Nyack Beach State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nyack Beach State Park |
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A path between the Palisades Sill and the Hudson River at Nyack Beach State Park
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| Type | State park |
| Location | Upper Nyack Rockland County, New York |
| Area | 61 acres (0.25 km2) |
| Created | 1911 |
| Operated by | |
| Visitors | 169,661 (in 2014) |
| Website | Nyack Beach State Park |
| Designated: | 1980 |
Nyack Beach State Park is a beautiful park in Upper Nyack, New York. It's about 61 acres (25 hectares) big. The park has a small parking area and a lovely path along the Hudson River. This path is the start of the Hudson River Valley Greenway.
What makes this park special? On one side of the path, you're right next to the wide Hudson River. On the other side, huge cliffs called the Palisades rise about 700 feet (213 meters) high!
Nyack Beach State Park is part of the larger Palisades Interstate Park system. This system includes other nearby parks like Rockland Lake State Park, Hook Mountain State Park, and Haverstraw Beach State Park. They all connect to form a big area for nature and fun.
Park History
The Palisades Interstate Park Commission bought the land for Nyack Beach State Park in 1911. They wanted to create a place for people to enjoy the outdoors. They also wanted to protect the land.
At that time, quarrying (digging for rocks) was harming the Hudson River Palisades. The park helped stop this damage. In April 1980, Nyack Beach was named a National Natural Landmark. This was because of its important part of the Palisades Sill, a special rock formation.
What to Do at the Park
Nyack Beach State Park is a great place for many activities. You can enjoy a picnic with friends or family. It's also perfect for hiking and bicycling along the pathway.
If you like to fish, you can do that too. In winter, when there's snow, you can even go cross-country skiing. The pathway is flat and easy to use for everyone. It runs for about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) along the river. It connects all the way to Rockland Lake State Park.
The Beach
The park's name, Nyack Beach, tells you it once had a swimming beach. However, this beach has been closed for many years. This was because of pollution in the Hudson River.
Good news! The river's condition has gotten much better. In 2005, people started talking about reopening the beach for swimming again.
Wildlife and Nature
Nyack Beach State Park is home to many interesting animals. You can often see hawks and other raptors flying above. These birds build their nests in the tall cliffs. They are easy to spot from the pathway.
Sometimes, even more unusual visitors show up. In 1994, a harbor seal was seen at the park. Another harbor seal spent much of August 1995 near the park.
The rocks along the pathway also hold ancient secrets. Fossils have been found here. Even dinosaur footprints have been discovered in the rocks! It's like a natural history museum right in the park.
