Taylor park beach
Canton, New York · on Grass River · Taylor Park Community Beach
Verified · 4 independent sources
- WATER
- river
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $5 per person
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Taylor park beach
Taylor Park Beach is a municipally-run sandy swimming hole on the Grasse River just outside the Village of Canton, NY, historically operated by the Canton Recreation Department as a state-permitted, lifeguard-supervised swimming beach. As of the 2025 and 2026 seasons the swim area has been closed by the NYS Department of Health due to a hazardous riverbed slope and flood debris, so it is not currently a river to swim in; the site functions only as a car-top/adaptive kayak-canoe launch.
The park sits on the shore of the Grasse River just outside the village, off Miner Street Road, described by the town as having a sandy beach with shade trees along the riverbank. The river here is classified by the state as a Class B protected waterbody and the park is bordered by two Class 1 (highest-protection) wetlands, which are also cited as habitat for the endangered Blanding's turtle.
Swimming at Taylor park beach
When open, Taylor Park operated as a supervised, family-oriented river swimming beach with a sandy shoreline and lifeguards on duty during posted hours (historically roughly noon-7pm starting mid-to-late June). Swimming was prohibited whenever no lifeguard was present. As of the time of this research the swim area is closed: the NYS Department of Health found the underwater slope into the swim area unsafe and steep, compounded by large woody debris left by 2024 flooding/Hurricane Debby, so no swimming is currently permitted.
How to get to this swimming hole
The park is located off Miner Street Road just outside the Village of Canton, NY, on the Grasse River.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Taylor Park Beach is a drive-up municipal park directly on the Grasse River off Miner Street Road; no hike is needed to reach the water. Exact walk distance from the parking area to the riverbank was not specified on official pages found.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
Not ideal for young kids
The park itself (playground, ball field, volleyball, picnic shelter) is family-oriented, but swimming is officially closed for the 2025 and 2026 seasons: NYS DOH found the underwater slope into the swim area steep and non-uniform, and flood debris (large woody debris from Hurricane Debby 2024) remains in the swim area. No lifeguards are currently budgeted. Do not treat this as a supervised kids' beach until swimming reopens.
Parking
Free
Village of Canton park off Miner Street Road; no fee or specific lot layout published on official pages found. Park hours are dawn to dusk.
Restrooms
None on site
Bathhouse/restrooms exist on-site but are kept closed for the 2026 season except during the annual Canton Canoe Weekend event, per cantonny.gov.
Hours
Dawn to dusk (park grounds); historically the supervised swim season ran mid-to-late June through summer, noon-7pm daily, but swimming is currently suspended for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
On the water
Restrictions: Site currently operates only as a car-top/adaptive canoe-kayak launch, not a swim beach; the park's own paid kayak rental program ($5/hour, historically offered from the Lifeguard Building) has been discontinued along with the swim closure. A 'Board Safe'-approved adaptive kayak/canoe launch is available for accessible paddling.
No motorboat or jet ski use indicated; this is a small community river-launch/beach, not a motorized-boating destination.
Backstory
Taylor Park Beach operated for years as a New York State Department of Health-permitted, lifeguard-supervised bathing beach on the Grasse River, including a reopening in July 2024 after a temporary closure. Flooding and debris from Hurricane Debby in 2024 led to a dangerous-slope and debris finding by the state, closing the beach for the entire 2025 season and again for 2026; lifeguard positions were eliminated from the recreation budget, kayak rentals and picnic shelter rentals were discontinued, and the site now operates primarily as a boat launch while the Village pursues DEC permits for slope repair.
Taylor park beach: FAQ
Does Taylor park beach charge a fee?
No swimming admission fee was found. Kayak/canoe rentals were historically $5 per person per hour from the Lifeguard Building, but rentals have been discontinued along with the swim season closure. Picnic shelter reservations follow a recreation department fee schedule (rates not published on the pages found).
Is Taylor park beach kid friendly?
The park itself (playground, ball field, volleyball, picnic shelter) is family-oriented, but swimming is officially closed for the 2025 and 2026 seasons: NYS DOH found the underwater slope into the swim area steep and non-uniform, and flood debris (large woody debris from Hurricane Debby 2024) remains in the swim area. No lifeguards are currently budgeted. Do not treat this as a supervised kids' beach until swimming reopens.
Do I need to hike to reach Taylor park beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Taylor park beach?
Village of Canton park off Miner Street Road; no fee or specific lot layout published on official pages found. Park hours are dawn to dusk.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Taylor park beach?
No motorboat or jet ski use indicated; this is a small community river-launch/beach, not a motorized-boating destination.
When is the best time to visit Taylor park beach?
Historically a mid-June through summer swim season (roughly June 15/22 through the season, noon-7pm daily); currently closed to swimming with no confirmed reopening date as of the 2026 season.
What are the rules at Taylor park beach?
Swimming is prohibited whenever a lifeguard is not on duty. Lifeguards must be approved by both the Canton Recreation Department and the NYS Department of Health. The beach has been formally closed to swimming for the 2025 and 2026 seasons by joint Town/Village action after the NYS Department of Health withheld a Bathing Beach Permit; reopening requires further review/permits from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (and per one source, the US Army Corps of Engineers) before slope repair and debris removal can proceed.
What water body is Taylor park beach on?
Taylor park beach is on Grass River, a natural river verified in USGS hydrography data.
