The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association recently announced the designation of Sweet Arrow Lake County Park in Schuylkill County as a 2026 Great Public Space in Pennsylvania.
The 184-acre rural park has a 70-acre lake and abundant species of plants, mammals, birds and fish.
A 2004 master plan for the park emphasized sustainable stewardship of the landscape, as well as environmental education and passive recreation for all ages and abilities.
While the lake is a focal point of the park, other significant features include a waterfall with an overlook bridge, the “Owl’s Nest” interpretive area and “The Point” viewing area. These sites are popular for photography, concerts and family gatherings.
A person walks on the rocks near the waterfall at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Monday, June 23, 2025. (FILE)
A network of trails is integrated into the landscape providing opportunities to enjoy the natural environment. Recreational activities include swimming, boating, disc golf, geocaching and trophy trout fishing.
The park also offers a Braille trail and a special needs fishing access area, along with the Youth Endeavor Grove.
Through its environmental education programs, the park serves as an outdoor classroom. Stewardship practices, such as the live stake nursery, habitat restoration projects, native plantings and water quality improvements, are also used for education.
Due to the increasing use of the park and continued need for conservation, an update to its master plan is underway.
The planning process is engaging residents, stakeholders and multiple partners, showing a commitment to protecting park while providing nature-based education and tourism that is in growing demand.
Other Great Places
Eight nominees in two categories — Great Public Spaces and Great Greenways/Trails or Preserves — received a Great Places designation in 2026, bringing the number of Great Places designated since the Program’s 2014 inception to 72.
Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, together with Armstrong Great Lawn (Butler County), Centre Square (Northampton County) and Plum Street Plaza (Delaware County) were named “Great Public Spaces.”
Croydon Woods Nature Preserve (Bucks County), Ghost Town Trail System (Cambria/Indiana counties), Palmer Bikeway (Northampton County) and Robert Porter Allen Natural Area (Lycoming County) were the 2026 Great Greenways/Trails or Preserves.