Recreation & Community Life
New Brighton Recreation Commission
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The New Brighton Area Recreation Commission (NBARC), Beaver County’s first and only regional recreation commission was formed on December 1, 2002. The purpose for creating the commission was a regional effort to prevent the duplication of service and to maximize cost effectiveness by supporting and sponsoring recreational events and facilities on a regional level. The New Brighton Recreation Commission consists of the New Brighton Area School District, the Boroughs of New Brighton and Fallston and the Townships of Daugherty and Pulaski.
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The NBARC organizes numerous events annually, including several 5k run/walks, a triathlon, bus trips, and family movie nights. Visit their website below for more information.
New Brighton Area Recreation Commission
610 Third Avenue, New Brighton, PA 15066
Phone: (724) 846-1870
Grove Cemetery Walking Tour
Grove Cemetery, with assistance from Beaver County Tourism and Brighton UP, has launched a self-guided walking tour of the historic cemetery. The ten stop, ½ mile tour features the burial places of some of the groundbreaking abolitionists, athletes, artists, war heroes, and industrialists from the New Brighton area. Stop by the cemetery office to pick up a copy of the tour pamphlet and experience the beauty and history of the over 150 year old Grove Cemetery on download a digital version of the walking tour pamphlet.
Underground Railroad Walking Tour
Beaver County, and New Brighton in particular, played a major part in the Underground Railroad thanks, in part, to the Ohio River, which serviced as a natural pathway for slaves from the south on their way to freedom in Canada. Many of the New Brighton founding families were Quakers and ardent abolitionists. They offered their homes as sanctuaries to fugitive slaves and cared for them until it was safe for them to continue their journey north. New Brighton became a hub of the Underground Railroad movement, and is one of few towns in the country that has 6 designated historic safehouses, as well as a church affiliated with this movement, still in existence. A walking tour of sites in New Brighton has been developed by the New Brighton Historical Society to educate future generations on this pivotal piece of history in New Brighton. The tour has been used by local organizations and school field trips. The National Park Service's "Network to Freedom Trail" is planning to add this walking tour to their list of historical sites to visit. The self-guided walking tour pamphlet is available at the New Brighton Borough Municipal Building and online.
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The Sunrise Pool
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The Sunrise Pool, within a few minutes’ drive from most New Brighton homes, is one of the most popular spots during the hot summers. The Sunrise Pool is the County's only public swimming pool that is open year round. During the summer months the pool is an open air facility. In the off season the pool is housed in a climate controlled dome. The facilities are available for birthday parties and rentals for both individuals and organizations.
3200 43rd Street New Brighton, PA 15066
Phone: (724) 843-8443
Big Rock Park
Big Rock Park is located along the Beaver River on First Avenue. The entrance is located at the Eighth Street tunnel. The park is open from dawn to dusk weather permitting. The park shelter is available to rent for $30.00, with an additional $10.00 deposit that is refunded once the keys to the electric panel are returned. Advanced reservations are suggested. The park includes seven acres of shoreline bordering the Beaver River. Features include a half-mile walking trail, fishing areas, picnic areas, and benches to relax and enjoy the view.
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Big Rock Park is currently the only location in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with an active Bald Eagle nest visible from public property. The park is quickly becoming a destination for nature watching. In addition to the Bald Eagles, a nearby osprey best is also visible.
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To reserve the shelter contact the Borough Office at (724) 846-1870.
Townsend Park
Dedicated in 1937, Townsend Park is located directly across from the Borough Building on Third Avenue. This park is a memorial park honoring those who served in the World War. Service is held in the park on Memorial Day following the annual New Brighton Memorial Day Parade.
Oak Hill Playground
The Oak Hill Playground, located in Fifth Ward, is situated off of Short Street. In addition to playground equipment, this area is equipped with several soccer fields and a softball field. The park is open from dawn to dusk.
