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Latodami Pond Restoration
The farm pond has been enlarged to almost its original
size and depth with a new spillway and overflow outlet. The severe erosion
below the spillway was repaired utilizing large rip-rap with a gradual
graded stream bed. The large cleared area below the pond will be
redeveloped for our expanded Butterfly Meadow Project. The pond project
allows us to renew educational projects and activities that we were unable
to do for almost ten years due to the condition of the pond. We also hope
to rebuild the trail around the pond and make it handicapped accessible.
Trail building was not part of the contractor’s project, so we will be
looking for community and corporate support to help with this portion of
the project.
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The upper fields of Latodami.
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The Friends are currently researching Latodami’s past
in order to compile a comprehensive historical file documenting its origin
and its place in Allegheny County’s history.
We invite you to submit historical data, pictures, drawings and maps
relevant to Latodami’s history. We also welcome you to
share your personal stories about Latodami with us. Please email contact@latodami.org
.
Welcome
The Latodami Environmental Education Center located in North Park, in western Pennsylvania is a natural resource with a diversity
of habitats. It has been identified in the 2001 Allegheny County
Comprehensive Master Plan as an important Biological Zone and in 2004 the
Latodami Environmental Education Center was selected by the Mammal Technical
Committee of the PA Biological Survey as an Important Mammal Area (IMA).
Latodami consists
of a barn, a pond, stream and wetland habitats, and 300 acres of forest and fields.
Thirteen trails meander throughout the various
habitats and invite exploration of this unique area.
The 1914 bank barn
(with its authentic tile silo), stands as a monument to the area’s
agricultural past and serves as Latodami’s interpretive center. Meg Scanlon,
the park naturalist, maintains an office in a small cottage that was once the
home of the farm boss. A few outbuildings and an old country mansion are also
a part of the complex.
Latodami is a
sanctuary to more than 200 species of birds that
either nest here or use it as a stop over during migration. Some species that
breed here include tree swallows, warblers, wild turkeys and bluebirds.
Red-tailed hawks are often seen soaring on the air currents. Take the North
Trail to Skyline Trail to take advantage of the bird blind located in the
upper fields. Or follow the Observation Trail to the observation deck. Some
wildlife species that have been sighted include white tailed deer, fox, and
muskrat.
The Friends of Latodami Environmental Education Center want to preserve this important
biological area for this generation and the next. We hope you will visit Latodami and experience the wildlife and native plants of the area first hand, learn about habitat and conservation, and hike the
many trails. If you are interested in further information, or wish to be
placed on our email list, please email contact@latodami.org
.
Friends of
Latodami Environmental Education Center is an independent group that supports Latodami’s
mission. It is not officially affiliated with Allegheny County
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