Misplaced Pages

#402597

25-758: Saratoga Spa State Park is a 2,379-acre (9.63 km) state park located in Saratoga County , New York in the United States. The park is in the City of Saratoga Springs , near US 9 and NY 50 . The grounds contain mineral springs , classical bath and spa houses, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center . The area, part of which became the park, drew interest from Mohawk and Iroquois Native American tribes for its hunting and mineral springs. The Native American name for

50-526: A land lease from the U.S. government , while Mackinac National Park was handed down to become the first of the Michigan state parks . As with national parks, facilities at state parks are often leased to concessionaires to operate. Breaks Interstate Park is operated under an interstate compact by Virginia state parks , although it is also one of the Kentucky state parks , straddling both sides of

75-707: A location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational potential. There are state parks under the administration of the government of each U.S. state , some of the Mexican states , and in Brazil . The term is also used in the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales . The equivalent term used in Canada, Argentina, South Africa, and Belgium, is provincial park . Similar systems of local government maintained parks exist in other countries, but

100-531: A massive tufa dome, which continues to fossilize leaves and other debris as it grows. The park hosts theater and other events. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center , located on the state park grounds, has been the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and New York City Ballet since 1966. The SPAC Amphitheater is 110 feet (34 m) high, sits in a natural, curved bowl bordered by large pine trees. The amphitheater has seating for 5,100 and

125-589: A nearby source. Though the creek in the park is called Geyser Creek, Saratoga Springs area does not feature actual geysers. In Geysers, water is forced from underground by heat related to seismic activity. Instead, Saratoga's "spouters" spring up due to the pressure of pockets of carbonic gas trapped beneath deep layers of shale. The famous mineral springs arise from fissures in the Saratoga Fault, which runs 65 miles (105 km) from Whitehall to Albany . The carbonated water that vents in springs and geysers

150-699: A restaurant) for lodging at some parks. These typically use "Resort" in the name, such as "_____ Resort State Park" in West Virginia state parks and "_____ State Resort Park" in neighboring Kentucky state parks , which has 17 such resort parks, the most of any state. Other states use the Resort name inconsistently (like DeGray Lake Resort State Park , the only one out of three resorts in Arkansas state parks ), or have only one such park ( South Carolina state parks ' Hickory Knob State Resort Park ), or do not use

175-452: A variety of recreational opportunities, some of which require small admission fees. Several pools are available at the park. The "Peerless Pool" is a complex of three pools, including a children's pool, water slides, and a zero depth entry Olympic-sized swimming pool. The "Victoria Pool" is a smaller pool located near the golf course and surrounded by covered arcades. It was built when the original park buildings were constructed. The bath house

200-416: Is rich in minerals and salts. Two of the most visited springs today are Geyser Island Spouter and Orenda Spring, along Geyser Creek. Geyser Island Spouter, which sends a narrow plume of water 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 m) into the air, first emerged in the early 1900s. Since that time, it has deposited minerals that grow a tufa deposit at the rate of two inches (5 cm) per year. Orenda Spring has created

225-543: The Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration . National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame The National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame purposed a mission from its very foundation. It was "to cultivate, promote, foster, sponsor, and develop among its members and the community at large, the appreciation, understanding, taste, and love of the Musical Arts, especially

250-521: The Dance; to create a National Hall of Fame for the advancement of such purposes; to secure the interest of the patrons of these Arts, and to promote and encourage the means for popular instruction and enjoyment thereof." The Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame collection was provided to the Museum in 1987. The Hall of Fame annually inducts individuals from the dance world. List of

275-470: The United States is Alaska State Parks , with over 100 sites encompassing 3.3 million acres. Many states include designations beyond "state park" in their state parks systems. Other designations might be state recreation areas , state beaches, and state nature reserves . Some state park systems include long-distance trails and historic sites . To encourage tourism in rural areas, several states have simple lodges, inns, hotels, or motels (usually with

SECTION 10

#1732765430403

300-456: The area was Kayaderosseras . The first recorded use of the springs was by Sir William Johnson during the French and Indian War , who was brought to Saratoga to recover from wounds. In the 19th century, the area became much visited for its purported medicinal effects. Entrepreneurs dug wells and bottled the mineral water for sale and gas companies sold the carbonation to soda fountains. In 1907,

