Aylesworth Park — Attraction in Archbald

I had heard of Aylesworth Park in Jermyn pa by word of mouth from numerous people that live in the area. We were nearby so decided to check it out. A quick search on Google brought up the GMB or Maps listing. Use your GPS as the park can be a little tricky to find the first time. The park has a 4 acre lake that is stocked twice a year with trout. Many people were fishing but not overcrowded. A short hike of about ¼ mile from the parking lot brought us to the top of the dam. Nice views from here. The lake has a small beach. It was October so the beach was closed. We continued our hike out across the dam, crossed the paved road and came upon the spillway constructed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Aylesworth Park also features soccer fields, pavilions for large groups of people, hiking trails, and a playground with modern equipment. Aylesworth Park is a good place to enjoy the great outdoors. Please remember to practice “Leave no trace”. As with most parks I have visited in Pennsylvania, I always find myself picking up litter left by people not yet aware that they should clean up...

I don't mind this place, especially the playground, though it would be nice if there were some trees closer to the play area for shade. Trees are just a little out of reach for comfort. It can be difficult to keep an eye on a little one for an hour when you've got a clear sky and 90 degree heat beating down on you.

I'm told the trails are pretty good, but I've not been on them before. They have a covered area with tables and restrooms for group gatherings. The small lake here is the main attraction.

The real problem is that sometimes the geese poop all the way from the parking lot to the lake. Not a little - A LOT. It's completely gross. When this happens, there is no safe place to even lay down a towel anywhere near the beach. Seriously . . . NO PLACE. The staff don't clean the goose poop up, and from time to time they have to close the beach due to high levels of bacteria in the water from the goose poop. Definitely wear water shoes in this lake, even if the beach is open.

Fishing is allowed, but due to the issues with the geese, I'm not inclined...

We did not use all of the facilities such as the pavillion or playground, however the beach and the lake have fallen into disrepair. The beach was a mud pit that looked like some quads had run through it and had a blast tearing it apart. The lake had a floating island of dead leaves, mud, and debris that seems to have polluted the lake itself. There is a noxious smell coming from the water, and the area that seems clear of debris only seems that way until u wade about knee deep into the water and you begin to feel it in the water and under your feet. My children and I immediately went home to shower off whatever may have been on us. Until it has been cleaned up we...