Alternatives to Erie County Parks

[Linda_D]

Well, since Erie County residents won't have use of their county parks in 2005, I thought I'd start a thread of alternatives.

One of them is the state parks. All charge admission, which was $7 a car last year and may be more this year. An Empire Passport ($59 for 4/1/2005-3/31/2006) allows you free access to most of the parks in the state parks system.

My favorite is Allegany State Park. Various members of my family have been camping at Allegany since the World War II era. Here's it's website: Allegany State Park (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/nysparks/parks.cgi?p+33)

[jbinbny]

A terrific park for sure.

[riverbr]

Letchworth is another winner. Some of the photos I took there last fall still amaze me. Don't overlook other counties as well. We're only a short drive from Buffalo here in Rochester, and you've got the Falls next door as well.

[SolarEclipse]

Most of the state parks are nice. Stoney Brook, south of Rochester is very nice for camping. Take a nice day trip down to Watkins Glen for a little hiking.

If you want less developed nature, just head south on the 219 until you cross into PA and explore the Allegheny National Forest.

[Linda_D]

Letchworth is a scenic wonderland during all seasons, but especially in the fall. If you have never been to "the Grand Canyon of the East", then you should put Letchworth at the top of your list -- and bring your camera.

The history of Letchworth is interesting, too. It once belonged to Mary Jemison, a white woman who was captured by the Senecas (I think) and eventually adopted into the tribe. Somehow she gained title to most of the land along the Genesee River in the Letchworth SP area, but lost all or much of it. Eventually much of the land along the falls became the property of William Letchworth (I think he was a judge or doctor) who built an estate near the Falls and eventually gave the land to NYS for a park.
Jemison & Letchworth (http://www.westernny.com/letch.html)

If you want to go "classy", you can make reservations at Letchworh's restored summer home, the Glen Iris Inn, for just a meal or for overnight, too. The park also offers camping, hiking, etc. Check here for more info on the park:
Letchworth SP (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/nysparks/parks.cgi?p+8)

[Linda_D]

Krull Park is a beautiful little park on the shore of Lake Ontario in the area of Wilson/ Olcutt. I haven't been there in a long time, but it used to have a small beach, fishing piers, and a shady picnic area up on the bluffs overlooking the lake. It was especially nice on very hot days because of Ontario's usually cold waters.

Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk (off Route 5 by the NiMo plant) is another free lakeside park. It has a sandy beach that backs up to sandstone cliffs. There's a shaded picnic area behind it close to the parking lot. At the north end of the park is the Point Gratiot Lighthouse Museum which is open to visitors on a regular basis.

[hacktivist]

First of all, as long as even 1 dime goes to the Parks department, they should not have the right to close them off.

Here's a list of local parks for your enjoyment that someone made in response to this whole mess: http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~ajay/parks.html

[Linda_D]

Originally posted by hacktivist
First of all, as long as even 1 dime goes to the Parks department, they should not have the right to close them off.


I don't understand why the Erie County parks should be "closed", either. The claim is that there are "liability issues" but I'd like to know just what they are because it seems to be only Erie County that has them.

I live in Chautauqua County where we have some nice county parks -- nothing fancy, just some meadows and woods, hiking trails, a shelter with some picnic tables, a hand pump for water and an outhouse (not kidding!). I have NEVER seen a county worker at any of them, although it's obvious that somebody cuts the grass and empty the trash barrels.

There are some man-made flood control lakes like New Albion Lake that are open for fishing and hiking and picnicking. Again, aside from cutting grass and picking up trash, nobody does much here, certainly not protecting people from their own stupidity. I think there may be a sign that shows the "rules" such as they are.

We also have state forests in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties that are, well, just woods. There are a few gravel roads that give access to gas wells and logging areas. There's also a Chautauqua County trail system that has primitive hiking trails through that county's state forests.

Then there's the Zoar Valley Day Use Area down in the Forty Gorge which is simply a state-owned land. There are towering cliffs, deep swimming holes, and a diving spot -- all serious hazards since one or more people die here almost every year, and others are seriously injured. The only people who complain are the local volunteer fire departments that have to go into the gorge to carry them out -- and that's about the expense of each operation.

Then let's talk sledding. Jamestown has "Stadium Hill", the best public sledding hill I've ever seen -- and completely unsuperivised except by the parents who bring their kids. It's steep but safe, and what a ride down! I think the city plows might clean the "parking lot", such as it is, if they get time, but mostly the snow just gets packed down by all the vehicles.

There's also the sledding hill in Delaware Park that has been used by generations of Buffalo kids without supervision and without "liability issues". Speaking of city parks, aside from a few folks watching for unleashed doggies, what do the parks' staff do? Cut grass and empty trash bins. Has anyone been "supervised" by parks staff in any park in WNY to keep them from getting hurt?

So, if people can wander these places without supervision, why does Erie County have a need to padlock its parks to keep residents out? What is so dangerous about Chestnut Ridge or Emory? Is somebody going to trip over grass that's four inches long when it should be only two inches?

Personally, I think the parks are closed for the very same reason that the legislators who voted against the sales tax have only a part time staffer while the others get a full timer: petty vindictiveness on the part of Joel Giambra and his Family and Friends.

[hacktivist]

Linda, you hit the nail on the head. The parks aren't being closed for any liability, perceived or imagined, but just to punish the voters for daring to oppose the ST hike. King Joel does not like the fact that the peasants revolted.

Did you know that the parks department has at least 229 employees? This is the number that will be laid off; the actual number is obviously higher.

Other than routine landscaping, what does a Parks employee do? I'm not questioning anybody here; just wondering aloud. Cutting the grass and clearing the snow from the trails is about all I can think of. OK, and then maintaining the facilities for the few parks that have any. But do we need 229 employees for that?

It is this sort of nickel and dime expenditure that adds up, and leads to the mess that we are in currently.

[Linda_D]

Here's a general link to New York's State Parks:
State Parks (http://nysparks.state.ny.us/next.html)

[granpabob]

by the time I am done with "HONEY DO" park I dont have energy for any other park.I'm sure most of you have your own little honey do areas to take care of .I enjoy mine

[wnyhikes]

I have some photos and descriptions of alternative parks on my "Western New York Hiking and Walking" site here: http://www.wnyhikes.com .
Hope you will check them out, and let me know of any I missed!

[crusader_chris]

Ontario offers outstanding choices and options.. about 20 minutes away.

[doppler3]

Onondaga County has a good park system. A couple parks have free admission.

http://onondagacountyparks.com/