Woodlawn Beach State Park is a park located near the Village of Blasdell on the eastern shore of Lake Erie in Erie County, New York. It was opened as a state park in 1996 by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
History
thumb|left|250px|View of Woodlawn Beach in 1896.
thumb|left|250px|View of Woodlawn Beach in 2017.
Woodlawn Beach was historically a popular swimming location and resort during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Served by several trains and steamships, Woodlawn Beach at this time featured a hotel, restaurant, dancing hall, bowling alley, billiards hall, toboggan slide and a picnic grove.
Access to the beach was restricted after the 1950s, when new owners disallowed public use of the land. The beach was once again opened to the public after New York State purchased of property from Buffalo Crushed Stone in 1996. The $6.3 million acquisition was made with the assistance of the Trust for Public Land. Losses had continued to decrease in the years that the town took over park operations.
The "2010 Woodlawn Beach Sanitary Survey Report" completed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation notes several potential bacteria sources which may affect the beach, including sewage overflows, stormwater outfalls, urban runoff, contaminated stream drainage, algae and leafy debris. Woodlawn Beach was identified by the Natural Resources Defense Council as the third most polluted swimming beach in New York State after failing 32% of water sample tests in 2011.
Facilities
The park offers a beach, hiking, playground, picnic areas and a bar and restaurant. The park is available for parties and weddings.