Located 40 miles north of the city, FDR State Park spans about 2 square miles. Despite its medium size, this park is large enough for a full day of activities. Whether it’s a game of disc golf or walking, biking or running on the trails, there seems to be something for everyone in the family to do. (Note: some of the quieter spots in the park are deep in the walking trails away from the picnic areas.)
Summer activities
During the warmer months, the park is packed with travelers from lower New York, particularly from New York City. Sometimes the park can feel crowded, but there always seems to be enough space for everyone. Visiting during off months and on weekdays may be your best bet to fully appreciate the park’s tranquility.
Fall Activities
The park is also very popular in the fall due to the various activities that take place there. Every year in early October, the Support Connection March Against Breast and Ovarian Cancer is held, attended by people of all ages, including sometimes actress Glen Close. Typically a week after the Support Connection Walk, the Guiding Eyes for the Blind Walk is also held at FDR to raise money to train guide dogs. Another great event that takes place in the fall is the Native American Festival (PowWow), which includes various activities to spread awareness of Native American culture.
winter activities
While the park may not be the most exciting place to go in the winter, there are still a few things to do. If the lake is frozen enough, it is the perfect place for ice skating and ice fishing. (Note: Skate and fish at your own risk.) In addition, the trails are ideal for cross-country skiing and the hills are ideal for sledding.
Pool
The swimming facilities at Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park are enormous, to say the least. The pool is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday and from 10 am to 6:30 pm on weekends and the cost is $2 per person. The swimming section of the pool is divided into 8 sections, each of them supervised by a lifeguard who guarantees the safety of the clients. (Note: most of the time only 4 sections are open unless the number of bosses requires more to be opened.)
Pool depth ranges from 1 foot to 5 and 1/2 feet (excluding diving section). There is also a return lane open until noon. In addition, there are 2 diving sections, each with a large and a small diving board. There are a lot of trampoline-related rules to avoid injury (no cartwheels, back dives, double unders, etc.), so all you can really do is jump and dive. During the weekends the pool can reach its maximum capacity (3500 heads), but during the first days of the week the usual number is between 100 and 1000. This may seem like a lot, but the size of the pool and deck pool combined is more than enough to occupy everyone.
The pool has a concession stand which tends to be quite expensive so I would recommend bringing your own food. There are benches and plenty of grass for customers to sit and enjoy the day.
Lake, Boating and Fishing
Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park also offers rowboat and pedal boat rentals for its Mohansic Lake. (Note: swimming is not allowed). If you prefer to bring your own kayak, canoe, or rowboat, there is a boat slip, but a regional boating permit is required. Fishing is also allowed, but a New York State Coarse Fishing License is required.
There is a small canal that is big enough to fit a rowing boat through Mohansic Lake leading to Crom Pond. Trees and wildlife can only be seen from Crom Pond, so if you’re up for the rather difficult journey across the waterway, it’s a good place to get away from it all.
Hiking trails
Whether you want to walk the dog, go for a run, or just enjoy the day, FDR’s many walking trails allow for hours of exploration and relaxation. The hiking trails are relatively flat, though some are more challenging side trails for the experienced hiker. Trails range from easy paved roads to medium dirt paths. Whichever trail you end up on, you’re never too far from a familiar landmark or pavilion.
food
After swimming in the pool or hiking the trails, many people settle into one of the eight picnic areas. As the food cooks on the charcoal grills provided, many picnic areas have playgrounds, volleyball courts, soccer/baseball/softball fields, and the occasional basketball court. The grills are old, to say the least, so I would recommend bringing your own charcoal grill or an extra roll of aluminum foil.
There are two food stalls that are open during the summer months, although they tend to be quite expensive compared to bringing your own food. Each picnic area has a toilet that is pretty clean for a park. All in all, FDR State Park is a fun and inexpensive way to spend a day with the family.
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