CASSADAGA — On Saturday at 2 p.m., Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open its Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park and celebrate the completion of a number of improvements that were recently made to the park to enhance the visitor experience there. Following the ribbon cutting and some short remarks starting at 2:15, an optional guided walk through the park will be offered for those interested. Cake and light refreshments will also be offered.

Some of the enhancements made at the park include the development of several trails, the addition of a kiosk/pavilion and interpretive signage, and the installation of a wildlife viewing platform, bird blind, and numerous benches. The park is an ideal location for a number of outdoor recreational activities such as walking, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird and wildlife watching, and nature photography and study.

In addition to providing a space for community recreation, the park provides and protects important habitat for local wildlife such as salamanders, frogs, turtles, waterfowl, and other birds. More than 175 species of birds have been identified there, making it one of the most diverse birding sites in Chautauqua County.

The 77-acre park also conserves 26 acres of wetlands and 1,100 feet of natural shoreline, as well as mature stands of hemlock and white pine trees, which help protect the area’s water quality by filtering rainwater runoff before it drains to nearby lakes.

The park is located on Route 60 in Cassadaga (between Camp Gross and Tim Hortons) and is open to the public from dawn until dusk. More information and directions to the park can be found by visiting chautauquawatershed.org/preserves or by calling 716-664-2166.