Hunky Alley Playground
This Third Ward playground located off of Second Street, also has a full length basketball court that was also reconditioned in 2001 and a baseball / softball diamond. The park is open dawn to dusk.
New Brighton Fishing Park
Constructed in 2006, the New Brighton Fishing Park is located on the Beaver River below the Townsend Dam with access through the tunnel at Eighth Street or Eleventh Street off of Second Avenue.
The park was designed for fishing and is located at one of the premier fishing destinations in Western Pennsylvania. Fish species include Walleye, Muskellunge, Striper Bass, Small Mouth Bass, Crappie, Sauger, Northern Pike, Perch and White Bass. Facilities include wheelchair access to a fishing wharf, ample parking, canoe launch and 600 feet of shoreline area. Wildlife includes many birds including American Bald Eagles during the winter, and one of the most scenic river views in Western PA.
New Brighton Public Library
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Founded in 1971, The Beaver County Library System consists of 11 public libraries, including the New Brighton Public Library located in the neighboring Borough of New Brighton. The Beaver County Library System provides it’s users with a Bookmobile offering books, audio/visual media, programs, activities and services to county residents and visitors. Supported by county, state and local funding, our libraries each operate under individual budgets but share many common programs and resources. The Beaver County Library System offers activities, discussion groups and reading programs for people of all ages.
1021 Third Avenue
New Brighton, PA 15066
(724) 846-8991
Merrick Art Gallery
Located in New Brighton, and the only art gallery in Beaver County, the Merrick Art Gallery was founded by New Brighton industrialist Edward Dempster Merrick more than 100 years ago. The gallery is home to an impressive collection of paintings, notably by artists from the Hudson River School including Asher B. Durand, John Frederick Kensett, John William Casilear and William Trost Richards. There also are paintings by Europeans Gustave Courbet and Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, and American artists Thomas Sully and Charles Courtney Curran.
The gallery features an outdoor garden, the Victorian Lawn, and two indoor spaces, the Orientation Room and the Edwardian Room, available for weddings and other social gatherings.
1100 Fifth Avenue
New Brighton, PA 15066
Phone: (724) 846-1130
Brady’s Run Park
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Brady’s Run Park is a wonderfully diverse, 2,000-acre park features a 28-acre lake for boating, fishing and swimming. Operated by the County of Beaver, it is a setting for many annual outings, festivals, picnics, weddings and a host of other fun activities for year-round family fun. The facilities including an indoor ice-skating rink, indoor tennis courts, outdoor in-line roller hockey rink, walking/running (indoors & outdoors), large and small dog parks, horseshoe courts, a horse arena and trails, 14-miles of mountain biking trails, and a skateboard park.
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526 Bradys Run Road
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Phone: (724) 770-2060
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Brush Creek Park
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Brush Creek Park, a former strip mine reclaimed as a park, is located in the northeast corner of Beaver County and is just minutes from the homes of most New Brighton residents. Brush Creek County Park is a nature lovers dream and offers picnic areas, a picturesque covered bridge, tennis courts, horse trails, softball fields, 3½ miles of walking and jogging trails, a tiny tot playground, soccer fields, and a play meadow.
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Brush Creek Park
Route #588, North Sewickley Township
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Phone: (724) 770-2060
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Raccoon Creek State Park
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New Brighton residents are just a short drive away from Raccoon Creek State Park. Raccoon Creek State Park has continued to develop from the park’s beginning as a Recreational Demonstration Area operated by the National Park Service in the 1930s, to one of the largest and most beautiful state parks in Pennsylvania. Facilities at the park are a mix from the early Civilian Conservation Corps camp to modern facilities. In addition to recreational areas, there are large tracts of undeveloped land. The 7,572-acre park features the beautiful 101-acre Raccoon Lake. Other available recreational activities at the park include picnicking, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-county skiing, ice fishing, ice skating, snowmobiling, and nature programs.
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3000 State Route 18
Hookstown, PA 15050-1605
Phone: (724) 899-2200
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