IN Murrysville Spring 2014 | Page 31

Local parks offer something for everyone and this April, visitors to Murrysville’s 160-acre Townsend Park will be fishing from the brand-new docks of the Remaley Pond. PHOTO BY VANESSA SAXTON BY JENNIFER BROZAK T here’s little doubt that the combination of physical movement and nature are a healthy pastime for any age group. Walking is noted as one of the most beneficial exercises and fishing can be a calming, meditative experience. When combined with the observation of nature, fresh air and the added benefit of vitamin D3 from sunshine, there’s no reason not to get outside. Townsend Park, which is located about a half-mile from the intersection of Sardis Road and Twin Oaks Drive, features several miles of hiking trails, which vary from the flat Ron Stoll Trail to a moderate incline. From the summit of this hill, a hiker can spot the cooling towers of the Homer City Power Plant in Indiana County, which is 27 miles away, as well as Pittsburgh’s U.S. Steel Tower, which is more than 17 miles away in the opposite direction. Townsend Park also offers amenities such as a picnic area with two pavilions equipped with electricity, a gazebo that is often used as a