Shaver’s Creek will temporarily close to visitors beginning Oct. 27

PETERSBURG, Pa. — Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center plans to close to the public for a few weeks beginning Monday, Oct. 27, in preparation for an expansion to visitor parking and improvements to existing stormwater mitigation efforts.



“The parking lot expansion will be a big presence through the fall and winter but will ultimately assist us in serving the public by increasing capacity and accessibility for visitors, while also redirecting stormwater runoff away from roads and trails,” said Joshua Potter, associate director of operations for Shaver’s Creek. “The project will expand our parking lot from 70 to about 155 spaces that will include accessible parking closer to the building and new electric vehicle charging stations.”



The center will be closed to the public intermittently throughout the fall and winter as the project gets underway. Visitors should check the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center website and social media pages for hours and parking information as they will change throughout the project.



Potter said much consideration was taken on how to expand parking to accommodate visitors without infringing on the green space and wildlife habitat they come to see.



“Early designs would have pushed into areas that we want to protect, including the white pine trees where birds who are unique to our site and prefer conifers like to reside. Another area we avoided fosters growth of lady slippers,” Potter said. “We settled on a small strip of forest in the middle of the current parking lots that is a little scrubby and has few mature trees. While we're not losing as much there, it will create a big open space that will give the appearance that we are.”



Potter said the first multi-week closure will be for tree removal, which will then transition into significant earth moving and eventual paving. The last phase of the project will include the planting of new drainage basins designed to address storm water issues.



“During heavy rain events, we're seeing places where some of our trails and roadsides are getting swamped and washed out. Rainwater is overtopping culverts and coming down into the yard of the center,” Potter said. “Engineers are looking at how we can better manage runoff by using drainage basins to slow water down so it's not rushing downstream causing issues for creeks, roads and trails.”



Potter wanted to reassure patrons that the disturbed landscape would be replanted.



“There will be new planting beds within and around the expanded parking lot. New native trees and shrubs will be planted. The edges will get softened, and the areas will fill back in,” Potter said.



For the latest information, visitors should check the Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center website and social media pages.