Bellamy Harbor Park

"Have posted a few YouTube videos of Bellamy Harbor Park. Peaceful & generally...safe. Well lighted throughout the night. Many people say they cannot find the Erie Canal Trail route from Bellamy Park, in Rome, New York. It's quite easy, if you pedal/walk/jog over the Mill street bridge(over the Barge Canal), and take a left-turn onto the paved path at the stoplight. That path will guide you directly to the ECT. The park has good bullhead, perch, trout, walleye fishing. And fly-fishing near the mouth of the Mohawk River, in the shallow water, is popular in the Summer & Autumn. Rome/Barge Canal corporation, installed a kayak launch a few years ago. Free to use. The Hamilton College Boathouse, is directly across from the main park, and the picnic pavillion-bathrooms(with showers), are located nearby. Just walk under the bridge. Ya can't miss it. Private venture group wants to install a skateboard park, that somehow, taxpayers are going to end-up paying for. Great for everyone to use, but also will need lighting and security, as every skatepark, has the issues of narcotics and graffiti, & potential violence. Bellamy Harbor Park, really needs two things more than anything else: New docking for the boats(and big yachts, which simply stay in Utica, or Lock 21/22, or go straight to Sylvan Beach. A-lot of these boat owners are wealthy(and retired). So, having a restaurant in Bellamy Harbor Park, may convince them to stay overnight. Not to mention adding LED lighting along the pier and a reliable security camera. Nighttime is a little different. Would definitely not allow kids after sunset. Some vandalism(graffiti), drugs, and just undesirable-looking characters. There was a year when Bellamy Park, had the giant snow-blowers and plows of Griffiss Airport, on display. And the Knights of Columbus have cut-back their annual Summer CanalFest festival. Basically, because of the park's location in the Copper City, it is difficult to improve or add to the park, when delinquents(and juvenile adults), destroy everything in the park during the year. Oh. One more thing: The west-side, past the Pedestrian Bridge(My Bridge!), over the Mohawk River, is owned/maintained not by Rome, NY, but by the state's Canal corporation. It is this side that connects a trail(along the Barge Canal), towards South James street. Funding for the path, as well as the entire Erie Canal trail, is from the department of the Interior. Yes. The park could really use a restaurant. Those using the Barge Canal, want a nice dinner, not too expensive, but not fast-food junk. They wanna go to sleep and get going at sunrise. Why not profit on the opportunity."

"Visited in November, when everything was shut down. There are bathrooms, covered picnic tables and showers. It looks like a nice place to take a break from boating on the canal. Some sort of intersection between the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal. Kayak launch at the confluence."

"Neat place to explore: the point where the Erie Canal meets the Mohawk River. History goes back to 1817."

"Great place to tie up for the night. Very quiet. Nice area to walk the dog. Power, bathrooms & shower."

"I live ten minutes away and am still new to the area. Was looking for a park where I could just sit and enjoy the scenery. This is a pretty great place to do that, and I'm looking forward to going back during the day to enjoy the rest of their features. I sat on a big log and watched the people fishing while listening to the waterfall just after dusk. It was really serene. There are plenty of benches, but I preferred one of the many love options available. There's not a ton of parking, but it's a smaller park and doesn't feel like it was designed to accommodate large crowds."