Irondequoit Bay State Marine Park — Attraction in Town of Irondequoit

The Irondequoit Bay Marine Park has been completely redesigned and rebuilt to improve the boat launches, boat trailer parking and additional car parking for people that are shore fishing, bird feeding, sight seeing, walking on the pier or beach or picnicking.

New features include a fishing dock and 12 transient docks for boaters to use during daylight hours (no overnight stays). They have also added a large playground just west of the marina behind Bill Grays that I was told by a panel of experts (my grandchildren) that it is "very cool".

As a boater who has used the marina for decades, I have to say that there are some pros an cons with the new design. The new launches are steep and harder to see when backing up. installing some poles on the sides of each launches or visible references would help make it easier to use. In addition, changes made the the loading/unload areas were meant to improve the turning radius, but but turning the trailer backing up from the parking up is harder to know when to start the turn as it us not visible.

Historical issues with the marina however have not been adequately improved. With a finite number of boat trailer spaces, many spaces are being used by individual cars so boaters need to be turned away. Stronger signs or police enforcement need to be implemented as tempers were flaring this week as non boaters refused to give up trailer only parking spaces.

In addition, cars of sightseers are always driving through the trailer parking lot lane where boaters are trying to back up their trailer in some cases for several hundred feet while dodging moving cars. This also creates grid lock in the lane that delays the retreaval of boats at the launch.

Although the three launch ramps are now marked with an in or out arrow on the pavement, boaters are using the only "out" lane to launch which takes away any ability to get your boat out of the water. There needs to be well posted visible signs that label which lanes are in only or out only and or park employees on site to enforce the rules.

Another change that amplifies the issues is that the payment shed and park employees have been replaced with a self payment machine that is hard to read in the sun. Without park employees to manage trailer flow it is just a chaotic mess when it gets busy.

Will somebody in the park services please read this post and correct the issues in the boat launch. Adding strong worded signs could significantly reduce the issues and minimize conflicts between people...

My little girl loves this park!! She is three and the equipment is just right for her. I like how the play equipment for the little ones is separate from the big kid's equipment. Also, the playground is fenced in!! My daughter loves the swings, slides, monkey bars and the climbing net frog. The equipment is brand new, high quality and safe. Mulch floor which is fine; kids love playing in the mulch. Only dawback would be that there is no shade on playground for hot, sunny days. But, there are Lots of benches for tired mamas to rest and a Beautiful pavilion with picnic tables for having lunch. Plus, you can walk to bill grays and dons original, or down to the boat launch or pier. There are no bathrooms on premises, but you may be able to use Billy Grays' restrooms. This is not a dog friendly playground, so leave...

There's a great paved path along the edge of this park with a few scenic views of the Irondequoit Bay and the Bay Bridge. Canadian geese, blue heron, and sea gulls galore in the protected wetlands. At the north edge is a public boat launch and parking for boat trailers. You'll find fisher people spring, summer and fall, and ice fisher people in winter on the frozen bay. Views of sailboats and motor boats traveling back and forth through the inlet from Lake Ontario to Bay occurs Apr 1-Nov 1 when the swing bridge is open. During winter when the swing bridge is back in place, Culver Rd. In Irondequoit becomes Lake Rd in Webster providing another access point between the two towns. This park is south of the beach and pier that the other people are...