On February 13 a lecture entitled “The City Beautiful Movement in Harrisburg” will be given by Norman Lacasse, a retired DCNR forester and a volunteer for the Capital Area Greenbelt Association at the Wildwood Lake Sanctuary in Harrisburg.

The lecture takes place at 7 p.m. at the Olewine Nature Center. It is free and open to the public.

In the late 1800’s, cities, in general, were not nice places to live, and Harrisburg was no exception. Sewage was flushed down streams and rivers, streets were not paved, industries and homes spewed smoke, and there were very few parks.

The City Beautiful Movement inspired Mira Lloyd Dock and J. Horace McFarland to remake Harrisburg into a place of beauty. A water treatment plant and sewer lines were built, and parks were created and linked together by a parkway like emeralds on a necklace.

Lectures are sponsored by The Friends of Wildwood Lake Sanctuary, a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization committed to the enhancement and support of Wildwood Lake Sanctuary and the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center located at 100 Wildwood Way (off Industrial Road, next to Harrisburg Area Community College), Harrisburg, PA.

The park offers free hiking/walking trails, excellent birding opportunities, and picnic facilities. The Friends are proud sponsors of educational programs for adults and children and are free of charge. The park is open daily from dawn to dusk.

The Nature Center is one of the leading interpretive centers in this area and an excellent resource center for groups, educators, nature enthusiasts, and home-schooled children. Hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Wildwood Lake Sanctuary celebrates its Centennial Anniversary in 2007; 100 years after the first trails were opened in Wildwood Park. Throughout the year, special events are planned to celebrate this benchmark, starting with the Wildwood Winter Lecture Series.

For more information on the sanctuary, nature center, programs, how to become a Friend’s Member, and volunteer opportunities visit the Wildwood Lake Sanctuary website or call 717-221-0292.

1/19/2007