Barker Bicentennial Park

Location - Village of Barker; Town of Somerset; Niagara County Maps - Google Map, Topographic, Bird's Eye GPS - N 43.36797 / W 78.55556 Directions - Located on the North end of Rt. 148 in Barker, NY. Take Lake Rd. (Rt. 18) to Somerset and head north on Quaker Rd. (Rt. 148) all the way to Lakeview Dr. and the park. Or use Google Directions.

Description Of all the parks along New York's Seaway Trail, Barker Bicentennial Park is certainly the smallest and most overlooked. At nearly 4,000 sq. ft. it offers no large pavilions, playing fields, or playgrounds. Once the site of a water supply pumping station for the town of Somerset, this reclaimed land was converted to a quaint picnic spot complete with flowering trees, benches and a beautiful gazebo. The 180 ft of beach is a great place to enjoy views of Lake Ontario or to fish from the jetties. When we visited in mid-summer, the stony beach was littered in driftwood. It's no place to relax in a recliner and take in the sun, but for a quick and peaceful picnic or to catch a glimpse of the lake, especially at sunset, this is a worthy stop.

History The park, as well as the village was named after Quaker David Barker, resident and 4 term town supervisor. His brick house was built on Quaker Rd in the 1930s. He lived there with his wife and 8 adopted children. It also served as a stop on the underground railroad. Mr. Barker would offer food, shelter and assistance to escaped slaves on their way to Canada.

Accessibility Seasons/Hours: Year round. From sunrise to 9 pm. Best time to visit: Year-round. Parking: There is parking for about 10 cars in the roadside lot in front of the park. Admission: Free. Handicap accessibility: Yes. Pets: Unknown. Accommodations: Benches; picnic tables; grills; gazebo; fishing access;  No Swimming. Boat Launch: Hand boat launch only.

Trails - None Map: None

Interesting stuff... Three miles to the east is Golden Hill State Park, featuring the historic 30 Mile Point Lighthouse. The Village of Barker started as farmland in 1815 with the settlement of David Barker and his family in the town of Somerset. In 1875 some of the Barker estate was donated to the railroad. With the arrival of the rail, businesses started to move to Somerset Station which soon became known as Barker. The old rail station now serves as the village hall. The Village was incorporated in 1908.

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