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Village Parks

The preserve is fifty-three acres of undeveloped land and has one mile of Fall Creek frontage. The parking lot is just on the north side of the village, on Rte. 38/Groton Road.

The Genung Nature Preserve is described on the Finger Lakes Land Trust website: “[The] trail starts [at the parking lot and] wanders through shrubby areas, a grove of musclewood (or ironwood) trees along the bank of Fall Creek, some of the wildest hawthorn trees you will ever see, then larger hardwood trees such as swamp white oak, red oak, sugar maple, basswood and shagbark hickory. Listen and watch for the many birds that find the place a great refuge, especially in the spring – Ovenbirds, Northern Waterthrushes, Chimney Swifts, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Ruffed Grouse and even Pine Warblers, to name a few. If you’re lucky, you may spot a four-foot tall Great Blue Heron stalking fish and frogs in the creek.”

You can find the trail map and more information here. 

A new hiking trail from just north of the bridge in the center of the village along the creek connecting with the loop trail was completed in the summer of 2017.  It included 9 bridges and a up close view of beautiful fall creek.

A list of the Trust’s other preserves and protected sites is located here.

Coming Soon...

Years ago, residents planted truck gardens here and sold ("trucked") the produce to grocery stores in the area. Today the spot has two baseball diamonds, play structures, basketball court, grills and sheltered picnic tables. 
You may use the shelter for free on a first come basis.  No reservations are allowed or needed.
In the summer of 2016, a portion of the grounds was fenced off for garden plots.  A community compost bin was added Fall of 2017.  You can get more information on using either of these resources here.
The park is open from dusk to dawn, no alcoholic beverages are allowed, and please do not drive or park on the grass.
Groton Avenue is a dead end with the park at the end of the road.  But many decades ago the plan was to create a bridge over Fall Creek at the end of the road.  The road name was changed from Port Watson to Groton Ave. in anticipation, but the bridge ended up being build just east of the road on current day Rt. 38.
Halfway down Mill Street and affording a beautiful view of Fall Creek, this park is the site of an old mill where a nationally famous brand of flour was produced. The park was created in 1948 for Freeville’s sesquicentennial. It has swings, play structure and benches. The dam is still functional, although it is deteriorating. Swimming is not permitted. Some anglers have had luck with catching small fish that live in the dam pool.  All NYS fishing regulations should be followed if you chose to fish here.
The park is open from dusk to dawn, no alcoholic beverages are allowed, and please do not drive or park on the grass.
While not officially a park the village owned land between Union St. and Tanbark Circle is a popular walking trail.  The old railway bed takes you by beautiful wetlands full of a variety of wildlife.