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Durand-Eastman Park is a large park in Rochester, New York. It is administered by the Monroe County Parks Deparment under an agreement with the City of Rochester.
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Geography
The park contains several lakes. The two largest are Durand Lake and Eastman Lake. The park's northern boundary is defined by 5,000 ft[1] of Lake Ontario coastline. Although the entire park is municipally part of the City of Rochester, it is almost completely surrounded by the town of Irondequoit, New York, connected to Rochester by an easement.
History
Durand-Eastman Park was formally dedicated on May 22, 1909.[2] Historically, the beach at Durand-Eastman was much wider than it is today. In 1915, bath houses were built on the lakeshore. They became unusable in 1949 due to rising water levels.[2] The building was eventually demolished.
Flora
Durand-Eastman has a variety of trees and wildflowers. A 1937 source claims that the park "contains 395 varieties of native and foreign trees, shrubs, and plants."[3] The park's Slavin Arboretum contains an impressive collection of trees.[4]
Fauna
Deer, raccoon, Eastern Gray Squirrels and chipmunks are common mammals in the park.
Recreation and facilities
The park has a municipal golf course, built as a 9 hole course in 1917[2], that was redesigned by Robert Trent Jones in 1933. Now it has 18 holes and a club house. There are hiking trails. Swimming was permitted at the park's incredibly scenic Lake Ontario beach in 2006 for the first time in forty years. On May 26, 2007, the beach opened for the second straight season.The swimming area is slightly larger this year, extending an additional 25 yards west. The beach is staffed by lifeguards, groundspeople, and security personnel.[5].
Ghosts
The legend of the White Lady exists in Durand Eastman Park. [6]
References
- ^ Durand Eastman Park. City of Rochester. 15 Jan 2007. http://www.ci.rochester.ny.us/prhs/Parks/index.cfm?action=showvenu&id=70
- ^ a b c West, Maude I. Irondequoit History. Irondequoit, New York: Town of Irondequoit, 1957.
- ^ Rochester and Monroe County: A History and Guide. Rochester, The Genesee Book Club of Rochester: 1937.
- ^ Cook, Richard J. "Durand Eastman Park: Slavin's Arboretum." Upstate Gardeners Journal Winter 1998.
- ^ "The Cause of Bacteria at Durand Eastman Beach. Dec 11 2006. Jan 15 2007 <http://10nbc.com/index.asp?template=item&story_id=20959>
- ^ Schlosser, S. E. "The White Lady" <http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/ny6.html>
