The department seeks to preserve and manage significant tracts of land and water for passive and active recreation, for conservation of unique scenic, historical, and geological areas, and for flora and fauna native to Lancaster County and south-central Pennsylvania. The County manages six regional parks and two recreational trails, totaling 2,003 acres. Regional parks range in level of development, and include Central Park, an area in urban Lancaster City with extensive recreational facilities to Parker Natural Area, a pristine woodland along Stewart Run in the rural, southeastern part of the County with limited hiking trails. Currently there are eight parks in the County Parks Department, totaling 2,003 acres. The features and natural resources in the County parks today are many and varied.
All parks have trails and parking lots.
Central, Buchmiller and Chickies have pavilions, picnic areas and ball fields. Central and Buchmiller have tennis courts. Central has an Environmental Center and library, The Garden of Five Senses and the County pool. There are two overlooks at Chickies looking over the Susquehanna River and one at Money Rocks that views the Twin Valleys of eastern Lancaster County. Although all our County parks have natural areas, Central, Buchmiller and Chickies Parks and the rail trails are partly developed for public recreation.