Mohawk River State Park

Mohawk River Nature Preserve
Mohawk River State Park is located in New York
Mohawk River State Park
Location of Mohawk River Nature Preserve within New York State
TypeNature preserve (undeveloped)
LocationTown of Niskayuna
Schenectady County, New York
Nearest citySchenectady, New York
Coordinates42°48′13″N 73°51′05″W / 42.8036°N 73.8515°W / 42.8036; -73.8515
Area105 acres (0.42 km2)[1]
CreatedApril 2006 (2006-04)[2]
Operated byNiskayuna, New York
OpenAll year

Mohawk River Nature Preserve, formerly Mohawk River State Park, is a 105-acre (0.42 km2)[1] undeveloped nature preserve in the town of Niskayuna in Schenectady County, New York. The park is located adjacent to the Mohawk River.

History

Mohawk River Nature Preserve occupies the site of the former Schenectady Museum Nature Preserve.[3] New York State purchased the preserve from the Schenectady Museum in April 2006 for $1 million to establish the park, which was the first state park in Schenectady County.[2] The town of Niskayuna acquired the park from New York State for $1 in 2024.[4]

Description

Mohawk River State Park may be accessed from a small parking area at the end of Whitmyer Drive in Niskayuna.[3][5] Although the state initially planned to add amenities such as picnic areas and a boat launch,[2] as of 2012 the park remained almost completely undeveloped, including a lack of signs identifying the state park by its current name. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation noted that no further development was planned, and that the park was intended to preserve the natural landscape and host passive recreation such as hiking.[3]

The Mohawk Hudson Bike/Hike Trail passes along the park's northern boundary in parallel with the Mohawk River. The park also contains several trails maintained by local volunteer groups, including a portion of the John F. Brown Trail System.[6] The park's trails connect with additional public lands, including about 100 acres (0.40 km2) of adjacent town-owned land, and a boat launch near the New York State Canal Corporation's Lock 7 facility.[2][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Section O: Environmental Conservation and Recreation, Table O-9". 2014 New York State Statistical Yearbook (PDF). The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. 2014. p. 673. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Governor Announces First State Park in Schenectady County". NYS Office of the Governor. April 20, 2006. Archived from the original on December 14, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d Scott, Gillian (November 22, 2012). "A gem hidden in Niskayuna". Times Union. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  4. ^ Remsnyder, Ted (June 6, 2024). "Niskayuna receives $100K for newly renamed Mohawk River Nature Preserve". The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Buell, Bill (January 1, 2012). "Hiking Close to Home". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  6. ^ "Mohawk River State Park". Appalachian Mountain Club, Mohawk Hudson Chapter. Retrieved October 22, 2016.