Carbon County commissioners recognized the 50th anniversary of Mauch Chunk Lake Park on Thursday.

The county-operated, recreational haven boasts a 350-acre lake, which is used for swimming, fishing and boating; approximately 20 miles of trails, including the historic Switchback Trail; and camping and picnicking facilities.

“It is one of only a few county parks in the state to provide such amenities,” according to the resolution the commissioners approved and presented to park director Dave Horvath.

Horvath thanked the park’s visitors and longtime membership holders for their continued support, because without them the park wouldn’t be where it is today, he said.

“I would like to thank the county administrations, past and current, for their support of the parking, recognizing the value and importance from a tourism and economic standpoint,” Horvath said.

The county continues to invest in the park and to preserve the natural resources surrounding the 3,700-acre park, he said. Horvath also thanked all of the employees who work to maintain and provide a family-friendly park that sees more than 100,000 guests each year.

With the anniversary, Horvath invited people to come to the park and see what Mauch Chunk Lake Park as to offer, and also welcomed back people who haven’t visited in a while.

Horvath said that he was amazed to see how the park developed from when he was child to when he came on staff more than two decades ago, and the improvements continue.

The beach opens for swimming for the summer season on Saturday, as people come out for the Memorial Day weekend, he said. The swimming hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and lifeguards will be on duty, he said.

Smokey Bear will also be at the park on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help kick off the season, Horvath said.

The regular park hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and in this anniversary year, the park would like to host movie nights once a month, possibly on a Saturday night in June, July and August.

The commissioners approved Horvath’s request to hold moonlight movie nights, contracting with Swank Motion Pictures-Public Performance License for 200 individuals or less at $475 to $55; or 200 to 500 individuals at $725 to $835 per movie event. Three or more movies would cost $395 per title; movie rental, $30 per title and moonlight movies with a 30-foot moon screen package would cost $1,449 per showing.

Details regarding the movie nights are still being worked out and will be announced, Horvath said.

On July 4, the beach will only be open with access limited to Carbon County residents, season pass holders, people with camping reservations or pavilion rentals, Horvath said.