Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

June 02, 2025

(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov

New York State Parks Announces $3.1 Million Investment in Woodlawn Beach State Park

Updated lodge, parking and new police station highlight improvements

Builds on Unplug and Play initiative to enhance outdoor recreation

Images are available here

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation today announced the completion of $3.1 million in upgrades at Woodlawn Beach State Park in time for the summer season. Projects completed at the park on Lake Erie include updates to landscaping, restrooms, maintenance building, and the parking area as well as the construction of a brand-new Park Police Station to improve public safety.

"Woodlawn Beach is a gem in Western New York's backyard with a gorgeous beach and great waterside dining," said State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. "These upgrades will go a long way in making this park an even more attractive place to come and unwind and disconnect from everyday life. There is no better place than a beach to really get away from it all. I am grateful to Governor Hochul for her ongoing commitment to improving not only the facilities of our state parks but improving the mental and emotional well-being of all New Yorkers through these investments."

Completed projects include the following:

• Parking lot and site improvements include improved traffic circulation, site furnishing (toll booth, bollards, benches, and bike racks), masonry gateway features, new signage, lighting and landscaping. The total project cost was $1,960,310 and the work was performed by County Line Stone, Robinson Paving and NW Contracting.

• Improvements to the lodge restrooms include replacement of all existing fixtures, partitions and finishes and new foot washing stations. Work was completed by Telco Construction and the total project cost was $280,130.

• The park maintenance building received a new metal standing seam roof and exterior painting and trim work to compliment the site improvement project. Work was completed by Arrow Sheet Metal Works and the total cost is $243,367.

• Construction of a full service 3,000 square foot police station that includes a booking area, conference/ training room, staff locker rooms and offices. This is the first dedicated police station to the southern section of the Niagara Region to serve Buffalo Harbor, Woodlawn Beach, Evangola and Knox Farm State Parks. Work was performed on time and on budget of $650,000 by State Park Niagara Region crews.

The project builds on work completed at the park in 2023 to enhance natural habitat and improve water quality. The wetland adjacent to Blasdell Creek was enhanced by expanding it to over 4.5 acres, installing a culvert to connect it to the creek, reducing invasive species, and planting almost 13,000 native plants. The project will help to remove pollutants and improve water quality by increasing water circulation between the wetland and Blasdell Creek before water flows into Lake Erie.

The work reflects Governor Hochul's commitment to outdoor recreation. The Fiscal Year 2026 Enacted Budget includes $200 million for State Parks to invest in and aid the ongoing transformation of New York's flagship parks and support critical infrastructure projects throughout the park system. The Governor's new Unplug and Play initiative also earmarks $100 million for construction and renovation of community centers through the Build Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids and Seniors (NY BRICKS), $67.5 million for the Places for Learning, Activity and Youth Socialization (NY PLAYS) initiative helping New York communities construct new playgrounds and renovate existing playgrounds; and an additional $90 million for the continuation of the Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative including $50 million for a competitive grant program supporting municipalities in the renovation and construction of swimming facilities and $40 million for other swimming-based investments.