Wendt Beach Park

Last updated
Wendt Beach Park
Wendt Beach March 2007.jpg
View of Wendt Beach looking north, March 2007.
USA New York location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location of Wendt Beach Park within New York State
Type Regional park
Location7676 Old Lake Shore Road
Derby, New York [1]
Nearest city Buffalo, New York
Coordinates 42°40′34″N79°03′06″W / 42.67611°N 79.05167°W / 42.67611; -79.05167
Area178 acres (72 hectares) [2]
Operated by Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry
OpenAll year
Website Wendt Beach Park

Wendt Beach Park is a 178-acre (72-hectare) waterfront park in Erie County, in the U.S. state of New York. [2] [3] The park is located along the shore of Lake Erie in the Town of Evans. [2] It is operated by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. Access is free and it is open to the public year-round. [1]

Contents

History

Wendt Beach Park occupies the former summer home property of the Wendt family, who had named the parcel "The Ridgewood." A large mansion and several outbuildings were built on the property in the 1800s by Buffalo industrialist Henry W. Wendt, Jr. of the Buffalo Forge Company. [2] [4]

Deterioration of Wendt Mansion

The Wendt Mansion, recognized as being in need of major renovations in 2003, [2] has deteriorated greatly in recent years. It was the victim of vandalism in 2007, when thieves used a blowtorch to remove copper piping from the building. This caused major flooding in the mansion's basement, which went unnoticed for several days due to a non-functioning alarm system. In 2010, vandals once again targeted the house, smashing many of its windows. A 2012 study of the mansion sought to determine the costs of restoration, although at that time the prospect of demolition was mentioned as a possibility for the structure. [4]

Facilities

Although previously allowed, swimming was prohibited at Wendt Beach Park in the summer of 2014. County officials noted that they were focusing limited resources by staffing lifeguards at the nearby Bennett Beach Park. Swimming conditions at Wendt Beach Park were described as "terrible" in recent years due to rocky conditions. [5]

The park remains open for activities such as hiking, picnicking, baseball, and soccer. [2] [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo, New York</span> City in the United States

Buffalo is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the seat of Erie County. It lies in Western New York, at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, on the United States border with Canada. With a population of 278,349 according to the 2020 census, Buffalo is the largest city in Western New York and the 78th largest city in the United States. Buffalo and the city of Niagara Falls together make up the two-county Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which had an estimated population of 1.2 million in 2020, making it the 49th-largest MSA in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erie County, New York</span> County in New York, United States

Erie County is a county along the shore of Lake Erie in western New York State. As of the 2020 census, the population was 954,236. The county seat is Buffalo, which makes up about 28% of the county's population. Both the county and Lake Erie were named for the regional Iroquoian language-speaking Erie tribe of Native Americans, who lived in the area before 1654. They were later pushed out by the more powerful Iroquoian nations tribes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evans, New York</span> Town in New York, United States

Evans is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 16,356 at the 2010 census. The town derives its name from David E. Evans, an agent of the Holland Land Company and nephew of land agent Joseph Ellicott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster, New York</span> Town in New York, United States

Lancaster is a town in Erie County, New York, United States, centered 14 miles east of downtown Buffalo. Lancaster is an outer ring suburb of Buffalo. As of the 2020 Census, the town population was 45,106.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonawanda (town), New York</span> Town in New York, United States

Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 72,636. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern inner ring suburb of Buffalo. It is sometimes referred to, along with its constituent village of Kenmore, as "Ken-Ton". The town was established in 1836, and up to 1903 it included what is now the city of Tonawanda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodlawn Beach State Park</span> State park in Erie County, New York

Woodlawn Beach State Park is a 107-acre (0.43 km2) park located near the village of Blasdell on the eastern shore of Lake Erie in Erie County, New York. It was opened as a state park in 1996, and has been operated since 2011 by the Town of Hamburg under a ten-year agreement with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaver Island State Park</span>

Beaver Island State Park is a New York state park located on Grand Island in northwestern Erie County, New York in the United States. It is situated at the southern end of the island on the bank of the Niagara River and served by the Beaver Island Parkway, a 2.72-mile (4.38 km) highway linking the park to Interstate 190 (I-190).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evangola State Park</span> State park in Erie County, New York

