Lake Ontario State Parkway
Encyclopedia
The Lake Ontario State Parkway is a 35.05 miles (56.41 km) parkway
along the southern shore of Lake Ontario
in western New York
in the United States. The western end of the highway is at a partial interchange within Lakeside Beach State Park
in Carlton
, Orleans County
. Its eastern terminus is at an intersection with Lake Avenue in the Charlotte
neighborhood of the Monroe County
city of Rochester
. The parkway is internally designated by the New York State Department of Transportation
as New York State Route 947A (NY 947A), an unsigned reference route. A short, 0.55 mile (0.885137 km) connector between the west end of the parkway and NY 18
is unsigned New York State Route 948A.
The parkway mainline and the connector to NY 18 are both part of the Seaway Trail
, a National Scenic Byway
that extends along the shores of Lake Erie
and Lake Ontario from northwestern Pennsylvania
to the North Country
of New York. The Lake Ontario State Parkway passes through mostly open and rural areas, except near Greece
and Rochester, where the land surrounding the highway is more developed. It serves mostly as a connector between Rochester and several lakeside state parks and communities. From its western terminus to the Rochester suburbs, the parkway is the closest continuous roadway to the Lake Ontario shore.
The highway was one of several parkways built as part of a 145 miles (233 km) expansion to the state's parkway system in 1944. Construction of the Lake Ontario State Parkway began in the late 1940s, and the first section of the route—linking Hamlin Beach State Park
to NY 261
—opened in the early 1950s. The remainder of the highway through Greece and Rochester was built in stages during the 1950s and early 1960s, while the section between Lakeside Beach and Hamlin Beach State Parks was constructed in the early 1970s. The original plans for the highway called for it to extend as far west as Niagara Falls
; later proposals moved the terminus to the north end of the Robert Moses State Parkway
near Fort Niagara
.
in Lakeside Beach State Park
—named Lakeside Beach Road—is designated as NY 948A. Both are reference route designations and are thus unsigned
. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
has jurisdiction over NY 948A and parts of the parkway mainline; however, the New York State Department of Transportation
maintains both highways.
in north-central Orleans County
. It heads eastward as part of the Seaway Trail
, which enters the area from the west on NY 18 and turns north onto Lakeside Beach Road to access the parkway. The four-lane limited-access highway exits the park and enters an area dominated by open, cultivated fields, where it skirts the southern edge of Oak Orchard State Marine Park
, a small park situated at the mouth of the Oak Orchard River
. Not far to the east, the parkway crosses the river itself and connects to the northern terminus of NY 98
by way of an interchange.
East of NY 98, the parkway makes a turn to the northeast, meeting Lake Shore Road at a diamond interchange
just south of the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario
. The highway continues to the shoreline itself, at which point it turns eastward to run along the lake shore for most of the next 6 miles (10 km). While on the lake shore, the parkway crosses into Kendall
, the northeasternmost town in the county. It begins to move southward from the lake at an interchange with NY 237
, and for the next 2 miles (3.2 km) it follows a more inland path through another set of open fields. The more southerly alignment takes the route south of the lakeside hamlet of Troutburg, located at the north end of NY 272
, which runs along the Orleans–Monroe
county line. The parkway crosses into Monroe County upon connecting to NY 272 at an interchange 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) from the lake shore.
Now in the town of Hamlin
, the parkway heads southeastward along the southern edge of Hamlin Beach State Park
. Roughly midway through the park, it connects to the park itself by way of a large, modified trumpet interchange that also connects Moscow Road—an east–west connector between Redman Road (former NY 215
) and NY 19
—to the parkway and Hamlin Beach State Park. East of the park, the parkway comes close to the lake shore once again; however, most of the route in Hamlin is separated from the lake by a series of linear, lakeside hamlets. Roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Hamlin Beach, the highway loses its limited-access status as it meets NY 19
at a four-way intersection, the first of eight at-grade intersection
s along the highway in Hamlin and Parma
.
—before passing into Parma at a junction with Hamlin–Parma Town Line Road. Junctions with NY 259
and two more local roads come next, followed by the last of the eight at-grade intersections: Payne Beach Road on the Parma–Greece
town line. In Greece, the parkway takes a more southeasterly routing, matching the curvature of Lake Ontario's shoreline. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) into Greece, the parkway reverts to limited-access ahead of an interchange with NY 261
. At this point, the trees that had surrounded the parkway begin to dwindle in number, once again opening up views of the lake.
