Tyler State Park
Tyler State Park consists of 1,711 acres in Bucks County. Park roads, trails, and facilities are carefully nestled within the original farm and woodland setting. Neshaminy Creek meanders through the park, dividing the land into several interesting sections.
|
|
|
Hiking - Biking - Horseback Riding - Picnicking - Picnic Groves - Fishing - Boating - Disc Golf - Education - Theater - Center for the Arts - Education - Cross-country Skiing - Sledding - Ice Fishing - Ice Skating Picnicking: Welcome! All picnic areas have picnic tables, restrooms and drinking water and are surrounded by mowed, grassy areas for sunbathing and relaxing.
Boardwalk Picnic Area: This area has easy access to a variety of hiking trails that connect the picnic areas. This area is especially popular with families with young children.
Upper Plantation Picnic Area: This secluded, quiet area is popular for sunbathing. One picnic pavilion may be reserved up to 11 months in advance for a fee. Unreserved picnic pavilion is free on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mill Dam Picnic Area: This area is adjacent to a beautiful, shaded trail which overlooks Neshaminy Creek.
Reservable Picnic GrovesCall toll-free 888-PA-PARKS for information, pricing and reservations.
Make a reservation.
Lower Plantation Picnic Grove: This easy to find area is often used by people who stop in for a quick relaxing lunch.
Boating: electric motors only Motorboats must display a current boat registration. Non-powered boats must display one of the following: boat registration; launching permit or mooring permit from Pennsylvania State Parks, available at most state park offices; launching permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Complete information on boating rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site. Canoe Rental: The Canoe Rental is open daily from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, weather permitting. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 6 p. m. The last canoe goes out at 5 pm. A deposit and driver's license is required. Special rates apply for groups of 4 or more. There are also half day and full day rates.
Complete information on fishing rules and regulations in Pennsylvania is available from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Web site. Go to the U. S. Geological Survey Web site for the water level of Neshaminy Creek Near Rushland. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/pa/nwis/uv/?site_no=01464750&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,00010 TrailsA large portion of the park is interconnected by trails. These trails allow easy access to park resources and facilities. Hiking: 4 miles of gravel hiking trails The trails give excellent views of the park and surrounding countryside. You can take a short walk or a long hike covering many miles. Several parking lots near the outer perimeter of the park allow access to remote areas and trails. Biking: 10.5 miles of paved biking trails The bicycle trails are named at each intersection. Most of the bicycle trails are over eight feet wide, paved and designed for easy two-way travel. The asphalt trails are multiple-use trails. Be a courteous and safe bicycle rider. Picnic tables are along the bicycle trails for rest stops. Please stay alert for horseback riders when hiking on the equestrian trails. Horseback Riding: 9 miles of bridle trails Parking for horse trailers is near Number One Lane Trail in the large parking lot across from the craft center. Limited additional parking is available in the lot on PA 332 across from Spring Garden Mill, and at the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge parking lot off of Swamp Road. Disc Golfing: A 27-hole course begins by the Upper Plantation Picnic Area. Much like regular golf, but using a “Frizbee” or golf disc, the object is to complete each hole in as few strokes as possible. Course maps with rules and scorecards are available at the park office and at the Upper Plantation Picnic Area parking lot. For more information contact the Bucks County Disc Golf Alliance. www.bcdga.com Winter ActivitiesExplore the Winter Report for the current snow and ice depths. Cross-country Skiing: The equestrian trails, hiking trails and bicycle trails are unplowed and great for skiing. Sledding: Slopes below the Upper Plantation Picnic Area parking lot and the slopes west of the covered bridge are great for sledding and tobogganing when conditions permit. Ice Fishing: Neshaminy Creek sometimes freezes and ice fishing is permitted on the creek outside of the ice skating area. Ice thickness is not monitored. For your safety, be sure the ice is at least four inches thick and carry safety equipment. Ice Skating: Neshaminy Creek sometimes freezes and ice-skating is permitted near the boathouse warming area. Ice thickness is not monitored. TheaterThe Spring Garden Mill, once a grain and feed mill, is leased to the Langhorne Players, Inc. The players have converted the mill into a small theater for recreational and cultural events. www.langhorneplayers.org Tyler Park Center for the ArtsThe Tyler Park Center for the Arts occupies a building that was once an equestrian and hay barn. The Arts Center converted the barn and surrounding buildings into artist dwellings, workshops and studios. They offer classes and workshops. www.tylerparkarts.org Environmental Education and InterpretationThe park offers environmental education and interpretive programs which explore a wide variety of ecological, historical and environmental topics. School group programming and teacher workshops can be arranged. Scout, church, civic and private groups can also arrange for special programs. Advanced scheduling for group programming is required. Programs are available from September through May. For more information, contact the park office. Explore the Calendar of Events for a listing of events from today forward. Explore environmental education and interpretation for more information. Access for People with Disabilities
