Recreate

Tamaqua offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational areas and opportunities as well as nearby destinations.

Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission
138 W Broad St, Tamaqua
570-668-2919

The ESRC is a partnership between Tamaqua and Middleport Boroughs, Schuylkill, Walker, Rush, and West Penn Townships, and the Tamaqua YMCA and the Tamaqua School District to increase recreational opportunities for all residents across the region. ESRC places a special emphasis on park and trail rehabilitation.

The Bungalow Park: Community Pool, Baseball Field, and Playground 
Catawissa Street, Tamauqa
570-668-6851
The Howard D. Buehler Memorial Pool at Tamaqua Bungalow Park has been attracting visitors since 1900 and development on the site dates back to the late 1800s. Situated at the extreme north end of Catawissa Street, Bungalow Park includes a 562,000-gallon community pool that can serve up to 500 patrons and boasts six 50-meter racing lanes, three diving boards, two slides, a concession stand, and a kiddie pool area with fountains and sloped entry.

Outdoors, the park is a forested area with nearby mountain spring and laurels, large pavillion, and playground. A baseball field is located at the end of the Bungalow Park road. The park is named for its benefactor,

In 1968, local cafe owner Howard Buehler passed away at age 65, and surprised the town by bequeathing the bulk of his estate to pool improvements to benefit the children of the community. Today, several pool improvements as well as discount season passes for Tamaqua residents are made possible through the generosity of the John E. Morgan Foundation.

Lehigh and New England Trail
This 2.7-mile-long trail of packed stone follows a section of the former Lehigh and New England Railroad corridor and runs parallel to Route 309 just south of Tamaqua and extending to Dairy Road. Signage that marks the trail is posted at the trailhead off Dairy Road. About halfway though the trail is the remains of the Shellhamer Ice Dam, a former recreation and entertainment complex, and signagae here details its history. Use caution at the crossing at Owl Creek Road, which has a short but steep grade.The trail is primarily tree covered, relatively flat, and an easy walk, bike, or joke. Read a short blog and see photos of the trail now.

Owl Creek Recreation Area
Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua
570-516-4482
DOWNLOAD THE OWL CREEK BROCHURE

Supported by the Owl Creek Reservoir Commission, this outdoor recreational area centers around two dams, one of which dates back to the 1880s, and both of which are located 1.9 miles from the center of the borough. The dams were renovated and reopeend in 2013 and today include a playground and basketball court near upper dam parking area, a wide gravel road that circles the lower dam, and a series of hiking trails. Both dams are open to small boats, kayaks, and canoes and each offers small boat launch accessible by vehicle. Fishing is catch and release and monitored by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Small group camping is available with Borough Council permission and facilities include a fire pit and pavilion.

South Ward Playground
Penn Street at Oak Street, Tamaqua
570-668-2813

Supported by the South Ward Playground Association, this recreation area includes community center, playground equipment, basketball courts, park lighting, and security cameras. Equipment includes zip line, lily-pads walk, slides, monkey bars, swings, and rock climbing, among other equipment, as well as many special programs.

East End Playground
600 Mountain Avenue, Tamaqua
570-952-9285
Supported by the East End Playground Association, the park backs up to a wooded area so enjoys trees and shade and includes concession stand, bandstand/stage area, basketball court, and a variety of playground equipment.

North and Middle Ward Playground
13-499 Washington St, Tamaqua
570-573-8264
Supported by the North and Middle Ward Playground Association, the park includes concession stand, basketball, court and variety of playground equipment and sitting areas.

Dutch Hill Little League Field and Playground
Overlooking the baseball fields at Columbia and Biddle streets, the playground is located on property owned by the Tamaqua Area Baseball Association (TABA) and features a large and small play structure and six-seat swing set.

Willing Memorial Skate Park
Located on Spruce Street and behind Boyer's Food Market, Willing Park includes playground equipment and skateboard park as well as a handicapped-accessible pathway along the Little Schuylkill River.

Kellner’s Dam
Pitt Street, Tamaqua
Operated by the Kellner's Dam Association, this outdoor fishing area provides a safe and free location within the borough for children ages 4 to 15 to fish.

Stonehedge Gardens  
51 Dairy Road, Tamaqua
570-386-4276
Stonehedge Gardens offers seven acres of cultivated gardens that are open to the public, year-round and include perennial gardens, hosta & shade gardens, culinary herb garden, butterfly and water garden, and koi pond. The gardens are surrounded by nearly 20 additional acres of woodlands & nature trails and are ideal for walking, nature photography, or wildlife watching.

Schuylkill County Birding Trail
Created by the Schuylkill Conservation District, locations on the Schuylkill County Birding Trail include Owl Creek Reservoir, Tuscarora and Locust Lake State Parks, and other locations in the County.