Sandyfield, New York facts for kids
Sandyfield was a small village in Rockland County, New York, United States. It had about 30 houses. In 1928, this village disappeared underwater. This happened when a swampy area called Beaver Pond was dammed. The dam created a new lake called Lake Welch, which is now part of Harriman State Park.
The Story of Sandyfield Village
Sandyfield was first settled around 1760. It was located along an old road that connected Stony Point to Central Valley. Today, this old road is a hiking trail known as the Hasenclever Road.
In 1910, Harriman State Park was created. The park's managers, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, told the people living in Sandyfield that they would need to move. The park had big plans to build a large lake, Lake Welch. This lake would cover about 216 acres (0.87 km2). To do this, they planned to build a dam at Beaver Pond, which would flood the Sandyfield area.
The villagers tried to fight this decision through political means. However, in 1939, the last families living in Sandyfield were ordered to leave their homes.
By 1942, the new lake was finished. Workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps helped build the dam and the park. This group was a government program that provided jobs during the Great Depression. The lake was named Lake Welch to honor William A. Welch. He was the first leader of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. He was very important in creating Harriman State Park.
Lake Welch Today
After the dam was completed, Lake Welch Beach opened to the public. This beach is very popular. It has a half-mile long sandy area for walking and swimming. There are also large parking lots that can hold 2,500 cars. It is the biggest beach in the Palisades Region. In 2020, nearly half a million people visited Lake Welch Beach.
Every winter, the lake's water level is lowered by about 20 feet (6.1 m). This is done to help bring back sand that the water might have washed away.
You can get to Lake Welch Beach from Exit 16 on the Palisades Interstate Parkway. You can take Lake Welch Drive (which is closed in winter) or County Route 106.
Right next to the lake is Beaver Pond Campground. This is one of two places in the park where you can camp overnight. The campground has over 100 camping spots. These spots are for tents, not for large RVs. The campground has facilities like restrooms.
