Local Parks Offer Creative Inspiration

The Chartiers Valley area has a generous number of local parks. Each with their own personality and features. It's in this wealth of public space that shutterbugs can find artistic inspiration and personal expression.

They are used for the ball teams and young families who want to get their kids moving. No question they are a great asset to our lives. But, it seems, we forget how beautiful these areas are on every level. The hustle and bustle of every day life makes it easy to take the parks' availability for granted.

Armed with nothing more than an inexpensive digital camera and an open mind, the parks beckon to be seen and enjoyed. Thanks to our technological era, we can capture time and place digitally. This would have cost a small fortune in film 20 years ago but is now a very affordable hobby. Most newer cameras allow you to be able to see the shot immediately and zoom into great depths. Use these features to get a variety of images. Don't be afraid to experiment with light, angles and lenses.

Some of our local parks, and their inspirations...

Chartiers Park, Bridgeville: The largest of the Bridgeville Parks, it offers lots of sports fields, a walking trail, woods, views of Chartiers Creek, pavillions, an wild flowers. Tip: Zoom into the creek area to capture some unsuspecting critters.

Triangle Park, Bridgeville: Located in the center of Bridgeville, next to the Historical Society (the train station). This patch of green space offers great shots with a small town feel. Tip: Transport your picture into a long gone era by setting it on black and white.

McLaughlin Park, Bridgeville: Located on McLaughlin Run Road, just before Upper St. Clair, this park is one of the areas best to capture nature. It features a waterfall from runoff water, and McLaughlin Creek. Several types of water birds can be seen here as well as turkeys and wild deer sometimes. Careful when climbing down into the creek, it's slippery. Be careful of jagged stones (and such). Tip: If you're not leery of getting your feet wet, try shots from in the creek and along the bed.

Cook School Park, Bridgeville: Located on Ridge Road and Cook School Road, it's a great place to capture your kids at play. Several playground features can capture their happy faces. Tip: use an action/ sports mode on your camera here and a higher shutter speed to capture them on the go.

Scott Park, Scott Township: Most local residents know the many features of Scott Park. From it's Pool to Ball Fields it's been a favorite hang out for families. With so much greenery and open space, you're bound to see some curious critters. Tip: Make a collage of pictures, use the same subject but photograph at different distances.

Heidleberg Park, Heidleberg: This nearly kept secret is located in the heart of Heidleberg. It is located on Jackson Street and Industry Way. Tip: This is a great place to explore the video setting your camera may have. Spacious and a bit more private, it is tucked away from the flow of steady visitors. It's a great place to let your kids get very silly. Not to mention a place where you can get your inner clown going and really share a laugh with your loved ones.

, Collier Township: This local gem is such a nice attribute to our area. Only a portion of the 29 mile trail is in Collier. It begins at Walker Mill and provides a small parking area for vehicles. Tip: take advantage of the fall foliage while you can. Many cameras will allow you to play with the saturation of color. Though Mother Nature usually doesn't need a boost in vibrancy, saturation can be a fun way of making colors seem even more extreme.

Collier has several smaller community parks. They offer a more intimate family gathering. I encourage you to discover them individually. See the parks guide on the Collier township website.

Our area is rich in places families and friends can gather around to share moments. Or individuals can visit to find a moment of solitude. They are a great asset to our lives and yearn to be enjoyed. No matter the time of year, there's always something to do and see. Capture these precious moments forever with photos and videos.