We’re so lucky to have Moraine State Park here in Butler County and we’re even luckier to have the dedicated members of the Moraine Preservation Fund, who ensure each summer season is packed full of activities that enable us to fully enjoy the park’s natural resources.

MPF operates pontoon boat tours and the Owlet Gift Shop, implemented the osprey reintroduction program, organizes events like Winterfest and helps raise money for capital projects, among other tasks.

The MPF’s first full-time employee, Emily Sizer, is the agency’s operations manager and her role is to help improve visitor experiences through further communication between the fund and the park staff.

“Lots of relationship-building with the park,” Sizer said. “We’re starting to form a relationship with Experience Butler County (the former Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau), so I’ve been working with them.”

Only good things can come from that relationship. Experience Butler County enjoyed a banner year in 2024 and expects to do the same in 2025.

Last year, the park had a record number of school visits and the hope is that adding an operations manager will keep up that pace. MPF and the park staff hope to see the completion of a classroom space at pavilion number 7, which will house activities and be a meeting space for class trips when visiting the park. That meeting space will enable educators to make use of the park in the winter months as well.

The fund and the park will also collaborate on a handicap-accessible hiking trail, which will tentatively be installed at the McDanel’s Launch area.

Everything the MPF does is aimed at improving access to and enjoyment of the park for all of us. Bringing Sizer into the mix ensures the experiences at Moraine will continue for years to come and will likely keep getting better.

— KL