Thornburg Conservation Park

Located just beyond 25 Rutgers Road and Thornburg Public Works Building, this is one of the quiet places where you would like to head to should you need to get away from all the stress of work and the demands of city life with your loyal four-legged best friend by your side. The land that used to be a part of the historic Crafton Golf Course was acquired in 2005 through the efforts of Thornburg citizens.

Thornburg Conservation Park is one of the places locals and visitors frequent and one of the few places a lot of people look forward to returning to many times in the future. The sixty-two-acre park is a designated conservation area which allows passive recreation including bird watching, hiking, and even cross-country skiing. There are even birdwatching hikes on Wednesday nights. 

Man’s best friend is allowed in the park off his leash if he has a permit that costs $25 annually for residents and $50 annually for non-residents however, the management prohibits dogs on Wednesdays and Sundays. Dogs have to be on a leash if they are within 50 feet of any of the park’s entrances. Currently, there are only 100 permits yearly, and this has caused a few people to complain. 

Charles Creek runs along one side of the park; however, it is not very scenic except for a few wildflowers. One end of the park has a trail that leads to Carnegie between the railroad tracks and the creek. Residents may reserve the use of the community center, park, and the picnic shelter by applying. 

Only a maximum of two dogs per handler is allowed in the park premises and dogs must always have their Rabies, Borough permits and County licenses visible at all times. Secluded and quiet, the Thornburg Conservation Park would be perfect except for a few restrictions and the limited number of permits.