Willson's Woods Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willson's Woods Park
Canada Geese and a Pekin Domestic Duck feeding by the highway at Willson's Woods Park.
Location	Mt. Vernon, NY, United States
Created	1924
Operated by	Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation

Willson's Woods Park is a fun and historic park located in Mount Vernon, New York. It's owned by Westchester County and managed by their Parks Department. The park was bought in 1924, making it one of the oldest parks in the county's system. It was named after Charles Hill Willson, who used to own the land.

Willson's Woods Park is a great place to visit! It covers 23 acres and offers many activities. You can go birdwatching, fishing, walking, ice skating, picnicking, and swimming. In 2010, the park even got the best inspection scores among all the county's parks. It's a real gem for outdoor fun!

Discover Willson's Woods Park

Willson's Woods Park is unique because it includes all of Pelham Lake. This lake is the only one found in the city of Mount Vernon. The park is bordered by the Hutchinson River Parkway and the lake itself. It also has cool entrances that pass under old and new railway lines.

Wildlife at the Park

If you love nature, you'll enjoy the park's wildlife. More than 50 different kinds of birds have been spotted here! You might see many Mallards, which are common ducks. In the past, huge groups of Canada Geese have visited, sometimes up to 250 at once! A special Pekin duck even lived at the park for a few months in 2020.

Splash and Play at Willson's Waves

Willson's Woods Park has been home to a swimming area since 1928. It's a super popular spot, especially in the summer!

History of the Pool

Building the first swimming pool started in 1927. It was a huge one-million-gallon pool! There was also a two-story bathhouse built in a cool, old-fashioned style called Tudor Revival. The swimming facility opened on July 4th, 1928, and was called Willson's Woods Pool. They even held a swimming competition on its very first day!

Modern Aquatic Playground

After the summer of 2004, the pool got a big makeover. It was changed into what the park department calls an "aquatic playground." The old pool was replaced with exciting new features. Now, it has a fun wave pool where you can ride the waves. There are also two tall, eighteen-foot water slides for thrill-seekers.

For younger kids, there's a special small pool and play area called the Aqua Playground. Plus, there's a splash pad with water jets, known as the Sprayground. The new facility opened in the summer of 2005 and was renamed Willson's Waves.

How to Visit Willson's Waves

To enter Willson's Waves, most people need a special identity card called a Park Pass. You can buy these passes if you live in Westchester County. They are available at the facility during summer or at other locations in the county.

If you have a picnic reservation at the park, your picnic permit can act as your pass for that day. County residents who don't want to buy a Park Pass can pay a higher daily fee. They just need to show proof that they live in the county. However, these visitors cannot bring other adults or children with them.

You can also buy a Season Swim Pass if you have a Park Pass. This pass lets you pay one fee for the whole summer. It means you don't have to pay every time you visit.

Future Plans for Willson's Waves

There are plans to make Willson's Waves even bigger! They want to add two more water slides that were originally planned for the 2004 renovation. Also, new windows will be put in the bathhouse to look like the old ones. This is to help keep the building's classic look. The goal is to have the bathhouse recognized as a historic site.

Picnicking at Willson's Woods

Willson's Woods Park has special areas where groups can have picnics. You need to make a reservation in advance through the Group Permit Office. Either a Westchester County resident or a business located in the county can make these bookings.

The park has three picnic areas, each big enough for up to 75 people. These are located on the southeastern side of the park. There's also a pavilion called DeMatteo Terrace. This pavilion is on the second floor of the Willson's Waves bathhouse. It can hold up to 100 people and is named after a valued county employee, Charles "Chuck" J. DeMatteo.