Celebrators near and far are expected to flock to Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown for July 4 festivities this weekend, and the park is fully prepared.
All hands are on deck, said Park Manager Brian Strasavich. Ive even called in extra help from other places. Weve got extra people, extra radios, extra vehiclesand even extra porta johns; weve got everything.
Strasavich said based on last years numbers, and numbers from the last time July 4 was on a Monday, theyre gearing up for between 15,000 and 16,000 people.
Picnic bench reservations for the weekend are already goneand Mondays are first come first serve.
In past years, theres been the occasional traffic jam all the way up to the Taconicbut Strasavich thinks that may have been a result of the park only having one toll booth open to let people into the parkthis year both tolls will be open.
The biggest attraction for people to come to the park is for the notorious poolwhich is the largest in any New York state park, and the second largest in all of New York.
The goal is just for everyone to really enjoy themselves and to have a good timewell get everyone parked and let them go swimming or picnic or walk, he said. Its going to be a challenge, its always a challenge, but we still look forward to itthis is like our big game day.
People flock from all over to celebrate July 4 at the park, and Strasavich has hypothesized his reasons why.
Part of it I think is traditionwe meet a lot of folks who come from all over and they say Ive been coming here for 20 years, so I have to keep coming backand I think a lot of people just love the vast open space and the picnic benches and the pool. Its really a great location for a summer holiday, he said.
Strasavich reminded everyone to bring their sunscreen, water, food and not to forget the lighter fluidalthough the concession stands on the parks campus can help fill your needs for food.
The park will be open from 7 a.m. to sunset on Monday.
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