At NY 261, the parkway briefly turns southward, crossing over Salmon Creek and passing west of Braddock Bay
before resuming a southeasterly alignment at the East Manitou Road interchange. Here, the Lake Ontario Parkway connects to Braddock Bay State Park, located just northeast of the exit. The parkway leaves the lake for good after the East Manitou Road junction, staying roughly 1 miles (1.6 km) from the lake shore for the remainder of its routing. As it proceeds onward, it runs along the southwestern side of Long Pond and subsequently meets Long Pond Road. Here, the surroundings of the parkway begin to change, becoming more developed as homes gradually overtake the forests and fields that had surrounded the parkway since Carlton.
The parkway winds its way southeastward, passing by homes to the south and marshlands surrounding Beatty Point to the north. At the eastern edge of the marsh, the Lake Ontario Parkway meets the northern end of the limited-access NY 390
. From here eastward, the parkway travels through highly populated areas of the town, meeting Dewey Avenue, Greenleaf Road, and Latta Road and passing under the Hojack Line. East of Latta Road, it passes into the city of Rochester
and its Charlotte
neighborhood, where it terminates just 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) later at an intersection with Lake Avenue. The right-of-way of the parkway and the Seaway Trail both continue eastward as Pattonwood Drive, which leads to the Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Memorial Bridge
a short distance to the east. Two blocks north of the junction is the National Register of Historic Places
-listed Charlotte–Genesee Lighthouse, located off Lake Avenue.
shoreline in eastern Orleans County
or western Monroe County
. At the time, the northernmost continuous east–west highway in these areas was NY 18
; however, it deviated significantly from the lakeshore east of Carlton
and followed a more inland route to Rochester
. Between Carlton and Rochester, the lake shore was accessible only by way of north–south highways off NY 18 or by local east–west roads.
Plans were made as early as 1941 to construct the Lake Ontario State Parkway. On January 13, 1941, New York State Council of Parks chairman Robert Moses
indirectly sponsored a bill in the New York State Legislature that would set aside $30 million (equivalent to $ in ) for the construction of several parkways across New York. One of the parkways that would receive funding from the measure was the proposed Lake Ontario State Parkway, which would receive $4.6 million (equivalent to $ in ) toward its construction. The bill was approved by both houses of the legislature and given to Governor Herbert H. Lehman
, who signed it on March 28, 1941. However, its ultimate approval was dependent on the passage of a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to use $60 million (equivalent to $ in ) intended for eliminating grade crossings for the construction of highways instead. The $30 million earmarked for parkway construction was part of the $60 million in question. On November 4, 1941, the amendment was approved in a statewide referendum on the issue, allowing for the money to be transferred.
. One of the highways to be built as part of the expansion was the Lake Ontario State Parkway. The first section of the parkway to be built was the piece from Hamlin Beach State Park
to NY 261
at Manitou Beach. Construction on the segment began in the late 1940s and was completed in the early 1950s. At some point between 1952 and 1954, work began on an extension eastward to Dewey Avenue in Greece
. By 1956, the parkway was open to East Manitou Road and under construction to Lake Avenue in Charlotte
. The portion of the highway from East Manitou Road to Long Pond Road was opened by 1958 while the section from Long Pond Road to Dewey Avenue was completed by 1960. The segment between Dewey and Lake Avenues opened to traffic ca. 1962.
Long-term plans for the parkway called for it to extend westward along the entirety of the Lake Ontario shoreline to Niagara Falls
, and from there as far southward as Buffalo
. By 1960, the proposed routing was adjusted to meet the northern end of the Robert Moses State Parkway
in Porter
, near Fort Niagara
. When the city of Niagara Falls
released its Regional Highway Plan for the Buffalo – Niagara Falls area in 1971, the proposed routing of the Lake Ontario State Parkway was unchanged. Despite the widespread intentions of extending the parkway westward to Niagara County
, the highway never extended any farther westward than Lakeside Beach State Park
. The lone portion of the extension that was built—between Hamlin Beach and Lakeside Beach State Parks—was constructed in the early 1970s and completed by 1973.
