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Henry C. Mcdonald Memorial Park

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Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Henry C.


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Summary

McDonald Memorial Park is located in the town of Cortlandt, New York, and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. The park spans over 130 acres and offers a variety of amenities and activities for visitors of all ages, including hiking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, and a fishing pond.

One of the main attractions of the park is its extensive trail system, which features over 4 miles of hiking trails through wooded areas and along the shore of the Hudson River. The park also has several picnic areas with tables and grills, as well as a large pavilion that can be reserved for group events.

Other points of interest within the park include a large playground area with swings, slides, and climbing structures, as well as a baseball field, basketball court, and soccer field. Visitors can also enjoy fishing in the park's pond, which is stocked with trout and other fish species.

Interesting facts about the park include its namesake, Henry C. McDonald, who was a longtime resident of the area and served as a member of the Cortlandt Town Board for over 30 years. The park was renamed in his honor in 1985.

The best time of year to visit Henry C. McDonald Memorial Park is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is mild and the park's amenities are open for use. However, the park is open year-round and offers beautiful views of the Hudson River and surrounding areas during the fall and winter months as well.

       

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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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