It might seem like an odd time of year to be talking about parks, but in Erie County that certainly isn’t the case. In fact, winter is an extremely busy time at the parks with a lot of fun, free activities offered.

Santa Land, a family tradition for many, returns again this year from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 and Sunday, Dec. 13 at Chestnut Ridge Park, located at 6121 Chestnut Ridge Road, Orchard Park. The highlight of the event is the hayride up to Santa’s workshop where children can meet with Santa Claus and take photos. Also enjoy arts and crafts, roasting marshmallows, woodcutting and other activities. This event wouldn’t be possible without the Orchard Park Recreation Department and the generous event sponsors.  This is an extremely popular event and don’t forget the last hayride to see Santa leaves at 2:30 p.m. each day.

While it doesn’t look like the ski, sledding or toboggan hills will be ready for use anytime soon, we know the weather around here can change quickly. Just a reminder that when seasonal activities are open, the county keeps residents up-to-date on conditions at www.erie.gov/parks and on social media. Many of the parks located in southern Erie County, have some of the best sledding hills in the area, with the highlight of the dual toboggan runs at Chestnut Ridge. The county also offers ice skating and downhill skiing at some parks, as well as snowshoeing and cross country ski trails at most parks. Just remember to always use the county facilities safely and abide by the posted warnings.

You can find complete details at the park’s website, by calling 858-8355 or emailing Erie_County_Parks@erie.gov.

In some very exciting parks news, the county has added new park land at the headwaters of 18 Mile Creek in Concord. The 222-acre property had been privately owned and will now be protected, helping to preserve the waterway, which is one of Lake Erie’s major tributaries. This effort was made possible thanks to the Nature Conservancy and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, which together secured grant funds and raised private donations to acquire the property. The US Fish and Wildlife Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection Program provided more than $170,000 in grant funds, and the landowner sold the land at a discounted price. This truly was a great effort by all involved.

The county will maintain the land, which will be open to the public to explore and is home to 150 species of birds, 30 species of trees and 14 types of shrubs. The county owns a lot of great land and has utilized it well in the past to offer active and passive recreation options to residents. Continuing to do so isn’t always an easy task, but I believe we can ensure that the parks’ owners, the taxpayers of Erie County, are receiving the quality services they deserve.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 858-8850 or at john.mills@erie.gov.