Evangola State Park is a 733-acre (2.97 km2) state park in southern Erie County, New York, United States. The park is located west of the Village of Farnham, at the border of the Town of Brant and the Town of Evans. The park, which opened in 1954, fronts on Lake Erie, and has a large swimming beach bordered by cliffs of Angola shale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo City Hall</span> Skyscraper and municipal building in Buffalo, New York

Buffalo City Hall is the seat for municipal government in the City of Buffalo, New York. Located at 65 Niagara Square, the 32-story Art Deco building was completed in 1931 by Dietel, Wade & Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parks and recreation in Buffalo, New York</span>

Many of the public parks and parkways system of Buffalo, New York, were originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux between 1868 and 1896. They were inspired in large part by the parkland, boulevards, and squares of Paris, France. They include the parks, parkways and circles within the Cazenovia Park–South Park System and Delaware Park–Front Park System, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and maintained by the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sgt. Mark A. Rademacher Memorial Park</span>

Sgt. Mark A. Rademacher Memorial Park, commonly known as Hunters Creek Park, is a 760-acre (3.1 km2) park located in the Town of Wales in the U.S. state of New York. The park is operated by Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and is a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eighteen Mile Creek (Erie County)</span> River in New York, United States

Eighteen Mile Creek is a tributary of Lake Erie located in southern Erie County, New York, United States. The creek is the second largest tributary of Lake Erie in New York State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut Ridge Park</span> Park in Orchard Park, New York

Chestnut Ridge Park is a 1,213-acre (4.91 km2) park in Orchard Park, New York, 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.

Ellicott Creek Park is a 165-acre (0.67 km2) park in Erie County, in the U.S. state of New York. The park is in the Town of Tonawanda, northeast of Buffalo, New York. The park lies between Tonawanda Creek and Ellicott Creek. Access is free and it is open to the public year-round. It is the smallest multi-purpose park operated by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scoby Power Plant and Dam</span> Historic dam and power plant in New York State

Scoby Power Plant and Dam is a historic dam and now defunct power plant located between the towns of Ashford and Concord, near Springville, New York. The complex is located on the eastern bank of Cattaraugus Creek outside Springville. It is representative of a small hydroelectric generating facility of the early 20th century in Western New York. The complex was constructed in 1925, replacing a facility near this site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sprague Brook Park</span>

Sprague Brook Park is a 974-acre (3.94 km2) county park in the hamlet of Glenwood in Erie County, New York. It is operated by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and it is the only park managed by Erie County that offers overnight camping facilities. Access to the park is free and it is open year-round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Falls Park</span>

Akron Falls Park is a 284-acre (1.15 km2) park in the Village of Akron and Town of Newstead, New York. A major feature of the park is a scenic 40-foot (12 m) waterfall on Murder Creek, a small stream that flows through the park. The park is operated by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, and is free and open year-round.

Emery Park is a 490-acre (2.0 km2) park in Erie County, in the U.S. state of New York. The park is located in the hamlet of South Wales, southeast of the city of Buffalo. It is operated by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. Access is free and it is open to the public year-round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Como Lake Park</span> Park in Erie County, New York, US

Como Lake Park is a 534-acre (2.16 km2) park in Erie County, in the U.S. state of New York. The park is located along the banks of Cayuga Creek in both the village and town of Lancaster, approximately 14 miles (23 km) east of the city of Buffalo. It is operated by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry. Access is free and it is open to the public year-round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Harbor State Park</span> Urban park in Buffalo, New York, USA

Buffalo Harbor State Park is a 190-acre (0.77 km2) state park and marina on the shore of Lake Erie in the city of Buffalo in Erie County, New York. The park encompasses Gallagher Beach, the former NFTA Small Boat Harbor, and the waterfront land in between.

References

  1. 1 2 "Wendt Beach Park". Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry (Erie.gov). Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 3, Subsection 3.4 - Wendt Beach Park (PDF). Erie County. pp. 19–25. Retrieved March 8, 2015.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Wendt Beach Park". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Denise Jewell Gee (November 22, 2012). "Study sought on deteriorated Wendt Beach mansion". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Harold McNeil (May 28, 2014). "Wendt Beach will not open for swimming this year". The Buffalo News. Retrieved March 8, 2015.