MUNICIPAL PARKS

Binghamton

Binghamton maintains 30 parks, playgrounds and plazas. Park activities include tennis, baseball, softball, T-ball, cheerleading, pee-wee football, youth soccer, basketball league, golf clinic and youth track and field. 772-7017.

Cheri Lindsey Park on the North Side features a BMX bicycle racing track. Access to the Susquehanna River can be found at Sandy Beach near Conklin.

Johnson City

The C.F.J. Park features the area's largest carousel. Other village parks include Boland Park and Baker Street Park.  797-3031.

Endicott

Parks in Endicott include G.W. Johnson Park, Watson Boulevard and Oak Hill Avenue, Mercereau Park and River Terrace.

Free carousel at G.W. Johnson Park is open afternoons and evenings in summer.

The village also has six tennis courts at Jennie F. Snapp School. 757-2427.

Town of Union

Parks in the Town of Union include Highland Park, West Endicott Park, Glendale Park, William Hill Park, Choconut Park, Argone Park and Taft Heights Park.

Town of Vestal

Parks in Vestal include African Road, Barlow, Ross Corners, Middendorf, Stair, Twin Orchards, Vestal Center, Fuller Hollow, Arnold, Harold Moore, Castle Gardens, David Avenue, Ethel Place, Jones, Memorial, Richards Avenue and Stratford Park.

Biking/hiking trail: This year, Vestal completed 2.1 miles of a "rail trail" biking/hiking route, with parking at Vestal Parkway and African Road, behind the Shoppes at Vestal. The town hopes to extend the trail.

Town of Chenango

Wolfe Park is open to the public, free of charge, from 7 a.m. to sundown daily. The 182-acre park includes hiking trails and a bluebird trail. Trail maps are available at the entrance. Take Fuller Road off Upper Front Street. Turn left after the underpass on Dorman Road and follow signs. 648-4820.

COUNTY PARKS

Broome County Parks are open year-round and provide a variety of recreational activities. All county parks are free.

Greenwood Park: Facilities include sand beach, paddle boats, rowboats, canoes, fishing, snack bar, nature trails, volleyball, horseshoes, camp sites and picnic tables. The park, open daily, is off Nanticoke Road in the Town of Nanticoke. 862-9933 or 778-2193.

Dorchester Park: Activities at this Whitney Point Reservoir park include fishing, swimming, picnicking and sailing. Boat rentals are available. Volleyball, horseshoes available. Open daily all year. Route 26, Whitney Point. 692-4612.

Nathaniel Cole Park: Includes 53-acre lake with the largest protected bathing beach in the county. Facilities include pedal boats, surf bikes, rowboats, canoes, open and shady areas for picnicking, three pavilions for parties, a concession stand, self-guided nature trails, volleyball and horseshoes. Open daily all year. Colesville Road, Harpursville. 693-1389.

Hawkins Pond Nature Area: Picnickers will find tables, grills, restrooms, shelters and hiking trails in a secluded area. Open every day, year-round. Go east on Route 17 to Windsor. Take Route 79 south, turn right on Edson Road, left on Beavan Road. Signs lead the way. Free. 693-1389.

Finch Hollow Nature Center: Facilities include a natural history museum and an adjacent wildlife sanctuary. Trails are open every day until dark. 1394 Oakdale Road, Town of Maine. Call for seasonal hours at museum. Free. 729-4231.

Otsiningo Park: This riverbank park provides bicycle and pedestrian paths as well as picnic areas. There are also softball fields, soccer fields, volleyball courts, a playground and a fitness trail. Open every day until dark. Bevier Street, Town of Dickinson. Free. 778-6541.

Grippen Park and Grippen Ice Rink: This park features fishing, a boat launch, a shelter, softball, horseshoes, playgrounds, basketball and ice skating from November through March. Park is open daily year-round until dark. South Grippen Avenue, Endicott. Free. 748-6323 or 778-2193.

Roundtop Picnic Area: Nestled high above Endicott, this picnic area sports spectacular views, a playground and picnic shelters. 748-6323.

Aqua-Terra Park: Pennsylvania Avenue to Maxian Road. Consists of 466 acres of wildlife and natural settings. 778-2193.

STATE PARKS

Chenango Valley State Park: Open daily all year, Chenango Valley offers cabins and facilities for boating, swimming, camping, golfing, hiking, golf rental, picnic shelters and biking. Route 369, 13 miles north of Binghamton, Town of Fenton. Admission: $6 per vehicle, weekends starting May 11 until mid-June, $6 everyday until Labor Day, Labor Day to Columbus Day $6 per vehicle weekends only. 648-5251.

Oquaga Creek State Park: Facilities include swimming, picnicking, camping, hiking, biking and fishing. The park is open daily until dark. Take Interstate 88 east to Bainbridge, turn right onto Route 206 east; after five miles, turn right onto Beech Hill Road (Route 20); go five miles to the park. Admission: $5 per vehicle the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend, $6 per vehicle weekends starting Memorial Day until mid-June, then $6 per vehicle daily until Labor Day, $5 per vehicle the following two weekends after Labor Day Weekend. 467-4160.

Bowman Lake: Facilities for swimming, camping, hiking and biking. Open daily during summer until dark. Off Route 220, eight miles west of Oxford. Admission: $6 per vehicle, starting end of May until Labor Day. 334-2718.

Hunt's Pond State Park: On 250 acres. Summer camping, picnic area, boat launching, hiking, ice fishing, cross-country skiing. On Hunt's Pond Road, off Route 8, 2.6 miles south of New Berlin in Chenango County. Admission: no charge for day use. 432-2114 or 859-2249.

NATURE CENTERS

Rogers Environmental Education Center: Center features a visitors center, picnic areas with a pavilion and extensive hiking trails. The visitors center, with mounted animals, is open weekdays and Saturday afternoons all year and Sunday afternoons in summer. Picnicking and hiking areas are open dawn to dusk. Route 80, one mile west of Sherburne in Chenango County. Free. 674-4017.

Web: www.ascent.net/rogers.

Fred L. Waterman Conservation Education Center: Center includes four miles of nature trails in 96 acres of mature woods and fields. The center offers hiking, birding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Special programs throughout the year include trail walks, craft classes, river and Hiawatha Island tours, and a summer day camp for children. Scouting programs and birthday parties are possible year-round.

The center is open all year, seven days a week. The nature trails are open from dawn to dusk. Route 434 to 403 Hilton Road, Apalachin. Admission is free, but fees are charged for programs. 625-2221.