325-419: The baths as part of their healing process. The spa was named a state park in 1962. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987, for its natural and architectural features, and for its role as the subject of early conservation measures. In 2007, it was confirmed by state officials that the reportedly "pure" mineral water used in the public baths at the state park was actually mixed with tap water from

350-478: The designation at all (such as the lodges of Georgia state parks ). The term "lodge" may also refer to a hiking lodge , essentially a large cabin for hikers rather than a large facility with private rooms and a restaurant. Other lodging may include yurts and tipis . Not all parks owned by a state are necessarily part of its state-park system, such as Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. Some Texas state parks are

375-505: The injunction was ignored. In 1909, governor Charles Evans Hughes signed into law a bill that made the springs of Saratoga a state reservation. In the 1930s, Reconstruction Finance Corporation funds were used to develop bath houses, research facilities and a drink hall. The Saratoga Reservation was designed with graded walkways intended to help rehabilitate those with heart conditions. After World War II veterans were welcomed as part of their readjustment and Holocaust survivors began using

400-486: The largest state park in the United States . In addition to preserving natural landscapes and providing recreational opportunities, many state parks also serve as important educational resources . They often offer guided tours, interpretive programs, and exhibits that help visitors learn about the local flora , fauna , geology , and cultural history of the area. These programs are designed not only to enhance

425-776: The lawn can hold an additional 25,000 people. The park contains the Spa Little Theater, which hosts plays throughout the year. The Spa Little Theater is located on the north side of the park office. The park is also home to the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame , the Saratoga Automobile Museum , the Lincoln Mineral Baths and Spa, and the Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa. Saratoga Spa State Park offers

450-414: The park. The park hosts ice skating in the winter and interpretive programs throughout the year. It also hosts the annual New York State Section 2 Cross Country Championships. State park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve

475-580: The stage was set to protect the springs in a lawsuit Frank Hathorn vs. Dr. Strong's Sanitarium , which showed that pumping on one well decreased the flow of water in wells across the city. The court certified the relationship between wells and when Dr. Strong stopped pumping, the flow of water in Mr. Hathorn's well resumed its natural flow. In 1908, as the springs were being depleted, the New York Assembly passed an injunction against pumping water; however

500-474: The state line. Other multi-state parks are legally two separate parks with the same name and more informal cooperation between them. The title of oldest state park in the United States is claimed by Niagara Falls State Park in New York , established in 1885. Several public parks previously or currently maintained at the state level pre-date it. Indian Springs State Park has been operated continuously by

525-454: The state of Georgia as a public park since 1825, although it did not gain the title "State Park" until 1931. In 1864 Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded by the federal government to California until Yosemite National Park was proclaimed in 1890. In 1878 Wisconsin set aside a vast swath of its northern forests as "The State Park" but, needing money, sold most of it to lumber companies within 20 years. Mackinac National Park

SECTION 20

#1732765430403

550-534: The terminology varies. State parks are thus similar to national parks , but under state rather than federal administration. Similarly, local government entities below state level may maintain parks, e.g., regional parks or county parks . In general, state parks are smaller than national parks, with a few exceptions such as Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California, and Wood-Tikchik State Park in Alaska,

575-575: The visitor experience but also to promote conservation awareness and encourage responsible enjoyment of natural resources. There are 6,792 state park units in the United States, according to the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD). There are some 813 million annual visits to the country's state parks. The NASPD further counts over 43,000 miles (69,000 km) of trail, 217,367 campsites, and 8,277 cabins and lodges across U.S. state parks. The largest state park system in

600-473: Was established in 1875 as the second U.S. national park before being converted to a state park in 1895. The first state park with the designation of "state park" was Itasca State Park in Minnesota , established in 1891. Many state park systems date to the 1930s, when around 800 state parks (and several national ones) across the country were developed with assistance from federal job-creation programs like

625-479: Was on the north end and the golf house was on the south end. Today the former golf house has been converted to a restaurant. The park also has tennis courts, two golf courses, picnic areas, horseshoe pits, softball fields, and volleyball courts. Several picnic pavilions are equipped with electricity and all have nearby restrooms. A stretch of Geyser Creek is located in the park and offers opportunities for fishing. Trails for hiking and snowshoeing are also found within

#402597