In an EmergencyContact a park employee or dial 911. Nearest Hospital Wildlife WatchingThree main habitats dominate Tyler State Park, forests, fields and wetlands. The mixed hardwood forests are composed of oaks, maples and walnuts and are great habitat for forest birds like warblers, tanagers, thrushes and vireos. Besides the many mowed fields and agricultural fields, the park recently planted fields with native, warm-season grasses. These grasses provide habitat for many animals and hopefully will encourage the return of field birds like bobolink, grasshopper sparrow and meadowlark. The richest and most diverse habitats of the park are the wetlands. Neshaminy Creek and the land it borders are riparian zones. The creek is home to fish and turtles. The stream north of the Spring Garden Mill Dam is a popular spot for turtles and wood ducks. The land bordering Neshaminy Creek are wetlands, which have unique plants that can survive in the perpetually moist soil. Agricultural LeasesFarming has been a tradition here for more than 300 years. About one quarter of the park is still under cultivation using modern conservation practices. With the changing of the seasons, field crops like winter wheat, grains, corn, soybeans and hay provide a breathtaking pastoral landscape. Several fields were planted with native grasses in 1999. These fields will provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. History and Park DevelopmentBefore becoming a state park, the land was owned by Mr. and Mrs. George F. Tyler who purchased the land between 1919 and 1928. Their first purchase was the Solly Farm, currently leased to Hostelling International at the north end of the park. The Solly House served as the Tyler’s country home until the mansion was constructed. The mansion is now a part of the Bucks County Community College. The Tylers developed one of the finest Ayrshire dairy herds in the county. In addition, they raised poultry, sheep and pigs, and had a stable of about 25 fine riding horses. The productive croplands were mainly used to supply feed for the livestock. Old original stone dwellings in the park stand as fine examples of early farm dwellings of rural Pennsylvania. Some structures date back to the early 1700s. Ten original farm dwellings are currently being leased as private residences. The park land was acquired by Project 70 funding and has been developed using funds from Project 500, the Pennsylvania “Land and Water Conservation and Reclamation Act.” This act has provided for the planning and development of many public outdoor recreation lands including Tyler State Park. The park officially opened on May 25, 1974. Schofield Ford Covered BridgeBuilt in 1874, the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in Bucks County. In 1991, this county landmark burned. Using authentic materials and methods, a group of concerned citizens from various parts of the county undertook a united effort to rebuild this historic 166-foot, two-span bridge. After five and a half years of planning and fund-raising, the Schofield Ford Bridge Committee organized a partnership of over 200 volunteers, many DCNR employees, skilled construction workers, equipment operators, and Woodhouse Inc. (timber framers) to rebuild the bridge in the summer of 1997. On September 6, 1997, the bridge was dedicated to the volunteers and contributors who made the reconstruction possible. Thanks to their generous efforts, the Schofield Ford Covered Bridge rests on its original stone abutments and center pier, three quarters of a mile from Swamp Road. Keep in TouchAdd yourself to the DCNR's online community to receive info on this park, or parks in general. Volunteering
Becoming a Conservation Volunteer is easy.
Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Make a DonationTo a park - find this park's address below To a park or the Bureau of State Parks - Pennsylvania Parks and Forestry Foundation www.paparksandforests.org Through a purchase at a park gift shop Thank you for your support! Education ProgramsWe love when young people ask us how to get involved!
In Watershed Education, teachers and students assess water quality of a local stream on a quarterly basis and develop strategies to solve local water quality problems. ECO Camp - Exploring Careers Outdoors - is a week-long residential camp for a cross-section of high school youth from across Pennsylvania, sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Participate in action-packed, hands on activities and recreational adventures in Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests that expose youth to conservation, recreation and careers in natural resources. Learn how people make a living working in the outdoors. Explore education for more information on these and other programs. Explore the Calendar of Events to find a program near you. iConservePA
Come Work with UsPennsylvania State Parks and the Department of Conservation and Natrual Resources offer a wide range of civil service and non-civil service jobs, from foresters, to rangers, to engineers, to educators, to botanists and so much more. Learn what is currently available. Tell us What You ThinkContact this park with compliments, concerns and issues about the park. Tyler State Park Nearby AttractionsInformation on nearby attractions is available from the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau. www.buckscountycvb.org Maps and Downloadables
You must have the free Adobe Reader to view the maps and brochures that are in pdf format (.pdf). Alternate versions of the text of the brochures are in rich text and text formats. Click on the files to view them. To download (.rtf) files: Recreational GuideTyler State Park Map (.pdf) (167 kb, 3/11) Interactive GIS MapThe Interactive GIS Map uses Geographic Information Systems to create a map that does not need to be downloaded and features driving directions, searchable park amenities and customizable maps. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road.
 You can reach the park from I-95 at the Newtown/Yardley Exit 49, then drive west on the four-lane bypass around Newtown. The park entrance is on the left at the intersection of Swamp Road and the four-lane bypass. For GPS units: Driving Directions: The Interactive GIS Map has turn-by-turn driving directions to the park office from the Park Information Window. Please note that the background maps are maintained by a variety of public sources and driving directions usually go to the nearest large road. Tyler State Park
|
Like to spend time in the outdoors, meet friendly people and help make Pennsylvania State Parks great? Volunteering at a park might be for you.
Believing that each generation is responsible for leaving behind a better legacy of good conservation, the Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) was created in 1999 to give supporters and users of Pennsylvania's parks and forests a positive way to contribute to the conservation of our publicly-owned properties. The Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation welcomes the support of individuals and businesses who share a commitment to conserving, protecting, and enhancing the natural, scenic, and recreational areas of this commonwealth. 
Do you take conservation personally? iConservePA is a Web site managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources whose vision is to inspire citizens to value their natural resources, engage in conservation practices and experience the outdoors. 
Below are many of the maps and publications for this park. You can read them or download them and might need special software (all free) to view the publications.