NEW WOODSTOCK — On June 5, the Madison County government celebrated the completion of a project at Delphi Falls County Park that provides access to both the upper and lower waterfalls at the park, located at 2006 Cardner Road. The two-phase project began after the county purchased the park and included an ADA (Americans with […]
NEW WOODSTOCK — On June 5, the Madison County government celebrated the completion of a project at Delphi Falls County Park that provides access to both the upper and lower waterfalls at the park, located at 2006 Cardner Road.
The two-phase project began after the county purchased the park and included an ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-accessible trail, new bathrooms, and a new multi-use building named Cascades Hall.
“The completion of this project and the full opening of Delphi Falls has been a long time coming,” Madison County Board Chairman James J. Cunningham said in an announcement about the opening. “I am proud of the Madison County Planning Department, facilities department, IT department, and the many more who have worked tirelessly over the years to make this day a reality. We also thank all of those who worked to build this beautiful facility and maintain the natural beauty of the park.”
Madison County purchased the 66-acre property in 2018 and developed the project so that portions of the park would remain open while work took place in other parts. The county worked on phase one with EDR, a landscape architect from Syracuse, to design a parking lot, trail system, and falls overlooks. Phase one construction began in 2020 and included a new parking lot, a rim trail, a pedestrian bridge, bathrooms, and the accessible overlook of the lower falls.
The second phase included a new gated entrance, public patio area, and Cascades Hall. Work began in the summer of 2023.
Funding for the projects came from the county, grants from New York State Parks and State Senator Rachel May, and a $50,000 donation from the Allen family for the pedestrian bridge.
Cascades Hall, built where a house once stood on the property, can be rented for a small fee by both public and private entities to host small events. The building holds about 50 people and includes a catering kitchenette, large-screen televisions, tables and chairs, and views of the falls.
“Madison County is proud to finally fully share this park with the public after years of work,” Madison County Planning Director Scott Ingmire said. “We transformed what was a private residence for over 60 years into what we hope is a welcoming and natural setting through which to view two amazing waterfalls. The addition of Cascades Hall and many public amenities have opened a variety of uses for the public, and we are excited about what the future holds. One of our main goals was to maintain ADA access to the lower falls, and we’ve managed to do that in a wonderful fashion. Thank you to all of the contractors and county departments that worked so hard to make this a reality, and thank you to the Madison County Board of Supervisors for their support over the past seven years.”
