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Bristol Beach State Park

Coordinates: 42°06′32″N 73°55′55″W / 42.109°N 73.932°W / 42.109; -73.932
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Bristol Beach State Park
Bristol Beach State Park is located in New York
Bristol Beach State Park
Location of Bristol Beach State Park within New York State
TypeState park (undeveloped)
LocationTown of Saugerties,
Ulster County, New York
Nearest cityMalden, New York
Coordinates42°06′32″N 73°55′55″W / 42.109°N 73.932°W / 42.109; -73.932
Area242 acres (0.98 km2)[1]
Created1967 (1967)[2]
Operated by
Visitors11,610 (in 2020)[3]
OpenAll year

Bristol Beach State Park is a 242-acre (0.98 km2)[1] undeveloped state park located on the Hudson River in the town of Saugerties in Ulster County, New York.[4] The park was initially formed in 1967, and is managed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.[2]

History

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The core of Bristol Beach State Park occupies land formerly used as a brickyard during the 19th century. It was acquired by the town of Saugerties by deed; the town eventually transferred ownership to New York State.[5] In 1967, the then-53-acre (21 ha) property was transferred from the New York State Conservation Department to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The park was expanded in the 1990s to protect adjacent parcels that were being considered for development.[2]

In 2013, the town of Saugerties proposed re-acquiring the park to promote its development, which they felt was being under-utilized by the state.[5]

Description

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Bristol Beach State Park covers 242 acres (0.98 km2)[1] adjacent to the Hudson River and is largely undeveloped, with the exception of a small parking lot. Although there are no formal trails, a landing on the river is a popular spot for launching kayaks and fishing.[6] The northern portion of the park, known as Eve's Point, does include some basic amenities such as a gazebo and portable toilets.[7]

Despite its name, the park does not include a developed beach and swimming is not permitted.[6] Steep banks, undesirable substrate, and shallow off-shore water depths were noted as barriers preventing future development of a beach at the property.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Section O: Environmental Conservation and Recreation, Table O-9". 2014 New York State Statistical Yearbook (PDF). The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. 2014. p. 671. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Bristol Beach State Park, NY". The Palisades Parks Conservancy. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  3. ^ "State Park Annual Attendance Figures by Facility: Beginning 2003". Data.ny.gov. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Bristol Beach State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
  5. ^ a b Zangla, Riel (January 27, 2013). "Saugerties may try to reacquire Bristol Beach Park on Hudson River". The Daily Freeman. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Kott, Crispin (August 26, 2012). "Paddlers, check out Bristol Beach State Park in Saugerties". Hudson Valley One. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Swimming in the Hudson River Estuary, Section 6" (PDF). NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. pp. 77–78. Retrieved October 30, 2016.
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