Hamlin Beach State Park
 | This article possibly contains original research. (February 2013) |
| Hamlin Beach State Park | |
|---|---|
  Location of Hamlin Beach State Park within New York State | |
| Type | State park |
| Location | 1 Hamlin Beach Blvd. West Hamlin, New York[1] |
| Nearest city | Hamlin, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°21′40″N 77°57′11″W / 43.361°N 77.953°W |
| Created | 1938 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Visitors | 278,098 (in 2014)[2] |
| Open | All year |
| Website | Hamlin Beach State Park |
Hamlin Beach State Park is a state park located on the shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Hamlin in Monroe County, New York in the United States of America. The Lake Ontario State Parkway passes through the park.
History
Evidence of the Civilian Conservation Corps' park improvements can be seen, including stone-work on headwalls, barriers and pavilions. Their work on the park spanned six years and was responsible for six buildings and the reclamation of swampland on the eastern end.
During World War II, the site was used as a POW camp, housing up to 336 prisoners by 1946. The camp served as a labor hub, providing workers to local farms and food processing plants in the Hamlin area. The camp was dismantled when the war was over.
The site became a state park in 1938 and development began to expand it even further. The Lake Ontario State Parkway was extended through the park, increasing accessibility. The parking lot was expanded to handle the increase in visitors, and the campgrounds were built.
During the 1970s, the park, specifically the beach, was suffering from large amounts of erosion from storms. State and Federal funding was provided and the beaches were rebuilt and jetties were added to help prevent further damage. Development on the Yanty Creek Nature trail began as well. It is now a mile-long trail with educational markers along the way.
Park description
Hamlin Beach State Park offers a beach, picnic tables with pavilions, a playground, recreation programs, a nature trail, surfing, hiking and biking, fishing, a campground with 264 tent and trailer sites, ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, a boat launch, and a food concession.
The park is open year-round, and swimming is permitted from late June through Labor Day. The beach occasionally closes due to pollution. Campsites are available from early May through Columbus day.
Three parking lots, with the capacity to hold 2,500 vehicles, are available along the main road through the park. A $7 parking fee is assessed for vehicles. The park is handicap accessible. Pets are permitted on leashes of 6 feet (1.8 m) or less, and must have proof of inoculation before entering the camping area. No animals are allowed on beach
Boats may be launched from either a designated hand launch north of the A-1 parking lot or from a car-top launch on the eastern end of the beach near the Yantee Creek parking area.
Trails
The Yanty Creek Nature Trail is on the eastern end of the park and the trailhead is accessible by the park road. There is parking for about six cars at the trailhead. The trail is stone or mulch and winds around in a loop. Informational placards are provided along the way. The Shoreline Trail is a paved trail that runs along the lake east to west, passing by the beaches. There are several other small trails within the campgrounds and other wooded areas.
The Devil's Nose is a small dirt bluff on the westernmost end of the park. The tree-covered bluff is part of a larger sand and clay shoal that extends approximately one mile (1.6 km) under the lake. The above-water section of the Nose used to be much larger, but rising lake levels and erosion has drastically reduced the size. Because of its unstable steep cliffs, this section of the park is closed to visitors.
See also
References
- ^ NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. "Hamlin Beach State Park - Getting There". Parks.ny.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
- ^ "State Park Annual Attendance Figures by Facility: Beginning 2003". Data.ny.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
