Beechwood State Park
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| Beechwood State Park | |
|---|---|
 Beechwood State Park, March 2009 | |
  Location of Beechwood State Park within New York State | |
| Type | State park |
| Location | Town of Sodus, Wayne County, New York |
| Nearest city | Rochester, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°16′07″N 77°01′50″W / 43.2687°N 77.0306°W |
| Area | 288 acres (1.17 km2)[1] |
| Created | 1999[2] |
| Operated by | |
Beechwood State Park is a 288-acre (1.17 km2) state park[1] located on the shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Sodus in Wayne County, New York. The park occupies land that was formerly the site of a Girl Scout camp. The park is owned by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and is currently operated by the Town of Sodus under an agreement with New York State.
In 1929, the Girl Scouts of the USA purchased approximately 150 acres (0.61 km2) of land bordering Lake Ontario, where they subsequently built Camp Beechwood. The park was used by the Girl Scouts and other youth organizations for camping and outdoor activities until financial pressures forced the camp's closure in the late 1990s.[3]
In 1999, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation purchased the property with plans to develop a New York state park at the site.[2] Budget shortfalls led to the park being designated as a "preserve", and formal development of the park by the state never materialized. Former camp buildings and facilities remained at the park, but were allowed to decay.[3]
The park was expanded in 2006 after the state purchased an adjacent 146-acre (0.59 km2) parcel of land.[2]
In 2010, the Town of Sodus took over management and operation of the park after signing a long-term lease with New York State. The town has since repaired and secured buildings and cleared trails to create a more formal park setting.[4]
