For many, the heat and sun of this summer have been an excuse to retreat to the park and the beach.
Parks officials say the season started early and has rolled on through week after week of sun and heat.
Erie County Parks Commissioner Troy Schinzel says it isn't just the packed sands of Bennett Beach, it's also busy hiking trails and woodlands.
There are also those picnic shelters reserved in January for use in July and he says people are showing up to use them.
Mark Thomas is western region director for state parks, in other words, every park west of Rochester including Letchworth, Allegany and Niagara Falls.
Thomas says it isn't just the sands of Beaver Island State Park which are filled every day.
"It's a very big golf and disk golf park as well. A lot of walkers," Thomas said.
"Our parks' attendance over Western New York is up all over. (In) The Niagara region itself our attendance is tracking above last year which was a banner year for us as well. So, we're doing very well."
Both Thomas and Schinzel say there are maintenance issues from use and with no rain, a lot of grass doesn't look green.
