Recreation

Callahan Park

The City of Bradford has a park system that provides a variety of recreational amenities to residents of all ages. The featured park in the City is Callahan Park. Callahan Park is a 27 acre all season multi-functional park. Callahan Park is located in a natural setting to the northwest of downtown Bradford. A small stream intersects the park. Two pedestrian bridges are used to access either side of the park. Over 30,000 people visit Callahan Park on a annual basis.

Callahan Park has a full Olympic-sized pool and a small side pool with a slide. Additionally, the park has a small wading pool for toddlers. Adjacent to the swimming pool is an ice rink. The ice rink is open for ice skating and hockey during the winter months and picnics/ gatherings during the summer months. The park also has a 50' x 100' picnic pavilion near the playground and a picnic shelter. The Park has four regulation-sized tennis courts, three basketball courts, three baseball fields and a playground. A concrete paved sidewalk loop follows the outer perimeter of the Park.

Hanley Park

Hanley Park is located near downtown Bradford between Davis Street and Kennedy Street. Hanley Park has a large interactive playground constructed by the community in the early 1990's. In October 2000, a combination skateboarding/rollerblading area was constructed within the park. The park also has a basketball court.

Veteran's Square

Veteran's Square is a small park located on Main Street in historic downtown Bradford. In the late 1980's the park was refurbished. The old concrete bandstand was replaced with a cedar gazebo that resembled the original gazebo seen in the park in the late 1800's or early 1900's. Additionally, new sidewalks made from concrete and interlocking brick (for walking paths) were installed. New cedar benches and refuse containers were placed in the park. Several trees were removed to add much needed light to the park. A number of planting areas were constructed with appropriate plantings and shrubs planted. In May 2000, the World War II memorial was refurbished and re-dedicated due to the efforts of veteran Vince Goodrich. The park is an attractive addition to the downtown business district and is especially attractive to the senior citizens who reside in the Emery Towers.

Poplin Avenue Athletic Field

A new all-purpose athletic field was constructed in 2004 on Poplin Avenue near Callahan Park through a cooperative effort between the City of Bradford, the Bradford Area School District and Bradford Township. This field serves as a practice field for the Bradford Area High School football team and a playing field for area youth football and soccer organizations.

What's New!

Callahan Park Playground

A new thirty-seven station playground was constructed in Callahan Park in 2005. This new handicap accessible playground is located near the wading pool in the Park.

Tuna Valley Trail System

The master plan of the entire Tuna Valley Trail System called "The Tuna Valley Trail and Greenway Study" has been completed and has been hailed by the state's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) as a document to be used as an example for other communities planning trail systems.

As of March 2007, The Tuna Valley Trail Association (TVTA) has secured over $2,600,000 in grants and received $37,975 in memberships and $350,000 in individual and corporation donations for the development of a trail system in the Bradford Area. The following provides a brief summary of the trails constructed to date. For more information and trail maps, please see the Tuna Valley Trail Association website at tunavalleytrail.com.

Crook Farm Trail

The Crook Farm Trail was completed in the fall of October 2003 with the exception of new trailheads and trail signage. This new 1.4 mile trail features the historic Crook Farm and scenic Tunungwant Creek (see photos). It is easily accessible for pedestrian and bicycle use. The TVTA received a $10,000 grant through Senator Scarnati to construct a new trailhead including a small parking area, a kiosk and signage at the historic Crook Farm. The TVTA has applied for a $175,000 DCNR grant to construct the balance of the "loop" trail on the west side of the Tunungwant stream once the new bridge is constructed over the Tunungwant Creek by PennDot.

Pitt (Richard E. McDowell Community) Trail

This trail is approximately 1.4 miles in length and follows the West Branch of the Tunungwant Creek from Onofrio Street to Clarks Lane with the beautiful University of Pittsburgh at Bradford campus featured along the trail. The trail is constructed of a 10' wide asphalt paved surface and features three wooden bridges and five wooden walkways constructed on the trail. This pedestrian/bike trail is extremely popular with the Bradford community because of its location and relative ease of use for all ages.

The TVTA is planning the construction of a new trailhead off of Campus Drive near the Onofrio Street end of the trail in 2007. The new trailhead will have twelve parking spaces, an access path to the trail, a shelter with picnic tables, a kiosk, trash can and bike rack along with a number of attractive plantings located in strategic areas in the trailhead area. This construction of the new trailhead is expected to cost $40,000.

Marilla Bridges Trail

This one-mile scenic pedestrian/bike trail surrounding the pristine Marilla Reservoir was completed in the fall of 2005. The trail features three wooden bridges including a covered bridge and a trestle bridge. The trail is 6' wide and constructed of a tightly compacted crushed gravel surface. A new gazebo is located on the southeast side of the reservoir at the entrance of the Marilla Springs Trail. A trailhead area with parking is planned for construction near the West Washington Street entrance to the trail.

Marilla Springs Trail

This latest trail to be constructed is a 3.5 mile hiking trail from the Marilla Bridges Trail to the Allegheny National Forest near Stickney Road. This trail features remnants of a timber camp and railroad along with old growth timber including several varieties of virgin trees.

Indian Pipe Trail

This 7.4 mile hiking trail connects the Allegany State Park to the Allegheny National Forest via the Marilla Bridges and Marilla Springs Trail.

South Trail (City of Bradford to Lewis Run)

A sixth trail planned for construction is a five mile trail extending from historic downtown Bradford to the Borough of Lewis Run on a former rail bed. Featured along this trail are the Zippo/Case Museum and Visitor's Center and the Penn-Brad Oil Museum. A new trailhead is planned for construction near the Penn-Brad Oil Museum. Engineering design will begin in the spring of 2007 with possible construction to start in the fall of 2007.

Community Parks Trail

The TVTA has received approval for a $1.267 million Transportation Enhancement Program (TEA-21) grant to construct a new community loop trail that will connect the Kessel Athletic Field, Callahan Park and Hanley Park in the City of Bradford. This three-mile trail will extend in two directions from the end of the McDowell Trail near Onofrio Street. One trail will extend along the east side of the Kessel Athletic complex to Poplin Avenue and Callahan Park. The trail will follow city streets to Hanley Park. The second trail will continue east from near Onofrio Street along the Tunungwant Creek onto Barbour Street to Pine Street, cross the (planned) reconstructed Pine Street Bridge and follow City right-of-ways to Hanley Park. Engineering design of this trail is scheduled to begin in 2007 with construction in 2008 or 2009.