Jennings Prairie, Butler County
submitted by Richard Nugent

Jennings Prairie (officially called the Jennings Environmental Education Center) is actually a 300-acre State Park containing a 20-acre prairie. The prairie is managed for the benefit of the Blazing Star and other prairie wildflowers plus the endangered Massasauga Rattlesnake. It also a good place to see and hear many birds. Among the breeding birds are Barred Owl, Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo and many of the expected woodland birds. The trails are well maintained and easy to walk with some being wheelchair accessible.

Directions: (borrowed from the Botanical Society of Western Pennsylvania): From Pittsburgh, take I-79 North to Exit 99. Drive east on US 422 about 5.8 miles to the Prospect exit and turn left (north) onto PA 528. Drive north on PA 528 for about 7 miles. Turn left into the short road to the Jennings Prairie parking lot (if you get to Route 8, you have gone too far). There is more parking on the right side of PA 528 at the Education Center.