The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

GLSP Offers Fun In The Sun

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Now that June is over and school is out, the staff of Grafton Lakes State Park is preparing for an exciting holiday week filled with swimming, contests and programming. Programming will be free all summer with admission into the Park.
The beach is normally closed for swimming on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. However, Grafton Lakes will open for swimming on July 4 and 5 from 10 am to 6 pm this year in order to accommodate those who wish to celebrate the holiday at the Park.
A must see on your visit to the park is Grafton Lake’s beach nature center, which will be open from 12 to 2 pm on days when swimming is open, from July to Labor Day, weather and staffing permitting. Come explore interactive displays, do some nature crafts and check out an animal or two that calls Grafton home. While the nature center is open, a park interpreter will be on hand to offer information and answer questions.
On July 4 the Park hosts its annual Independence Day sand sculpture contest on Long Pond Beach. Starting at noon, contestants can sign up at the beach nature center in one of a variety of grand prize categories. Judging for the contest will begin at 2 pm and grand prizes will be awarded by 3:30. Everyone who participates receives a small prize for his or her effort, and extra points are awarded for creativity.
To end the week, the Park will be offering a Geocache clinic on Saturday, July 7, at 10 am at the Park office. Learn the basics of this fun, outdoor, treasure hunting pastime. Bring your own GPS if you have one. Then use your skills to find caches in the Park. Participants can also begin the Regional Parks Geocache Challenge, which takes place over 11 regional parks including Grafton Lakes. Space for this program is limited, so please call the Park office to reserve your space today.
Please note that vehicle user fees are $8 per car when the beach is open and $6 per car when the beach is closed until Labor Day.
For more information about upcoming programs or for directions to the Park, please call 518-279-1155. For more information about New York State Parks, please visit our website at www.nysparks.com.