Lucille Ball Memorial Park

Lucille Ball Memorial Park is located in the village of Celeron, on the shore of Lake Chautauqua. Lucille Ball spent summers here as a teenager, selling hot dogs. The park contains a dock, boat launch, playground, and a small lighthouse. This is also the location where the Summer Wind sight-seeing cruise departs. Children love feeding the local ducks, and many kids play in the water near the boat launch and pier. Many people fish off the dock, so swimmers should beware of fishing lines and fishing hooks. This park does not feature a beach or lifeguards.

Location:

21 Boulevard Ave Celoron , NY 14720

Amenities:

• Boat launch

• Playground

• Dock

• Picnic tables

• Ball field

• Walking paths along the lake

• Picnic shelters

• Restrooms

The playground offers slides, a bridge, and monkey bars. The surface is bark mulch, and the playground is not universally accessible. Children love running along the walking paths by the sea wall along the lake. A statue of Lucille Ball is located in this park, immortalizing a scene from the Lucille Ball show (the statue is selling "vitameatavegamin" syrup from an episode of the show).

Jamestown Children's Museum

Update: The Jamestown Children's Museum no longer has a building, as the former benefactor passed away prior to the completion of the lease agreement. The museum is looking for a donation of a space containing at least 5,000 square feet, and will remain unopened indefinitely.

The Children's Museum of Jamestown is located in the heart of the city, and offers a variety of fun and educational hands-on opportunities for young children and their parents. The museum features an arts-and-crafts room, a medical sciences room, an area for young toddlers to safely explore, musical activities, and more. In addition to the indoor exhibits, an outdoor park will be cordoned off in the spring and summer. Hours and the official opening date are to be determined.

Playing in the bounce house is fun!

Exploring medical science with real X-rays.

A special area for the 0-3 age group

Location: 300 N. Main Street, Jamestown, NY - on the corner of Main St. and 3rd St.

Admission: Suggested donation of $1 per child. Adults without children will not be admitted.

Amenities:

(available during preview)

A sailboat to climb on and explore
Arts and Crafts
Toddler play room
Medical Science Exploration
Music and Sound Exploration
Bounce House
Train Table
Air Hockey table
Microscope with various objects to inspect

Note: At the time of the preview, the museum was still under construction and many more exciting exhibits will be available when the official opening day arrives.

Earl Lawson Town Park

A rather nice, quiet park is located in the Town of Busti. The playground equipment is rather dated, but this is one of the few playgrounds to have a merry-go-round as part of the play equipment. The park also sports a volleyball court with sand, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a picnic pavilion. The water fountain is powered by an old-fashioned hand pump, which children find quite entertaining.




Location:

Lawson Road, Busti, NY

(From Jamestown: take Southwestern Drive (Rte. 45) to the "5 Corners" intersection. Continue straight through the intersection and make a right on Lawson Road. The playground is about 1/2 mile up the road and on the left).

Amenities:

Picnic Pavilion
Playground
Water-pump water fountain
Volleyball Court
Basketball Court
Tennis Courts

Chautauqua Gorge

The Chautauqua Gorge is part of the NY State Forest system and has several trails for hiking, day-use picnic areas, and fire rings. Fossils can be found in the shale lining the river. The shale becomes very slippery in wet areas, so watch small children when hiking in wet areas.




Location:

Hannum Road, Chautauqua, NY. From Mayville, take Rte. 430 west to Hannum Road. Hannum road continues for some distance and becomes a dirt road. To reach the swimming holes, drive to the end of the road and park. The trail is at the end of the road and goes downhill to the river and swimming holes.

Amenities:

Picnic shelters
Fire rings
Swimming holes
Hiking trails
Fossils

Bergman Park

Bergman Park offers a very large playground with universal accessibility. There are two swing sets: one with toddler seats, the other with traditional swings and two five-point-harness swings. The larger play equipment has ramps and transfer stations, in addition to challenging rock climbing towers and spiral climbers.

There is a rocking airplane, car, and dinosaur, which are a big hit with the younger set. A digging toy is in one corner of the playground, however this is often flooded with stagnant dirty water. Deep rubber mulch covers the play surface, offering a safe play environment. Be aware that the black rubber mulch can get VERY hot on summer days, and will turn little hands (and faces and legs) black as children play in it.

Location:
487 Baker Street, Jamestown, NY 14701

Amenities:

Fenced playground
Toddler play equipment
Older child play equipment
Rock climbing wall
Picnic Pavilions
Bathrooms
Water fountains
Basketball courts
Baseball diamonds
Parking lot

Universal Access: Yes

Tom Erlandson Overview Park

This park offers a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside, and Chautauqua Lake on a clear day. There is a 1.2 mile hiking trail, two viewing platforms, a picnic pavilion, and a grassy meadow with rolling hills. This is the second highest point in Chautauqua County, at 2060 feet above sea level.

Location:

Oak Hill Road, Frewsburg, NY 14738

Amenities:

1.2 mile hiking trail with creeks and footbridges
2 viewing platforms
Picnic pavilion
Pit toilets
Potable water

Butterfly Room at the Jamestown Audubon

The Jamestown Audubon hosts a Monarch Butterfly exhibit at the end of August. The dates may vary, so check the official website for the time and date of the event. Children and adults enter a room with free-flying Monarchs. Monarch caterpillars are displayed in all stages of development.

There is a special "hold a butterfly" area, where parents may assist young children with holding one of the beautiful butterflies. The butterflies are tagged and released, so scientists can track their migration.


Location:

1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown, NY 14701

Date:

Generally held the last weekend in August.