The Kirby Park Natural Area

The Kirby Park Natural Area is an 80-acre site within the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It is bordered on the east by the Susquehanna River and on the west by a levee, built in 1937, that separates the Natural Area from the city's recreational park. The Natural Area was once owned by the Kirby family, then deeded to the city of Wilkes-Barre for recreational purposes in 1927. At that time it was used to house an arboretum, a greenhouse, and a zoo in the northern park, and for gravel mining in the southern part.

Since the late 1930's, the area has been allowed to secede into a natural riparian forest. It serves as a home to many species of plants and animals, including over two hundred species of birds and at least twelve mammal species. The Natural Area is frequently flooded by the Susquehanna River, contributing to its diversity. What makes this area so unique is that most cities have built factories along the banks of the Susquehanna, therefore the presence of Kirby Park deserves the community's appreciation.

The Kirby Park Natural Area is a useful tool for educational purposes. The park has trails that can be utilized by students for understanding local flora and fauna. Educators can take students into the park to help them learn about the natural world. The plants in Kirby Park are representative of many of the species found throughout the entire state of Pennsylvania. Students' understanding of botanical concepts can be expanded by using this area to learn about plant identification. This was the purpose of the creation of this web-site; to provide students with an alternative to classroom work as well as an alternative to using field guides and manuals.

Learn about the Susquehanna River

This information was provided by our mentor Dr. Ken Klemow and excerpts are taken from our 1997-99 Senior Research Grant Proposal.