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Millbrook Marsh a source of water in urban 'desert'
Millbrook Marsh a source of water in urban 'desert' Did you know there is a rare calcareous fen cradled within the urban sprawl of State College? Do you have any idea what such a thing is? A fen is a term used to describe a low-lying piece of land prone to flooding. More common names would be a bog or marsh, swamp, wetlands or moor. A calcareous fen implies a limestone base which produces a very specialized ecosystem. The rare calcareous fen of State College is called Millbrook Marsh. Millbrook Marsh is one of the Centre Region's latest park projects. Unlike traditional parks, Millbrook doesn't have ball fields or playgrounds. It offers something a little more unique -- a 50-acre marsh. The first thing you see at Millbrook Marsh is a huge barn with a green roof. The trails begin at this magnificent barn. Old fenceposts still stand but no fence is strung between them. A wide, grassy path invites visitors towards the marsh. Soon the path changes to a narrow trail. The ground is soft underfoot and the plants become dense. A gentle, crystal-clear stream runs silently next to the path. The thick vegetation gives way to open fields of sedge grasses and aquatic plants at the confluence of Thompson Run and Slab Cabin Run. Walking the gentle paths along the banks of the stream, I forgot I was so close to urban areas. I was immediately lost in the softness of the earth, the lushness of the plants and the sounds of birds. Lots of birds. Folks like to come here early in the morning to get a glimpse of their favorites enjoying this peaceful sanctuary. The rapid growth of town and campus have boxed in Millbrook Marsh. State Route 26 and U.S. Route 322 are only a few hundred yards away. Rural Puddintown Road follows the gentle contours of firm ground to the west, and Centre Community Hospital sits on the hill above. Millbrook sits halfway between Slab Cabin and Spring Creek parks, and a bike path provides safe access to Puddintown Road for family bike outings. When I arrived at the barn, the sound of highway traffic was clearly audible. As I became immersed in the fen, most of that noise disappeared, absorbed by the dense vegetation around me. Looking up, I could see cows grazing on the fields below the hospital. Looking down the trail, several rabbits were foraging among the grasses. I spied a baby-blue robin's egg on the ground but saw no nest. As the sun danced brightly on the water's surface, I realized what a beautiful place Millbrook Marsh is. I remember exploring this place when I was a boy. At that time, the U.S. Route 322 bypass was not finished. It was four lanes of perfect concrete that simply stopped after the hospital. We used to ride skateboards and bicycles on the empty stretch of highway. Several deer paths connected the unfinished overpass with Puddintown Road and the marsh. These mysterious trails were irresistible to teen-age boys. Of course we didn't get very far. The soft mud soon oozed over our bicycle tires and swallowed our sneakers when we realized, too late, that forward progress was futile. But I always knew there was something special hidden in that marsh. Today, Millbrook Marsh has a master plan which includes the construction of 1,000 feet of elevated boardwalks. The neat thing about Millbrook is it's still developing. Today's paths are simple and functional but you may get muddy and most of the marsh remains inaccessible. This will change as the trail system is built. Millbrook Marsh offers a variety of nature programs. There are adult lunch lectures, bird walks and fly-fishing programs. For children and parents, the marsh offers educational hikes, critter walks, crafts and other learning opportunities. It makes a nice afternoon get-away for anyone looking to relax and wander through a natural park. It is the perfect place to let kids explore. We are lucky to have public access and protection for such a special place. The ClearWater Conservancy has helped identify Millbrook as a Natural Heritage Inventory Site and documented several rare plant species in the fen, which serves as a natural strainer for water heading to Spring Creek. As surrounding lands continue to be developed, additional stormwater drainage ends up at Millbrook and there is a limit to how much environmental degradation the marsh can take. The fact that it is wetlands saved it from development, but being among the last remaining wetlands puts enormous pressure on this unique and sensitive ecosystem. I recommend you explore it now so you can appreciate it later. Directions From State College take state Route 26 east toward the Nittany Mall. Turn left on Puddintown Road (at Clinefelter's Flooring and Carpets). Millbrook Marsh Nature Center is 1/4 mile on the right. Look for the restored barn with a green roof. For hours and information contact Centre Region Parks and Recreation at 231-3071. PS: Read more about the Millbrook Marsh in Jean Aron's book The Short Hiker - Small Green Circles. |
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