Wonder Lake State Park is a 973-acre (3.9 km2) state park in Putnam County, New York, U.S. in the town of Patterson. It was founded in 1998 with an original 794 acres, and was expanded by the purchase of 106 acres (0.4 km2) of open space in February 2006.
Prior to the 106 acre purchase, the tract was surrounded by private property with no public access.
Lying midway between public lands in Kent and the Great Swamp in Patterson, Putnam County, Wonder Lake State Park is a critical link in the Northern Putnam Greenway. OPRHP (Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation) acquired the 794-acre Wonder Lake property in November 1998 using Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act funds. The new state park was the summer home of television star Elizabeth Montgomery until her death in 1995. Acquisition provided protection to the Great Swamp watershed and unique open space areas.
As of 2013, there were 8.7 miles of trails, including the Highlands Trail, which passes Laurel Pond and encircles Wonder Lake. Four other trails cover much of the northern, central and western areas of the park.
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one.”
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809)
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—Jean Giraudoux (1882–1944)