Longweekends Magazine Spring Summer 2014
Summer Fun Along Lake Ontario
One of my favorite spots in the Rochester, NY area is Ontario Beach Park, located on the shores of Lake Ontario. This park has one of the best natural sand beaches in the Great Lakes Region. The park has been a popular summertime attraction for families for over 100 years. In the early 1900’s the Ontario Beach amusement park was located here. Dubbed the “Coney Island of the West,” it drew about 50,000 people a day.
Today the 39-acre park is still very popular. In addition to the pristine beach, open June-Labor Day, the park has a large playground, concession stand, boat launch, and a long picturesque pier that is perfect for fishing off or strolling along. However, one of the park’s main attractions is a historic 1905 Dentzel menagerie carousel, one of only 6 such carousels remaining in the United States. A summer concert series and big band dances round out summer activities at the park.
Among the more unique attractions in the park are the six pickleball courts which opened two years ago on the site of former basketball courts. Pickleball is one of the newer sports to sweep the country. Think table tennis, but without the table and you play it outdoors.
Just a short distance away, along Beach Avenue, the “secret sidewalk” is one of my favorite spots to take a walk. This public walkway along Lake Ontario’s shore offers great views of the lake and the many manicured backyards and gardens the path passes through.
Ontario Beach Park
4800 Lake Avenue, near Beach Avenue
Rochester, NY
585-256-4950
www.monroecounty.gov/parks-ontariobeach.php
Summer Fun Along Lake Ontario
One of my favorite spots in the Rochester, NY area is Ontario Beach Park, located on the shores of Lake Ontario. This park has one of the best natural sand beaches in the Great Lakes Region. The park has been a popular summertime attraction for families for over 100 years. In the early 1900’s the Ontario Beach amusement park was located here. Dubbed the “Coney Island of the West,” it drew about 50,000 people a day.
Today the 39-acre park is still very popular. In addition to the pristine beach, open June-Labor Day, the park has a large playground, concession stand, boat launch, and a long picturesque pier that is perfect for fishing off or strolling along. However, one of the park’s main attractions is a historic 1905 Dentzel menagerie carousel, one of only 6 such carousels remaining in the United States. A summer concert series and big band dances round out summer activities at the park.
Among the more unique attractions in the park are the six pickleball courts which opened two years ago on the site of former basketball courts. Pickleball is one of the newer sports to sweep the country. Think table tennis, but without the table and you play it outdoors.
Just a short distance away, along Beach Avenue, the “secret sidewalk” is one of my favorite spots to take a walk. This public walkway along Lake Ontario’s shore offers great views of the lake and the many manicured backyards and gardens the path passes through.
Ontario Beach Park
4800 Lake Avenue, near Beach Avenue
Rochester, NY
585-256-4950
www.monroecounty.gov/parks-ontariobeach.php