|rowspan=5|Orleans
|rowspan=3|Carlton
|0.00
|
|Partial interchange; Seaway Trail joins eastbound and leaves westbound; access to NY 18 via NY 948A
|-
|2.24
|
|Northern terminus of NY 98
|-
|4.82
|Lake Shore Road
|
|-
|rowspan=2|Kendall
|10.36
|
|Northern terminus of NY 237
|-
|12.47
|
|
|-
|rowspan=14|Monroe
|rowspan=4|Hamlin
|15.15
|Hamlin Beach State Park
|
|-
|colspan=3 align="center"|East end of freeway section
|-
|17.61
|
|Northern terminus of NY 19
|-
|19.84
|
|Northern terminus of NY 260
|-
|rowspan=2|Parma
|23.20
|
|Northern terminus of NY 259
|-
|colspan=3 align="center"|West end of freeway section
|-
|rowspan=7|Greece
|26.93
|
|
|-
|28.47
|Braddock Bay State Park
|
|-
|30.12
|Long Pond Road
|
|-
|32.20
|
|Northern terminus of NY 390
|-
|33.21
| via Dewey Avenue
|
|-
|34.25
|Greenleaf Road
|
|-
|34.65
|Latta Road
|
|-
|Rochester
|35.05
|Lake Avenue / Pattonwood Drive (Seaway Trail
east)
|At-grade intersection; Seaway Trail leaves eastbound and joins westbound
|0.00
|
|Seaway Trail joins northbound and leaves southbound
|-
|0.23
|
|Interchange; Seaway Trail leaves northbound and joins southbound
|-
|0.55
|Park access road
|Northern terminus of state maintenance; Lakeside Beach Drive continues west
Parkway
The term parkway has several distinct principal meanings and numerous synonyms around the world, for either a type of landscaped area or a type of road.Type of landscaped area:...
along the southern shore of Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
in western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
in the United States. The western end of the highway is at a partial interchange within Lakeside Beach State Park
Lakeside Beach State Park
Lakeside Beach State Park is a New York state park, located in western New York in the Town of Carlton in Orleans County on the shore of Lake Ontario. The park may be accessed from Route 18. The park includes over one hundred campsites with electrical hook-ups, as well as a campground store...
in Carlton
Carlton, New York
Carlton is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Carleton, a shipbuilding district near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada....
, Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
. Its eastern terminus is at an intersection with Lake Avenue in the Charlotte
Charlotte, Rochester, New York
Charlotte is a neighborhood in Rochester, New York located at the mouth of the Genesee River along Lake Ontario. It is the home of the Port of Rochester and Charlotte High School.-Early Settlers:...
neighborhood of the Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
city of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. The parkway is internally designated by the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
as New York State Route 947A (NY 947A), an unsigned reference route. A short, 0.55 mile (0.885137 km) connector between the west end of the parkway and NY 18
New York State Route 18
New York State Route 18 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara County and Monroe County...
is unsigned New York State Route 948A.
The parkway mainline and the connector to NY 18 are both part of the Seaway Trail
Seaway Trail
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania...
, a National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
that extends along the shores of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
and Lake Ontario from northwestern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
to the North Country
North Country, New York
The North Country is a region of the U.S. state of New York that encompasses the state's extreme northern frontier, bordering Lake Ontario on the west, the Saint Lawrence River and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec on the north and northwest, and Lake Champlain and Vermont on the east...
of New York. The Lake Ontario State Parkway passes through mostly open and rural areas, except near Greece
Greece (town), New York
Greece is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the town had a total population of 96,095. The town motto is "Discover the Promise."...
and Rochester, where the land surrounding the highway is more developed. It serves mostly as a connector between Rochester and several lakeside state parks and communities. From its western terminus to the Rochester suburbs, the parkway is the closest continuous roadway to the Lake Ontario shore.
The highway was one of several parkways built as part of a 145 miles (233 km) expansion to the state's parkway system in 1944. Construction of the Lake Ontario State Parkway began in the late 1940s, and the first section of the route—linking Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park is located on the shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Hamlin in Monroe County, New York in the United States of America....
to NY 261
New York State Route 261
New York State Route 261 is a north–south state highway located west of the city of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. It extends for through mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 104 on the Greece–Parma town line to a dead end at the Lake Ontario...
