The Westmoreland County Bureau of Parks and Recreation is offering a limited number of firewood collecting permits for Twin Lakes Park in Hempfield and Unity Townships. Twenty (20) applications are available on a first come, first serve basis for a fee of $15. Permits are valid from March 5, 2016 to April 3, 2016.

Most of the trees being cut are White Ash, which have died due to an infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer, which has occurred in western PA over the past few years. Permittees may only cut wood from authorized areas around Pavilions 3 and 4 near the Upper Lake. A majority of the firewood will be accessible from the paved road surface; the Parks Department staff will be placing the trees near the road surfaces to limit the need for vehicles on the grass park areas. If other areas in the park become available for collection, they will be marked with signs at that time.

Applications are available on the Westmoreland County Parks website at http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/DocumentCenter/View/6493 or at the Westmoreland County Parks Office, 194 Donohoe Road, Greensburg, from 8:30am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. Applications must be completed and mailed or hand-delivered to the Westmoreland County Parks office.

For questions or more information, please call (724) 830-3950.