LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Hyner Run State Park offers small trails that lead to additional creeks and crossings, perfect for short walks with great views. Behind pavilion #2 is marked Hyner Park Trail that provides stunning views.

LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS
The pool at Hyner Run is currently open for the season from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is plenty of open, grassy space for visitors to lay out towels and blankets as they enjoy the fresh air and cool water.

NORTH BEND — For many people, a state park is simply a place to camp, swim or spend a sunny summer afternoon. For those of us who grew up in Clinton County, however, Hyner Run State Park has always been something more.

Long before I appreciated the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps or understood the significance of Sproul State Forest, Hyner Run was where family happened.

Every summer, relatives would make the familiar drive through the winding mountain roads to gather beneath the shady trees of the park’s picnic area.

For one day, generations of family members from across the region came together in a place that felt almost tailor-made for reunions.

As a child, I hardly noticed the mountain scenery that draws visitors from across Pennsylvania today. The towering ridges and dense forests were simply part of the backdrop to a day spent chasing cousins, playing volleyball near the pavilions and making countless trips to the swimming pool — one of our favorite places to be.

While the adults settled in and caught up on family news (even though most of us saw each other weekly), the younger generation spent hours splashing in the water until our fingers wrinkled and our parents finally insisted it was time to dry off and eat.

Those meals were events in themselves.

Tables overflowed with covered dishes, baked beans, macaroni salad, deviled eggs and desserts that seemed to stretch from one end of the pavilion to the other. There was always enough food for twice the number of people present, and somehow everyone was expected to leave with leftovers.

Looking back, it is hard to separate the park from the people who filled it.

The smell of charcoal grills drifting through the trees still brings memories of grandparents who are no longer with us. The sound of children laughing by the pool recalls cousins who now have children of their own. Even the familiar drive into the valley evokes memories of anticipating a day spent surrounded by family.

What made Hyner Run special was not just its natural beauty, though there is certainly plenty of that. Nestled within Sproul State Forest, the park offered a peaceful setting where families could step away from the demands of daily life and simply spend time together.

There were no elaborate attractions and no complicated schedules. The entertainment consisted of food, conversation, swimming and the occasional family story that somehow became funnier every year it was told.

Hyner Run provided the perfect setting for all occasions.

In many ways, the park represented a tradition that feels increasingly rare today. Family reunions were once a staple of summer in north-central Pennsylvania. They brought together relatives from different towns, generations and walks of life. Children met cousins they might otherwise see only once a year. Grandparents had the opportunity to gather their growing families in one place.

Today, visitors continue to enjoy the park’s campground, hiking opportunities and swimming pool. Families still reserve pavilions for reunions, birthday parties, graduations and summer gatherings. New memories are being made beneath the same trees where generations before them gathered.

For local residents, the value of Hyner Run extends beyond recreation. It serves as a reminder of the connections that bind families and communities together.

Years later, I may remember the mountain views from Hyner View State Park or the beauty of Sproul State Forest, but when I think of Hyner Run, what comes to mind first are the people.

I remember friends sharing stories, aunts and uncles laughing around picnic tables and cousins running through the grass without a care in the world.

The park was the location, but family was the reason we were there.

And for many who grew up in this region, that’s what Hyner Run will always represent.