Timeline
1965
The origin of the Chautauqua County Parks dates to 1965 when the County Planning Board recommended to the County Board of Supervisors that a County Park Study Committee be appointed to consider the establishment of a county park system. Resolution 212-65 affirmed that county government does have a role to perform in the field of recreation, “Which role basically is the acquisition of public access to the unusual and unique areas of Chautauqua County and the preservation of the scenic qualities of these areas,….” The need to acquire public access to the unusual and unique areas in the county was heightened by a recognition that the availability of access to these areas by the public was decreasing.
1968
The County Park Study Committee reported to the Board of Supervisors in June, recommending the creation of “….a county park system which will meet the present and future needs of the county.” The Study Committee members also proposed that the park system consist of overland trails, a waterway trail, three overview sites, and the preservation of two gorge areas (Chautauqua Gorge and Canadaway Creek Gorge).
1984
The fifth and final year of the Chautauqua Overland Ski Marathon was held.
1992
A new parking lot adjacent to the West Side Overland Trail on Rte. 430 near Mayville was constructed.
1996
A new parking lot adjacent to the West Side Overland Trail on Rte. 474 was constructed.
1998
A new parking lot adjacent to the East Side Overland Trail was constructed on the Gerry-Ellington Road.