Durand Eastman Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Durand Eastman Park is a beautiful natural park located in Monroe County, New York.


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Summary

It covers an area of approximately 977 acres and features a variety of landscapes ranging from a dense forest to a freshwater beach. The park offers a wide range of activities for visitors, including hiking, fishing, picnicking, and swimming.

One of the main reasons to visit Durand Eastman Park is its scenic beauty. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, rabbits, and many species of birds. Visitors can explore the park's hiking trails and enjoy the stunning scenery of Lake Ontario and the surrounding countryside.

Durand Eastman Park also offers several points of interest for visitors to explore. One of the most popular is the Durand Eastman Beach, which is a freshwater beach that is open during the summer months. The beach is a great place to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy water sports.

Other notable areas include the Durand Eastman Golf Course, which is a public golf course that is open year-round, and the Durand Eastman Lodge, which is a historic building that is available for rent for weddings, corporate events, and other functions.

Interesting facts about Durand Eastman Park include that it was created in 1909 through a joint effort between the City of Rochester and the State of New York. The park is named after George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak Company, who donated a portion of the land for its creation.

The best time of year to visit Durand Eastman Park depends on the visitor's interests. The park is open year-round, but activities such as swimming and picnicking are only available during the summer months. The fall is a particularly beautiful time to visit, as the changing leaves create a stunning display of color.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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