—opened in the early 1950s. The remainder of the highway through Greece and Rochester was built in stages during the 1950s and early 1960s, while the section between Lakeside Beach and Hamlin Beach State Parks was constructed in the early 1970s. The original plans for the highway called for it to extend as far west as Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
; later proposals moved the terminus to the north end of the Robert Moses State Parkway
Robert Moses State Parkway
The Robert Moses State Parkway is an long north–south highway in western Niagara County, New York, United States. Its southern terminus is at the LaSalle Expressway on the east bank of the Niagara River in Niagara Falls. The northern terminus is at NY 18 at Four Mile Creek State Park in...
near Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
.
Route description
The entirety of the 35.05 miles (56.41 km) Lake Ontario State Parkway mainline is designated as NY 947A, while the 0.55 mile (0.885137 km) connector between the parkway and NY 18New York State Route 18
New York State Route 18 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara County and Monroe County...
in Lakeside Beach State Park
Lakeside Beach State Park
Lakeside Beach State Park is a New York state park, located in western New York in the Town of Carlton in Orleans County on the shore of Lake Ontario. The park may be accessed from Route 18. The park includes over one hundred campsites with electrical hook-ups, as well as a campground store...
—named Lakeside Beach Road—is designated as NY 948A. Both are reference route designations and are thus unsigned
Unsigned highway
An unsigned highway is a highway that has been assigned a route number, but does not bear conventional road markings that would normally be used to identify the route with that number...
. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates :*168 state parks*35 state historic sites*76 developed beaches*53 water recreational facilities*27 golf courses*39 full service cottages*818 cabins...
has jurisdiction over NY 948A and parts of the parkway mainline; however, the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
maintains both highways.
Orleans County and Hamlin Beach
The Lake Ontario State Parkway begins at an interchange with Lakeside Beach Road in Lakeside Beach State Park, located within the town of CarltonCarlton, New York
Carlton is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Carleton, a shipbuilding district near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada....
in north-central Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
. It heads eastward as part of the Seaway Trail
Seaway Trail
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania...
, which enters the area from the west on NY 18 and turns north onto Lakeside Beach Road to access the parkway. The four-lane limited-access highway exits the park and enters an area dominated by open, cultivated fields, where it skirts the southern edge of Oak Orchard State Marine Park
Oak Orchard State Marine Park
Oak Orchard State Marine Park is a state park located at the mouth of Oak Orchard Creek at Lake Ontario in the Town of Carlton in Orleans County, New York, USA. The park can be accessed on NYS Route 18...
, a small park situated at the mouth of the Oak Orchard River
Oak Orchard River
Oak Orchard Creek is a tributary of Lake Ontario in Orleans County, New York in the United States.Oak Orchard Creek rises south of Oak Orchard Creek Marsh at the border of Orleans and Genesee Counties...
. Not far to the east, the parkway crosses the river itself and connects to the northern terminus of NY 98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
by way of an interchange.
East of NY 98, the parkway makes a turn to the northeast, meeting Lake Shore Road at a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
just south of the southern shoreline of Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
. The highway continues to the shoreline itself, at which point it turns eastward to run along the lake shore for most of the next 6 miles (10 km). While on the lake shore, the parkway crosses into Kendall
Kendall, New York
Kendall is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,838 at the 2000 census. The Town of Kendall is in the northeast corner of the county and is northwest of Rochester.- History :...
, the northeasternmost town in the county. It begins to move southward from the lake at an interchange with NY 237
New York State Route 237
New York State Route 237 is a north–south state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in Stafford. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with the Lake Ontario State Parkway...
, and for the next 2 miles (3.2 km) it follows a more inland path through another set of open fields. The more southerly alignment takes the route south of the lakeside hamlet of Troutburg, located at the north end of NY 272
New York State Route 272
New York State Route 272 is a north–south state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for just over along the Orleans–Monroe county line from an intersection with NY 104 in Clarkson to the Lake Ontario shoreline just north of an interchange with the...
, which runs along the Orleans–Monroe
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
county line. The parkway crosses into Monroe County upon connecting to NY 272 at an interchange 0.3 mile (0.482802 km) from the lake shore.
Now in the town of Hamlin
Hamlin, New York
Hamlin is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 9,045 at the 2010 census.The Town of Hamlin is in the northwest part of the county and is the second largest town in area in the county.- History :...
