Chestnut Ridge Park

Chestnut Ridge Park
Fall scene in Chestnut Ridge Park
Location of Chestnut Ridge Park within New York State
Type	Regional park
Location	6121 Chestnut Ridge Road Orchard Park, NY
Nearest city	Buffalo, New York
Coordinates	42°42′50″N 78°45′46″W / 42.7139486°N 78.762808°WCoordinates: 42°42′50″N 78°45′46″W / 42.7139486°N 78.762808°W
Area	1,213 acres (4.91 km^2)
Created	1926[1]
Operated by	Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry
Open	All year; 7:00 am- Dusk
Website	Chestnut Ridge Park

Chestnut Ridge Park is a 1,213-acre (4.91 km²) park in Orchard Park, New York,^[2] originally named for the chestnut trees on its hills. It is currently the largest park operated by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and is open year-round.^[3]

The Chestnut Ridge Park property was acquired by Erie County in 1926, and it was one of the first parks established by the county. The park's facilities and landscapes were improved substantially by the Works Progress Administration throughout the 1930s.^[1]

Facilities and Attractions

• The park has facilities and space for tennis, hiking, disc golf, snowmobiling, sledding and other outdoor activities.^[3]
• The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has held summer concerts at the base of the sledding hill, which provides an amphitheater-like setting.^[4]
• On a clear day, the sledding hill offers views of Buffalo and Lake Erie. Toboggan chutes also operate on the sled hill during the winter.^[3]
• The Eternal Flame Falls, a small waterfall containing a natural "eternal flame," is located within the park.^[3] The falls are situated within what was once known as the Shale Creek Preserve, a wilderness area formerly owned by the Buffalo Museum of Science.^[5]
• A tower facility used for firefighter training is located on the premises.

Although said to be one of the largest county parks in the United States,^[6] at least one larger county park is located nearby. The 2,500-acre (10 km²) Mendon Ponds Park, a county park in Monroe County, New York,^[7] is situated approximately 80 miles (130 km) away.

Gallery

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  Chestnut Ridge Park sledding hill

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  Toboggan chutes at Chestnut Ridge Park sledding hill

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  Eternal Flame Falls in Chestnut Ridge Park

References

1. Erie County (N.Y.) Department of Parks, Recreation, & Forestry; Erie County (N.Y.) Department of Environment & Planning; Parsons; Envision: The Hough Group; Paradigm Consulting; Wendel-Duchscherer Architects & Engineers (2003). Erie County Parks System Master Plan, Volume 2, Section 2, Subsection 2.2 (PDF). Erie County. pp. 1 – 11. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
2. "Chestnut Ridge Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
3. "Chestnut Ridge". Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry (Erie.gov). Retrieved January 22, 2015.
4. Christopher Gordon (May 27, 2010). "BPO to perform at Chestnut Ridge Park". Orchard Park Bee. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
5. "Eternal Flame Falls: Nature Burning Brightly". WGRZ.com. March 21, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
6. "Chestnut Ridge Conservancy". Chestnut Ridge Conservancy. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
7. "Mendon Ponds Park". Monroe County Parks Department (MonroeCounty.gov). Retrieved January 22, 2015.

External links

• Map of Chestnut Ridge Park
• Chestnut Ridge Conservancy
• Chestnut Ridge Park on Western New York Outdoors