Patch Picks: 6 Best Local Parks for a Picnic

Memorial Day is almost here, and with it comes the end of May and, hopefully, the beginning of warmer weather (and less rain, please). After a snow-filled Pennsylvania winter, many of us are looking forward to barbecues, picnics and just being outdoors in general.

This week’s list is dedicated to the myriad of beautiful parks that Pennsylvania, and more specifically, Northampton County, has to offer. All of the following parks have plentiful facilities, scenic trails and loads of fun stuff to do.

1.  – The size of Jacobsburg State Park is 1,168 acres, and with that acreage come various areas utilized for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking and environmental education. The park features 18.5 miles of scenic trails, portions of which run parallel to the Bushkill Creek.

Although your kids won't realize it--we won't tell them, promise--they'll be getting a history lesson even while they're running down the trails and splashing through the shallow creek.

As you head through Henry's Woods, an old growth forest, be sure to look up, or you'll miss the beauty of an interesting ecological feature--the majestic hemlock and white oak trees in this stand of woods are 275 to 300 years old.

Within the Jacobsburg National Historic District lies a colonial gunsmith's homestead, where the Henry rifle was made during the Revolutionary War era. The  can be accessed via Jacbosburg's trails, or via the the site's main entrance at 402 Henry Road, Nazareth (Bushkill Township).

The main entrance to Jacobsburg State Park is at 835 Jacobsburg Road, Wind Gap. After you park in the free lot, grab the picnic essentials and get ready to explore. You'll find the main picnic area just beyond the bridge, near the restrooms.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset and is pet friendly.

How to get there: Jacobsburg State Park is located at 835 Jacobsburg Road, Wind Gap (one portion of the park is located in Wind Gap and another portion is located in Bushkill Township). The park is best accessed from the Belfast exit off Route 33. Just follow the signs.

2.  – All of Louise W. Moore County Park's 125 acres are a picnicker's dream. The park is home to baseball and softball fields; badminton, tennis and volleyball courts; playgrounds and jungle gyms; and, of course, pavilions and picnic tables.

The park is open from sunrise to sunset, and its various amenities are open to the public. Pavilions can be rented for a specific day, however, permits are required for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to reserve a pavilion, call (610) 746-1975.

And sorry, folks, but Fido must stay home. Louise W. Moore County Park does not allow pets.

How to get there: Louise W. Moore County Park is located on Country Club Road in Lower Nazareth Township. The park is easily accessed from the Hecktown Road exit off Route 33. At the stoplight, turn left (away from Northampton County AAA).

3.  – Penn Pump Park is one of 10 parks in the Palmer Township park system. It may be small, but it has all of the necessary picnic facilities and then some, including a softball diamond, restrooms, pavilions, barbecue pits and picnic tables.

The best part? The walking trails in the park run adjacent to the Bushkill Creek. 

Unique to Penn Pump Park is that its summer hours exceed sunset. From March 1 to October 1, the park is open daily from 7am to 11pm. Rentals are not required to use any of the facilities.

For a full list of Palmer Township parks, visit www.palmertwp.com.

How to get there: Penn Pump Park is located at Northwood Avenue and Bushkill Drive in Palmer Township. The park is catty-corner to the Belyea Company on Northwood Avenue (think, "I'm heading to the Palmer Park Mall").

4. Hugh Moore Park Easton's Hugh Moore Park is a historic park just down the road from , which means it shares an awesome view of the rushing Lehigh River. The park includes all of the regular amenities, including ample parking, restrooms, walking trails and pavilions.

The coolest thing about Hugh Moore Park is that it is set up to display the canal history unique to this area. You can see the ruins of 19th century industrial complexes, the old locks used by riverboats, and, in the warmer months, you can even take a ride on the Josiah White II, a vintage canal boat pulled by mules.

For more information, visit www.wildlandspa.org. 

How to get there: Hugh Moore Park is located in Easton along the Lehigh River. The park is best accessed via S. 25th Street to Lehigh Drive.

5.  – Monocacy Park is the largest and the most feature-filled park in the city of Bethlehem's park system.

With a swimming pool nearby, a nature trail, picnic tables, benches, pavilions, a nearby dog park and more, this park truly has it all.

To rent a pavilion, the cost on weekdays is $65 for residents and $90 for non-residents. On weekends and holidays the cost is $75 for residents and $100 for non-residents. For more information or to rent a pavilion, call the Parks & Recreation office at (610) 865-7081.

How to get there: The entrance to Monocacy Park is located along Illicks Mill Road, between the Main Street extension and Schoenersville Road. Parking is available in a creekside parking lot across from the historic Illick's Mill. From Route 22, take Schoenersville Road south and turn left onto Illicks Mill Road.

6.  – Dimmick Park is Hellertown’s oldest and largest public park, and is named in honor of Burgess Morris Dimmick, the mayor who was instrumental in securing the federal aid which made its construction possible in the 1930s. Dimmick was mayor of Hellertown from 1927 until 1945--longer than anyone else since the borough was incorporated in 1872.

Dimmick Park's 12 acres include a playground, ballfields, picnic facilities, walking trails, and, unique to this list, a large public pool--one of the largest municipal pools in the Lehigh Valley, in fact.

Dimmick Park is open from sunrise to sunset, is pet-friendly and has grills available for picnics. The park's pavilion is available for rental. For more information about reservations, call the borough at (610) 838-7041.

How to get there: Dimmick Park is located at Tobias Drive and Durham Street in Hellertown. The park is best accessed via Main Street (Route 412) to Durham Street. Ample parking is available.