Wonder Lake State Park

Wonder Lake State Park
Wonder Lake in Patterson, New York
Wonder Lake State Park is located in New York
Wonder Lake State Park
Location of Wonder Lake State Park within New York State
TypeState park
Location1498 Route 301
Carmel, New York[1]
Nearest cityCarmel, New York
Coordinates41°29′42″N 73°38′57″W / 41.49500°N 73.64917°W / 41.49500; -73.64917
Area1,145 acres (4.63 km2)[2]
Created1998 (1998)
Operated byNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
OpenAll year
WebsiteWonder Lake State Park

Wonder Lake State Park is a 1,145-acre (4.6 km2) Putnam County state park located in Patterson, New York.[2]

History

Thirty-acre (0.12 km2) Wonder Lake was constructed in the 1930s as part of a series of improvements to the property by A. L. Cushman, who owned a chain of bakeries in New York City. The smaller Laurel Pond, three acres (0.012 km2) in size, was also formed after the construction of a dam was completed during the same time period.[3]

The core of Wonder Lake State Park was the summer home of television star Elizabeth Montgomery prior to her death in 1995.[4]

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation acquired the 794-acre (3.21 km2) Wonder Lake property in November 1998 using Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act funds.[4] The park was expanded by the purchase of 106 acres (0.4 km2) of open space in February 2006[5] and it was further expanded in 2010, expanding the park to its current size.[3] Prior to the 106-acre (0.43 km2) purchase, the tract was surrounded by private property with no public access.[6]

Park's description

As of 2013, Wonder Lake State Park contained 8.7 miles (14 km) of trails, including the Highlands Trail, which passes Laurel Pond and encircles Wonder Lake. Four other trails cover much of the northern, central and western areas of the park.[6]

Wonder Lake State Park serves to protect portions of the Great Swamp watershed, and serves as a link with other public lands in the area.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Wonder Lake State Park". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  2. ^ 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. 674. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Wonder Lake State Park History". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Wonder Lake State Park". NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "Wonder Lake State Park Expansion Announced (NY)". Trust for Public Land. February 10, 2006. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Wonder Lake State Park". NY-NJ Trail Conference. Retrieved April 15, 2013.