopher Taylor. Later, in 1702, Christopher's sons sold some of this land to Samuel Hough.
The southern part of Samuel Hough's land eventually went to William Buckman around 1702. The Buckman family owned this land for a very long time! It was passed down from William Buckman to his son, then to his grandson, and so on.
In 1838, Stacy Buckman bought about 50 acres of this land. It seems he built the house that is still on the property today. His family called the property "Mount Pleasant."
Becoming a Nature Center
The land changed hands a few more times in the early 1900s. In 1935, a couple named Lyman and Mary Clark bought the property. They owned it for many years.
Then, in December 1997, Lyman and Mary Clark sold their 50.6 acres to Newtown Township. They wanted the land to be kept as open space forever, so everyone could enjoy nature. That's how the Clark Nature Center was created, named after the Clark family who helped preserve it!
Image gallery
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Eastern wild turkey
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Adult fox
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Adult deer
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Park benched area
