Tonawanda: Parks, Trails, and Local History

Tonawanda offers several distinct points of interest to consider when planning a trip: parks and trail connections, recreation along Ellicott Creek, and local history. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, you can start by deciding what kind of recreation you’d like to prioritize. Isle View Park and Tonawanda Rails to Trails differ in terms of parkland and paved trail connections; along Ellicott Creek, you can walk along the banks and inline skate or ride a bike on paved paths. The Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society and Museum displays historical materials related to the Town of Tonawanda and surrounding areas.

Parks and Trails in Tonawanda

Isle View Park is a long, 39-acre park owned by Erie County and part of the Shoreline Trail System/Riverwalk. A pedestrian bridge connects Isle View Park with Niawanda Park. Its inclusion in the Trail System/Riverwalk and the bridge connection to Niawanda Park are two distinct points of reference: one places Isle View within a trail system, while the other connects it to a second park. When planning, you can therefore consider both the size and shape of the park and its connections.

Tonawanda Rails to Trails is a recreational connection between Buffalo and the Tonawandas. The trail is 12 feet wide and paved; several access points and small parking lots at both ends add to its trail features. Walkers, runners, cyclists, and families use it. The surface, width, and access points provide concrete factors to consider when choosing a trail. Unlike Isle View Park, the focus here is not the size of a park, but a paved recreational connection.

Along Ellicott Creek, visitors can walk along the banks, as well as inline skate and ride a bike on paved paths. The activities differ by location and surface: walks follow the banks, while inline skating and cycling take place on paved paths. Ellicott Creek Park also has an 18-hole disc golf course for beginners. This adds an activity with an expressly stated beginner level to the range of options. If you’re planning your recreation by type of activity, you can choose between a walk along the creek, activities on paved paths, and disc golf.

Local History and Museum

The Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society and Museum preserves and displays historical materials related to the Town of Tonawanda and surrounding areas, and makes them available for study. Its historical scope therefore includes both the Town and the surrounding areas. For travelers seeking a cultural focus, the museum offers a different experience from a park or trail: the emphasis is on regional materials, their preservation, and their presentation.

The museum is located at 100 Knoche Road in one of the oldest surviving original buildings in the Town of Tonawanda. The building was completed in 1849 as St. Peter’s Evangelical Church. The institution and the building offer two points of historical reference: the museum focuses on materials related to the Town and its surroundings, while the building’s history dates back to its completion as a church in 1849.

Discover more destinations: Clarence, Snyder, Depew, Orchard Park, Bowmansville, Getzville, Hamburg, Alden

For the regional travel overview: Erie.