Green Lakes State Park - History and Planning

History and Planning

The movement to acquire the land around Green Lakes for a state park began around 1924. The history has been described in a memoir by Betsy Knapp. Knapp, a descendant of the family that acquired and farmed this area in the early 19th century, noted the particular role of Harry Francis, then a professor at the New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University.

In October 1927 725 acres (2.93 km2) were purchased for the new park. In 1929, the Administration Building was built according to plans by Laurie D. Cox, a prominent landscape architect (and Hall of Fame lacrosse coach) who was active in the design of several New York state parks. The first superintendent of the park, Arvin Henry Almquist, lived there for four years. The building, which had been boarded up for many years, was re-opened in 2008.

During the Great Depression (1929-1939), the New York State Department of Conservation (under the administration of then-governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt) and later the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the parks' buildings, cabins, golf course and trails. CCC camps SP-12 and SP-38 were created on the property of the park, comprising about 330 men working on the facilities. These men hauled loads of sand from Sylvan Beach (on nearby Oneida Lake) to create a sandy beach; they dug the basements of the park buildings by hand. The CCC also constructed dormitories, dining halls, etc. for its own use. These facilities were closed in 1941.

The CCC camp was re-opened in 1942 during World War II, and became the Fayetteville Camp for German prisoners of war. Fayetteville Camp was a branch of Pine Camp, which was located on the site of the present Fort Drum near Watertown, New York. The camp was closed again in 1946 when the prisoners were repatriated to Germany.

Since 1928, the park has increased to 1,955 acres (7.91 km2). There were additional acquisitions of land in 1960, 1975, 1995, and 1996. Plans to add an additional 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) to the park have apparently been frustrated.

In 2008, the bathhouse near the park's swimming area and beach was demolished, and a new building was constructed to replace it at a cost of about $2.3 million. The building incorporates changing facilities, restrooms and showers, a snack concession, and a meeting room.