, the parkway heads southeastward along the southern edge of Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park is located on the shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Hamlin in Monroe County, New York in the United States of America....
. Roughly midway through the park, it connects to the park itself by way of a large, modified trumpet interchange that also connects Moscow Road—an east–west connector between Redman Road (former NY 215
New York State Route 215 (1940s–1970s)
New York State Route 215 was a north–south state highway located within the town of Hamlin in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. It served as the primary highway to and from Hamlin Beach State Park prior to the construction of the Lake Ontario State Parkway...
) and NY 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
—to the parkway and Hamlin Beach State Park. East of the park, the parkway comes close to the lake shore once again; however, most of the route in Hamlin is separated from the lake by a series of linear, lakeside hamlets. Roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Hamlin Beach, the highway loses its limited-access status as it meets NY 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
at a four-way intersection, the first of eight at-grade intersection
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
s along the highway in Hamlin and Parma
Parma, New York
Parma is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 15,633 at the 2010 census.The Town of Parma, then in Genesee County, was organized in 1808, named after Parma in Italy.-Geography:...
.
Hamlin to Rochester
Past NY 19, the parkway crosses over Sandy Creek and heads into a portion of Hamlin with less open fields and more forested areas. It has intersections with three more roads—including NY 260New York State Route 260
New York State Route 260 is a north–south state highway in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 31 in the town of Sweden. Its northern terminus is at a junction with the Lake Ontario State Parkway in the town of...
—before passing into Parma at a junction with Hamlin–Parma Town Line Road. Junctions with NY 259
New York State Route 259
New York State Route 259 is a north–south state highway located west of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at NY 33A in the hamlet of West Chili within the town of Chili. Its northern terminus is at the Lake Ontario State Parkway in...
and two more local roads come next, followed by the last of the eight at-grade intersections: Payne Beach Road on the Parma–Greece
Greece (town), New York
Greece is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the town had a total population of 96,095. The town motto is "Discover the Promise."...
town line. In Greece, the parkway takes a more southeasterly routing, matching the curvature of Lake Ontario's shoreline. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) into Greece, the parkway reverts to limited-access ahead of an interchange with NY 261
New York State Route 261
New York State Route 261 is a north–south state highway located west of the city of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. It extends for through mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 104 on the Greece–Parma town line to a dead end at the Lake Ontario...
. At this point, the trees that had surrounded the parkway begin to dwindle in number, once again opening up views of the lake.
At NY 261, the parkway briefly turns southward, crossing over Salmon Creek and passing west of Braddock Bay
Braddock Bay
Braddock Bay is a small bay of Lake Ontario, located northwest of Rochester, New York, United States. Braddock Bay is renowned for being an excellent bird-watching location, as raptors and other birds congregate when migrating north in Spring...
before resuming a southeasterly alignment at the East Manitou Road interchange. Here, the Lake Ontario Parkway connects to Braddock Bay State Park, located just northeast of the exit. The parkway leaves the lake for good after the East Manitou Road junction, staying roughly 1 miles (1.6 km) from the lake shore for the remainder of its routing. As it proceeds onward, it runs along the southwestern side of Long Pond and subsequently meets Long Pond Road. Here, the surroundings of the parkway begin to change, becoming more developed as homes gradually overtake the forests and fields that had surrounded the parkway since Carlton.
The parkway winds its way southeastward, passing by homes to the south and marshlands surrounding Beatty Point to the north. At the eastern edge of the marsh, the Lake Ontario Parkway meets the northern end of the limited-access NY 390
New York State Route 390
New York State Route 390 is a north–south state highway located along the western edge of the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. The route, a limited-access northward continuation of Interstate 390 , extends for from I-490 in Gates to the Lake Ontario State Parkway in...
. From here eastward, the parkway travels through highly populated areas of the town, meeting Dewey Avenue, Greenleaf Road, and Latta Road and passing under the Hojack Line. East of Latta Road, it passes into the city of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and its Charlotte
Charlotte, Rochester, New York
Charlotte is a neighborhood in Rochester, New York located at the mouth of the Genesee River along Lake Ontario. It is the home of the Port of Rochester and Charlotte High School.-Early Settlers:...
neighborhood, where it terminates just 0.25 mile (0.402335 km) later at an intersection with Lake Avenue. The right-of-way of the parkway and the Seaway Trail both continue eastward as Pattonwood Drive, which leads to the Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Memorial Bridge
Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Memorial Bridge
The Colonel Patrick O'Rorke Memorial Bridge is a bascule bridge in New York, United States, that connects the Rochester neighborhood of Charlotte to the town of Irondequoit. The bridge, located about north of downtown Rochester, is named for Civil War Colonel Patrick O'Rorke, who grew up in...
a short distance to the east. Two blocks north of the junction is the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
-listed Charlotte–Genesee Lighthouse, located off Lake Avenue.
