Bear Mountain Leads Surge in Park Attendance - 13 July, 2010

It was Claudia Baldo's third trip to Lake Welch Beach this month, and she had plenty of company as she lounged on a red beach towel snacking on salsa and chips.

"It's quiet and family-oriented, and I don't like waves or sharks. No one bothers you here," said the North Bergen, N.J., resident.

Some Lower Hudson Valley parks, always popular with day trippers around the region, are having a very good year.
Bear Mountain, Lake Welch and High Tor had some of the biggest attendance increases in the state so far this year, due partly to last year's rainy June, which discouraged the picnic crowd.

Bear Mountain alone had a quarter-million more people than it did last year, and attendance at Lake Welch more than doubled to near 90,000 people.

Attendance is gauged by the number of motorists paying for parking, assuming an average of 3.5 people per car.

Westchester County's state parks didn't fare that well. Old Croton Aqueduct and Philipse Manor had minor decreases in attendance. The Taconic Outdoor Education Center in Putnam had a healthy increase of 16 percent over last year.

Rockland County's weather helped in the big attendance boost. Last year, the spring and early summer were wet and miserable, while this year June's rainfall was way below normal — about 1.6 inches.
"It's all driven by weather. People are not going to drive up from the city if there are thunderstorms in the forecast," said Fred Williams, assistant regional director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.

State parks officials would like to think higher attendance is partly in support of funding for parks, which was threatened by budget cuts earlier in the year. The state briefly closed 55 state parks and historical sites this spring before $11 million in funding was restored before Memorial Day, avoiding the first large-scale park closings in state history.

"With the budget issues, people are paying attention and going back to parks they've been to, or checking out parks they've never been to. People are rediscovering their state parks," said Dan Keefe, a spokesman for the state parks office. "It's also the economy. People are looking for an affordable place to have fun."

Nancy Ayala of the Bronx, who's been coming to the Rockland parks for more than 40 years, made sandwiches for her nephew while her husband grilled hot dogs at Lake Welch.

"We feel at home here," she said. "There has been an increase. I think the only thing to keep people from coming would be the $8 parking fee. It used to be $5. I come all the way from the city, and I have to worry about gas and tolls."

The Overlook Lodge, a hotel at Bear Mountain, reports a good year so far compared with "a terrible June" last year because of the rain.

Many of the guests come from New York City, but the hotel also hosts family reunions and excursions for West Point family members, said Sherwood Myers, a guest service agent.

Alice Prata of Oakland, N.J., has been coming to Lake Welch for more than 50 years and now brings her grandchildren to swim. She thinks it's becoming more popular because of better security, maintenance and a new snack bar.

"It's very nice and has become crowded again," Prata said. "We always get here early because we know how crazy it can get."

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