A Banner Year For Grafton Lakes State Park
By Doug La Rocque
By all accounts, the summer of 2015 was one park management can point to with pride. Park Manager Melissa Miller said attendance at the park was up more than 25 thousand people this year over last. And last year was nothing to hang your head over.
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Miller points to a number of capital improvements over the last two years, both structurally and in the ground’s aesthetics. The bathrooms have all new tile floors and fixtures, and solar panels have been added to many of the roofs. Several new trees have been planted in the grassy area adjoining the beach, and the beach itself is well kept and groomed. Just as important, she said, is the friendly atmosphere and level of customer service provided by her staff. The 20 life guards, maintenance and other team members work as a cohesive unit to provide park goers the most pleasant experience possible.
These efforts have not gone unnoticed. The parking lots are once again full, the pavilions rented out and the beach packed with swimmers and sun bathers. So successful have been the efforts to bring the park back, that it is once again open seven days a week and for the first time, was voted the number one beach in the capital district this year by the Albany Times Union Best of Readers Poll. This year it surpassed even Million Dollar Beach in Lake George.
Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, and brings the closing of the beach at the park, as well as at Cherry Plain State Park in Berlin. But it is far from the end for the area parks.
Most regular activities on the lakes and ponds continue into the fall months, as well as a number of special events. A list of these events can be found on the park’s website.
The off season also brings more improvements in Grafton. Work continues on two new comfort stations on both ends of the beach, and a new Nature Pavilion, which Miller hopes will be open in a year or so. It will be able to host more winter events and perhaps be available for some community groups as well.
Growing Community Relations
Asked about the park’s relations with the Grafton community, Miller mentioned a number of positive developments. The Park is now allowing the Grafton Fire Department to use Mill Pond for training activities and some storage space in their buildings. She hopes to build on these points of cooperation.
While such things as any payment to the town in lieu of taxes are an issue far removed from her authority, she is open to discussions about other joint efforts.
One issue that has generated comment from the local community was a proposal in the Park’s ten year master plan for an overnight campground. She said in response to community concern, the proposed site has been moved from an area near the front of the park to one perhaps more suitable in the northwest corner. The campground, however, is not coming to fruition right away. While such concerns as environmental quality review have been addressed, funds to construct the campground have not been allocated, nor are there plans to hire and train staff to operate it. The Cherry Plain Park currently operates a campground, but Miller said revenues this year were down a bit. She attributes this to an early season storm that knocked down power lines, and closed the campground for three weeks.
A New Program On The Horizon
Miller is very excited about a new archeology program beginning this fall, centered primarily at the Bennington Battlefield State Park in Hoosick. The program is being tied in with community members and area businesses. A new archeological specialist starts on staff this Thursday to run the program, which will also be tied in a smaller way to Grafton Lakes and Cherry Plain.
Sand Sculpture Contest
Temperatures near 90 degrees helped make the final beach program of the year a success. Adults and children alike took part in the beach sand sculpture contest. Teams entered in five categories, from adult to child. The winners in the adult contest were Dana and Meachum with their Easter Island sculpture. The family category was captured by 50 Sandy Toes with Shark Attack. The team called the Cheerleaders won the teen category with their I-pod design. In the one to three member children’s group, The Wildcats took home the title for their football stadium. And the children’s four to six member group called The Tigers won with a decorated sand castle.