The Woodland Beach State Park is a one-hundred and seven-acre long park located on the eastern shore of Lake Erie within Erie County in New York. The park lies close to the village of Blasdell. This park opened in the year 1996. Since 2011, the Woodlawn Beach State Park is operated by the Town of Hamburg. This is conducted under a ten-year contract with the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation of New York.
History
Historically, through the 1800s and 1900s, Woodlawn beach served as a well-known resort and swimming location. Traveling to the beach was easily possible as it was connected through railways and steamships. There were several other activities in the area, too, such as a hotel, a dancing hall, restaurants, a billiard hall, and bowling alleys. The area also features a picnic grove ranging at least thirty acres.
In the 1950s, Woodlawn beach got new owners, and public access to it was restricted. The beach was open to the public again in 1996 when the State of New York purchased ninety eight acres of the property. Before 2011, Woodlawn Beach was operated by the Office of Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation of New York. But due to budgetary constraints, the park formed delegated the job to the town of Hamburg under a ten-year agreement. Several of the park’s features, such as its dining facilities, restaurants, and beach, have been marketed successfully and gained prominence.
Park Facilities
The Woodland Beach State Park specifically lies within the Buffalo Metropolitan Area. It boasts a scenic one-mile-long natural, sandy beach with panoramic views of the lake. You can lounge on the beach and watch dazzling sunsets over the water.
Woodland beach is also an exquisite wildlife habitat. It also has some of the nicest dunes that remain around Lake Erie. Visitors can indulge in numerous recreational facilities such as hiking along natural trails and spotting wildlife, playing beach volleyball, swimming, and having a picnic.
You can also rent paddleboards and kayaks for a fun-filled adventure on the lake.
The park is open all year round, from sunrise to sunset. However, swimming is only permitted in the summer months.
The beach opens for public access from Memorial Day Weekend and closes by Labor Day Weekend. The opening hours of the beach are from sunrise to sunset.
If you want to host a special event or a gathering, you can also reserve a spot in the park. Reserving park space or hall is popular for weddings and parties.
Woodland Beach also has a strict pet policy. You can bring along with you no more than two pets. These pets are allowed in day-use areas unless stated otherwise on signs. You must keep your pet under supervision at all times. Dogs must be kept on a leash that should not be more than six feet in length. It must be shown if any staff member requests proof of a rabies card. There are several parts of the park where pets are not permitted. These parts include inside buildings, the golf course, playgrounds, the beach, boardwalks, and the pools.
Woodland beach is a popular spot for swimming and water sports activities. These activities include windsurfing, bird watching, playing volleyball, and sunbathing.
Visitors must pay a $7 parking fee to enter Woodland Beach State Park. If you are an active military member carrying a valid ID, you will be liable to pay $5. The fee also applies to Motorcycles. Since the summer of 2021, no alcohol has been permitted on the park’s beach or parking lot.
The park also accepts Access Passes, or Empire Passes issued by the New York State.
Restoration Project
It has recently been announced that the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation will carry out a restoration project on Woodland Beach State Park. This project will enable Blasdell Creek to become cleaner. This will result in enhancing the fish and wildlife habitats present in the area. This wetland restoration project will begin in the fall of this year.
This project is also aimed at improving the water quality of Lake Erie. The measures undertaken will also provide insight into how the lake’s health can improve further.
This restoration project is also supposed to protect the parks’ native habitat. This will also impact how the general public enjoys the park. This project intends to remove all invasive species from the water, thus improving the water quality of the lake and swimming beach.
Through this project, the park’s wetlands will also be expanded. Another 1.36 acres of wetland will be added to the existing 3.26 acres of existing wetland.
This project will also aim to remove invasive species such as the Japanese Knotweed, Yellow Iris and Swallow Wort. Additional native plants such as nine-thousand-eight hundred-and-forty herbaceous plants, one-hundred-and-twenty-six trees, and four-thousand-one hundred-and-eighty-four shrubs will be planted.
This project is aimed to conclude by the summer season of the year 2023.
Concluding Thoughts
If you love the tranquility of nature and the serenity of lakes, this park is the perfect spot for you! You can enjoy a day with family or friends in Woodlawn Beach State Park. Summer is the perfect time to relax, sunbathe on the natural sandy beach, and take a dip in the lake. You can also hike on the park’s trails and observe surrounding wildlife. This park is also perfect for a picnic, and along with good company, you are bound to have a wonderful time. The restoration project also aims to improve the lake’s water quality; hence, swimming will be all the safer. If you love to swim and love the outdoors, visiting Woodlawn State Beach Park is a must.