Nathaniel Cole Park is named after a Revolutionary War veteran who settled with his family in 1795 in the area that eventually came to be called Cole’s Hill. With his son, Nathaniel Cole, Jr., he built a tavern on the corner of what is now Farm-To-Market Road and Watrous Road. The tavern, in operation as early as 1800, became a stopping place for the stage coach en route from Binghamton to Albany. Part of the land once owned by Nathaniel Cole became the Broome County Park that bears his name.
Cole Park boasts a beautiful 53-acre lake and twin arcs of white sand, the largest protected beach in the Broome County Parks system. A 1.25 mile trail encircles the lake. Two picnic areas, four picnic shelters, playgrounds boat rentals, great fishing and more make Nathaniel Cole one of our finest parks. A concession stand sells hot dogs, beverages, candy, ice cream, bagged ice and more, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.