Maurice K. Goddard State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maurice K. Goddard State Park
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Fall foliage reflected in Lake Wilhelm in the park
Maurice K. Goddard State Park Location in Pennsylvania
Location	Mercer, Pennsylvania, United States
Area	2,856 acres (11.56 km2)
Elevation	1,270 ft (390 m)
Established	1972
Visitors	over 200,000
Governing body	Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	Maurice K. Goddard State Park

Maurice K. Goddard State Park is a large state park in Pennsylvania. It covers about 2,856 acres in Mercer County. The park is a great place to see wildlife and enjoy outdoor activities.

Lake Wilhelm is a big lake that touches the park's edges. A dam was built in 1971 to create this 1,860-acre lake. Many kinds of fish and amphibians live here. You can find the park near exit 130 of Interstate 79 on Pennsylvania Route 358.

Park History

The area around the park has a long history. Sandy Creek, which feeds Lake Wilhelm, was even mentioned by George Washington in 1753. This was during his trip to Fort LeBoeuf before the French and Indian War.

Sandy Creek often flooded, causing problems for the area. So, in 1939, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started studying how to control the floods. Plans were put on hold during World War II. But people in Mercer County still wanted a dam to stop the floods and create a fun place for recreation.

Local leaders worked together to make the dam and park happen. The land was bought in the late 1960s. The dam was finished in 1971, and Maurice K. Goddard State Park opened in 1972.

Who Was Maurice K. Goddard?

The park is named after Maurice K. Goddard. He was a very important person for Pennsylvania's parks. After serving in World War II, he worked at Mont Alto Forestry School. Later, he became the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forests and Waters. This group is now called the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Goddard had a big goal: he wanted every person in Pennsylvania to have a state park within 25 miles of their home. When he retired in 1979, after 24 years, he had helped add 45 new state parks. He also helped protect over 130,000 acres of land for the state park system.

Fun Activities at the Park

Maurice K. Goddard State Park offers many ways to enjoy nature and the outdoors.

Bird Watching

The park has many different types of places for birds to live. This means you can see lots of different kinds of birds!

• Look for bald eagles and osprey flying over Lake Wilhelm. They are looking for fish.
• In the fields and forests, you might spot woodcocks, nighthawks, snipes, and many types of warblers.
• During spring and fall, migrating birds like loons, common teals, goldeneyes, mergansers, and buffleheads stop at Lake Wilhelm.
• Woodpeckers, including the large pileated woodpecker, live in the park's woods.
• Bluebirds and purple martins build their homes in the old fields and meadows.

Lake Wilhelm Activities

Lake Wilhelm is a great spot for fishing. It's known for "warm water" fish. You can catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, crappie, bluegill, catfish, walleye, northern pike, and muskellunge. Remember to follow the rules from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The park works with companies to make sure that natural gas wells nearby don't affect your fun at the park.

You can also enjoy boating on Lake Wilhelm. Boats with motors up to 20 horsepower are allowed in the park's part of the lake.

• There's a large marina with 241 spaces for boats.
• There's also a dry land area for 48 boats.
• The marina is open from May 1 to October 31.
• You'll find plenty of parking, boat launches, a marina building, and a fueling station.
• You can rent rowboats, peddle boats, canoes, and kayaks.
• In other parts of the lake (outside the park's boundaries), only non-powered boats are allowed.
• All boats need to be registered or have a launch permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Hunting

Over 1,155 acres of Maurice K. Goddard State Park are open for hunting. Hunters must follow the rules of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Common animals hunted here are waterfowl (like ducks) and white-tailed deer. Hunting groundhogs is not allowed. You can also get to nearby state game lands through the park.

Winter Fun

Maurice K. Goddard State Park is open all year, even in winter! You can enjoy:

• Ice fishing
• Ice boating
• Ice skating
• Sledding and tobogganing
• Cross-country skiing
• Snowmobiling

Friends Of Goddard

The Friends of Goddard State Park (FRoG) is a group that helps the park. They work to protect the park's natural environment. They also teach people about nature and all the fun things you can do at the park.

The FRoG group puts on two big events each year:

• Pioneer Frolic: This event happens on the last weekend in June. It includes people dressed in old-fashioned clothes, food sellers, live music, and other fun activities.
• Music at the Marina: This event features local bands and musicians. There are also food sellers, a car show, and fireworks.

Both events have free entry and include a book sale where you can make a donation. The Friends of Goddard State Park is a non-profit group that supports the park.

Nearby State Parks

If you're looking for more outdoor adventures, here are some other state parks within 30 miles of Maurice K. Goddard State Park:

• Jennings Environmental Education Center (Butler County)
• Oil Creek State Park (Venango County)
• Pymatuning State Park (Pennsylvania) (Crawford County)
• Pymatuning State Park (Ohio) (Ashtabula County)

Images for kids

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  Scene along the Falling Run Nature Trail.