Former Camp Barton becomes new state park on Cayuga Lake

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), other state officials, and dignitaries from the town of Ulysses and the village of Trumansburg announced June 2 the creation of new state parkland on Cayuga Lake that will soon be open for passive recreation.

The new 90-acre state park, located at the site of the former Boy Scout Camp Barton on the western shore of Cayuga Lake in Seneca County, will be managed by the towns of Ulysses and Covert, as well as the village of Trumansburg. Visitors are encouraged by OPRHP to engage in passive recreational activities like hiking and nature observation. Additional outdoor recreational activities, environmental education and cultural events are also planned for the future, OPRHP officials said in a press release.

The three municipal governments will operate and manage the former Boy Scout camp through a partnership known as the Three Falls Local Development Corporation. To kickstart management, OPRHP awarded the new partnership a $100,000 grant to develop a comprehensive plan and facility assessment strategy for the park. 

The study will take inventory of capital needs and urgent repairs, and will plan for the transition of the former camp facility into an accessible state park that serves visitors from the state and beyond while also preserving the land’s natural and historical significance. 

The grant was awarded through the Parks and Trail Partnership Grants program, which is funded through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund. Grants are administered in partnership with the nonprofit advocacy group Parks and Trails New York and OPRHP.  

“I’m grateful to our partners in the community for stepping forward to preserve this magnificent property and make it accessible to the public,” State Parks Commissioner Pro Tem Randy Simons said in a press release. “This park will provide even more recreational opportunities in the region for visitors to explore and experience Cayuga Lake and its surroundings.” 

OPRHP acquired the property from the Baden-Powell Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which had operated the facility as Camp Barton, in 2023. The property includes a half-mile of Cayuga Lake shoreline, dockage, bathrooms and a caretaker’s residence. The property, several miles north of Taughannock Falls State Park, also includes the 128-foot Frontenac Falls. 

The addition of the 90 acres to the state park system also supports the state’s goal to conserve 30% of its lands and waters by 2030.

“The Town of Ulysses celebrates both the leadership of New York State Parks in acquiring the property and our collaboration with our partners inTrumansburg and Covert to manage this amazing local resource,” said Town of Ulysses Supervisor Katelin Olson. “This tremendous accomplishment will benefit our community now and future generations of children and adults alike.” 

Trumansburg Mayor Rordan Hart echoed Olson’s comments, noting that the village is thrilled to see another state park on the shores of Cayuga Lake.

“Preserving the former Camp Barton site for public access is an incredible benefit for the entire community, and we look forward to working with our local partners in Ulysses and Covert in making this new state park a success,” Hart said. 

Officials in Covert have also started working on improvements to the area. According to a press release from OPRHP, the town recently completed the construction of a new bridge to the north entrance of the park that will serve vehicles and pedestrians. OPRHP has also completed a number of safety improvements. 

A formal dedication of the property, including the park name, will be determined at a later date. Under the 10-year operating agreement, the municipal partnership agreed to operate and maintain the new park for public use, set the fees for such use and determine activities available at the park. The agreement includes a 10-year renewal option. 

“[We are] working together to create and attract a population into our area that will excite economic development throughout Seneca and Tompkins County,” Covert Town Board Member Deborah Nottke said in a press release. “A future enjoying this treasure that had been hidden from the public for over 100 years can be shared and experienced by you. Visions are aspirations and ideas to plan in the future; our vision is now becoming a reality.”    

Ulysses Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com.