Background and initial financing
Prior to the construction of the Lake Ontario State Parkway, there were no highways that ran along the Lake OntarioLake Ontario
Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded on the north and southwest by the Canadian province of Ontario, and on the south by the American state of New York. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, was named for the lake. In the Wyandot language, ontarío means...
shoreline in eastern Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
or western Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
. At the time, the northernmost continuous east–west highway in these areas was NY 18
New York State Route 18
New York State Route 18 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara County and Monroe County...
; however, it deviated significantly from the lakeshore east of Carlton
Carlton, New York
Carlton is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Carleton, a shipbuilding district near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada....
and followed a more inland route to Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Between Carlton and Rochester, the lake shore was accessible only by way of north–south highways off NY 18 or by local east–west roads.
Plans were made as early as 1941 to construct the Lake Ontario State Parkway. On January 13, 1941, New York State Council of Parks chairman Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
indirectly sponsored a bill in the New York State Legislature that would set aside $30 million (equivalent to $ in ) for the construction of several parkways across New York. One of the parkways that would receive funding from the measure was the proposed Lake Ontario State Parkway, which would receive $4.6 million (equivalent to $ in ) toward its construction. The bill was approved by both houses of the legislature and given to Governor Herbert H. Lehman
Herbert H. Lehman
Herbert Henry Lehman was a Democratic Party politician from New York. He was the 45th Governor of New York from 1933 to 1942, and represented New York in the United States Senate from 1950 to 1957.-Lehman Brothers:...
, who signed it on March 28, 1941. However, its ultimate approval was dependent on the passage of a constitutional amendment that would allow the legislature to use $60 million (equivalent to $ in ) intended for eliminating grade crossings for the construction of highways instead. The $30 million earmarked for parkway construction was part of the $60 million in question. On November 4, 1941, the amendment was approved in a statewide referendum on the issue, allowing for the money to be transferred.
Construction and extensions
On August 17, 1944, Moses announced a 145 miles (233 km) expansion of the existing system of parkways in New York that was intended to accommodate an increase in vehicular traffic that came about following World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. One of the highways to be built as part of the expansion was the Lake Ontario State Parkway. The first section of the parkway to be built was the piece from Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park is located on the shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Hamlin in Monroe County, New York in the United States of America....
to NY 261
New York State Route 261
New York State Route 261 is a north–south state highway located west of the city of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. It extends for through mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 104 on the Greece–Parma town line to a dead end at the Lake Ontario...
at Manitou Beach. Construction on the segment began in the late 1940s and was completed in the early 1950s. At some point between 1952 and 1954, work began on an extension eastward to Dewey Avenue in Greece
Greece (town), New York
Greece is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the town had a total population of 96,095. The town motto is "Discover the Promise."...
. By 1956, the parkway was open to East Manitou Road and under construction to Lake Avenue in Charlotte
Charlotte, Rochester, New York
Charlotte is a neighborhood in Rochester, New York located at the mouth of the Genesee River along Lake Ontario. It is the home of the Port of Rochester and Charlotte High School.-Early Settlers:...
. The portion of the highway from East Manitou Road to Long Pond Road was opened by 1958 while the section from Long Pond Road to Dewey Avenue was completed by 1960. The segment between Dewey and Lake Avenues opened to traffic ca. 1962.
Long-term plans for the parkway called for it to extend westward along the entirety of the Lake Ontario shoreline to Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
, and from there as far southward as Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. By 1960, the proposed routing was adjusted to meet the northern end of the Robert Moses State Parkway
Robert Moses State Parkway
The Robert Moses State Parkway is an long north–south highway in western Niagara County, New York, United States. Its southern terminus is at the LaSalle Expressway on the east bank of the Niagara River in Niagara Falls. The northern terminus is at NY 18 at Four Mile Creek State Park in...
in Porter
Porter, New York
Porter is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 6,771 at the 2010 census. The town was named after Judge Augustus Porter....
