Environment DEC
From the October 2004 issue
New State Park Opens on Lake Ontario
Governor George E. Pataki recently announced the opening of a new 1,067-acre state park along Lake Ontario in the town of Henderson, New York. The scenic property includes 18 thousand feet of lakefront and trails for public recreational use. This park is the first of five new state parks that Governor Pataki committed to opening in the next two years. He made the pledge in this year's State-of-the-State address.
Beautiful Henderson Harbor
is the site of a new
state park in New York
"Wehle State Park offers breathtaking views of Lake Ontario, and for the first time will provide residents and visitors with public access to this spectacular shoreline property for hiking, bird watching and other recreational activities in Jefferson County," Governor Pataki said. "It provides just a glimpse of the unprecedented natural beauty and expanded recreational opportunities that will soon be available to the public throughout the state. Thanks to the generosity of Robert Wehle and his family, we are able to protect this important property and build on New York State's magnificent outdoor heritage for generations of visitors to enjoy."
Robert G. Wehle
State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro was joined by members of the Wehle family and state and local officials at a ceremony to officially dedicate the new Robert G. Wehle State Park and open it to the public. Bonnie Wehle, Robert Wehle's daughter said, "I'm glad my dad's wishes are coming to fruition with the opening of this new state park for the benefit of the people of New York."
The former Wehle family
homestead will be included
in the park
Mr. Wehle, who headed Rochester-based Genesee Brewing Co. in the 1950s, was a noted artist, dog-breeder and outdoorsman. An advocate for the enforcement of hunting and conservation laws, Wehle also bred English pointers for more than 60 years and wrote books on hunting dogs. He maintained homes in Alabama and New York State, and was named Alabama's Conservationist of the Year for 2002.
Site Amenities
The parcel's lake frontage includes limestone cliffs 80 feet high that drop off to the water's edge and provide scenic overlooks. The acreage contains a mixture of open fields and small red and white cedar stands. With its meadows, woodlands, wetlands and lawns, activities available at the park will include fishing, hiking, bird watching, biking, cross-country skiing, and limited hunting. The site presently offers a weekly cottage rental available to the public and will soon offer primitive camping opportunities. In addition to its natural resources, the site has a unique history, offering the military valuable vantage points during the War of 1812.
OPRHP Oversight
The land was purchased for $2.8 million as part of an agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Maintenance of the site and related park facilities will be augmented through a portion of the benefits of the Robert G. Wehle Charitable Trust. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) will manage the land after it has been officially opened to the public. State Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro represents the state on the Robert G. Wehle Charitable Trust.
Commissioner Castro said, "Thanks to Governor Pataki's vision for expanded open space, the commitment by the Wehle family to help preserve this land for future generations and our partnership with DEC, we will be able to open up this beautiful property to the public for the first time. We are proud to be the stewards of such an extraordinary waterfront site that will provide New Yorkers and visitors to the Empire State with great hiking trails while protecting scenic vistas of the region."
