ALBANY TOWNSHIP -- It's a place where you can get away, enjoy the outdoors, and it's not too far from northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
It's Hawk Mountain and it's right outside of Deer Lake.
"It's just a nice place to get away from your everyday hassles," Logan Wiedhold of Auburn said.
State officials and members of the community enjoyed a barbecue to kick off Hawk Mountain's journey to making its facility more accessible.
Thanks to grants from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the facility will receive $500,000 toward its latest fundraising project.
The project includes upgrading the amphitheater, something a group of Boy Scouts from Orwigsburg are excited about.
"Yeah, because whenever it rains, these bleachers do get really wet and I think it would be better for the amphitheater if it got some upgrades," Nate Parkinson of Orwigsburg said.
That isn't the only upgrade Hawk Mountain has planned.
The mountain also plans to make a connector trail, connecting most areas of the mountain to trails for people with disabilities.
"Part of the trail right now may have loose roots, it may have ruts, it may be impassable for someone in a wheelchair or walker. Or, even a dad or mom with a stroller. But once we get this finished they will be able to come out and enjoy programs," Craig George of Hawk Mountain said.
Hawk Mountain hopes to start these projects once their fundraising is complete.
The facility hopes to raise a total of $1.5 million to get the improvement work started.