The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the continued temporary closure of the boardwalk at Great Baehre Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA), including the town of Amherst’s Billy Wilson Park boardwalk in DEC Region 9. The closure will continue into early January 2025 in order to complete construction repair work that began last month.

The entirety of the boardwalk - from the south along Hopkins Road to the Billy Wilson Park - will remain closed to public access during construction. DEC recommends avoiding these areas during the repair construction.

Construction began in late November and was initially expected to end in mid-December. However, recent inclement weather in Western New York affected the timetable for work completion.

The Great Baehre Swamp WMA comprises 27 acres of State land adjacent to the town of Amherst’s Billy Wilson Park. DEC acquired the land in 1989 by DEC with funding provided by the Environmental Quality Bond Act of 1986. The town of Amherst, under a stewardship agreement, constructed a 1,300-foot boardwalk through the area, which connects state land to their neighboring park.

Maps and additional information about Great Baehre Swamp WMA can be found on DEC’s website at https://dec.ny.gov/places/great-baehre-swamp-wildlife-management-area.