Trout Ponds Park

Quick Bits

Main Activities - Hike, Fish
Distance - 1 mile of trails
Quiet - Relatively quiet with playground and sports background noise
Surface - Easy
Elevation - Flat
Pets - leash
Address - Spring Street Newark Valley, NY

Map of fitness/walking paths.

In a Nutshell

This small community park on the East Branch of the Owego Creek is worth checking out if you fish, walk, bird, or have young children. It dates back to 1870.

Location and Parking

Once in the park there is a good amount of parking available. The drive does go near playing fields and playgrounds so please pay attention and watch for children.

More details

Trout Ponds Park consists of a playground, fitness/walking trail, ball fields, gazebo, pavilions, and more. This is spread across about 18-acres of land that hugs the East Branch Owego Creek. The playground is nice and well maintained for smaller children. There is a mile long fitness trail with five fitness stations.

There is a rich history behind the park. Development of it started shortly after the end of the US Civil War in 1869. The "Davidge Tract" was owned by John Davidge, a tannery owner. He partnered with Norman K. Waring who had worked on bring the Southern Central Railroad to the region. The area was a natural place for the park with springs, ponds, and a brook. Waring had interest in breeding trout and built up the ponds. It was opened to the public in 1870 as an amusement park and picnic grounds. It was a very popular destination in the late 1800s with people coming from various regions via the train. Opening day saw eight-hundred people.

Attendance declined in the 1940s and New York State took over the park to use for trout breeding. In 1954, New York state sold the tract to the Village of Newark Valley for $1. Cleaning up the park started in ernest in 1957.

1869 Map, year before the park opened, showing 4 of 6 ponds.

Links of Interest

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