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Take your pick. Ellanor C. Lawrence Park has places for ball games, isolation in nature, history exploration, and everything in between. In the park are forests, streams, a meadow with a viewing platform, a butterfly garden, a pond, wildflowers, a natural area, an amphitheater, and hiking trails that wind around and through those park features. We recommend the half-mile walk from the pond to the Walney Visitor Center, where there are facilities and exhibits. Trails also course past historic cultural resources that remain from the parkland's days as a farm. Buildings include an 18th century mill, a miller's house and outbuildings. You might get a smile out of the fake meat hanging in the smokehouse. If you visit during cold weather months, look for the black rat snakes hibernating in the ice house. Artifacts dating back to prehistoric years have been found at ECLP. The park has a notable population of wildlife, including deer, fox, turkey, and substantial numbers of birds. Coyote have been photographed at night by camera traps in the park. You can spend time bird watching or fishing. The water lilies on Walney Pond are lovely when they bloom. There are picnic tables and a rentable picnic shelter. The park is divided by Route 28, and on the west side of that road you'll find a playground and fields for soccer, baseball and softball.
The park offers a broad range of programs on nature and history topics. There are nature camps, school field trips, and scout programs. Public programs include wagon rides, van tours, and campfires. The site can host birthday parties, and the historic mill can be rented for private events. Summer also brings Arts in the Parks programs. And once you fall in love with the park, consider spending a little time there as a volunteer.
The Middlegate Complex and Cabell’s Mill are near the meadow along Big Rocky Run and Walney Road. It is believed that the mill was built as early as 1769 but no later than the early 1800s. There are records indicating that there was another mill near Cabell’s Mill. That mill was built by Willoughby Newton around 1746. Middlegate served as the miller’s house and was probably built in the early 1800s. At various times, the mill was used as a grist, sumac and saw mill.
In 1944, Ellanor C. Lawrence purchased the Middlegate-Cabell’s Mill property. She and husband David, the founder and publisher of U.S. News & World Report, used it as a country retreat from the social and political influences of Washington, D.C. Middlegate served as the Lawrence’s residence when they visited the property. The mill was used to entertain guests and friends during various functions.
The Park Authority renovated Cabell’s Mill and Middlegate in 1979-80. The mill became a rental facility of the agency's Historic Properties Rental Services. Middlegate is used for park administration and maintenance offices and includes a caretaker’s apartment and a maintenance shop. Middlegate is closed to the public.
Ellanor C. Lawrence Park offers a variety of volunteer opportunities. Volunteers help lead public programs, staff the visitor center's information desk, and lead school programs, campfires, birthday parties, camps and workshops. Scouts and corporations also conduct volunteer projects in the park.