, near Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara
Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, New York, on the eastern bank of the Niagara River at its mouth, on Lake Ontario.-Origin:...
. When the city of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
released its Regional Highway Plan for the Buffalo – Niagara Falls area in 1971, the proposed routing of the Lake Ontario State Parkway was unchanged. Despite the widespread intentions of extending the parkway westward to Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, the highway never extended any farther westward than Lakeside Beach State Park
Lakeside Beach State Park
Lakeside Beach State Park is a New York state park, located in western New York in the Town of Carlton in Orleans County on the shore of Lake Ontario. The park may be accessed from Route 18. The park includes over one hundred campsites with electrical hook-ups, as well as a campground store...
. The lone portion of the extension that was built—between Hamlin Beach and Lakeside Beach State Parks—was constructed in the early 1970s and completed by 1973.
Maintenance and improvements
The Parkway has seen several improvements. In 2009, the Lake Shore Road exits were milled and re-paved (with asphalt). In 2010, guardrails were replaced in selected locations from Lake Shore Road east to Hamlin Beach State Park. The work was performed by Elderlee, Inc. In 2011, the re-signing of the Parkway was started as part of a larger DOT re-signing project in the Rochester region. All signage was replaced from the western terminus east to Payne Beach Road, with selected signage being replaced east of Payne Beach Road. The project will be completed in 2012. All button copy signs were removed from the western terminus east to Payne Beach Road. Some signs were removed and not replaced including the button copy sign for Bald Eagle Creek, which was installed eastbound near the Norway Road bridge. The re-signing is being performed by Elderlee, Inc.Exit list
|-|rowspan=5|Orleans
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
|rowspan=3|Carlton
Carlton, New York
Carlton is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,960 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Carleton, a shipbuilding district near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada....
|0.00
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|Partial interchange; Seaway Trail joins eastbound and leaves westbound; access to NY 18 via NY 948A
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|2.24
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|Northern terminus of NY 98
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|4.82
|Lake Shore Road
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|rowspan=2|Kendall
Kendall, New York
Kendall is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,838 at the 2000 census. The Town of Kendall is in the northeast corner of the county and is northwest of Rochester.- History :...
|10.36
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|Northern terminus of NY 237
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|12.47
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|rowspan=14|Monroe
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
|rowspan=4|Hamlin
Hamlin, New York
Hamlin is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 9,045 at the 2010 census.The Town of Hamlin is in the northwest part of the county and is the second largest town in area in the county.- History :...
|15.15
|Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park
Hamlin Beach State Park is located on the shore of Lake Ontario in the Town of Hamlin in Monroe County, New York in the United States of America....
|
|-
|colspan=3 align="center"|East end of freeway section
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|17.61
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|Northern terminus of NY 19
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|19.84
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|Northern terminus of NY 260
|-
|rowspan=2|Parma
Parma, New York
Parma is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 15,633 at the 2010 census.The Town of Parma, then in Genesee County, was organized in 1808, named after Parma in Italy.-Geography:...
|23.20
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|Northern terminus of NY 259
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|colspan=3 align="center"|West end of freeway section
|-
|rowspan=7|Greece
Greece (town), New York
Greece is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 United States census, the town had a total population of 96,095. The town motto is "Discover the Promise."...
|26.93
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|28.47
|Braddock Bay State Park
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|30.12
|Long Pond Road
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|32.20
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|Northern terminus of NY 390
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|33.21
| via Dewey Avenue
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|34.25
|Greenleaf Road
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|34.65
|Latta Road
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|-
|Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
|35.05
|Lake Avenue / Pattonwood Drive (Seaway Trail
Seaway Trail
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail, formerly named and commonly known as the Seaway Trail, is a National Scenic Byway in the northeastern United States, mostly contained in New York but with a small segment in Pennsylvania...
east)
|At-grade intersection; Seaway Trail leaves eastbound and joins westbound
NY 18 connector
|-|0.00
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|Seaway Trail joins northbound and leaves southbound
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|0.23
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|Interchange; Seaway Trail leaves northbound and joins southbound
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|0.55
|Park access road
|Northern terminus of state maintenance; Lakeside Beach Drive continues west