Bethlehem Parks and Recreation
One of the best parts of living in the Town of Bethlehem is how much there is to do outdoors. From the town pool and lighted courts at Elm Avenue Park to boat launches on the Hudson, quiet nature trails and miles of rail trail, there's a park close to every neighborhood in Delmar, Elsmere, Glenmont, Slingerlands, Selkirk and South Bethlehem.
Tap a park below to see its amenities and a link to its official page. Town parks are open daily and close at dusk unless noted. For questions, call the Bethlehem Parks Office at 518-439-4955 (option 7).
Town Parks
Elm Avenue Park (Delmar)
Elm Avenue, about a quarter mile south of the Delmar Bypass (Route 32)
The town's largest park and the hub of Bethlehem recreation, home to the Parks and Recreation offices.
- Pool complex (see below)
- Four lighted tennis courts and lighted basketball courts (late May to late October)
- Pickleball, volleyball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, cornhole and gaga ball
- Playing fields and a playground
- Pavilions available to rent for Town residents
- Fitness trail with outdoor exercise equipment, plus walking trails
- Winter fun: a large ice skating rink, sledding hill and cross-country skiing
- Summer Yoga in the Park
Elm Avenue Park Pool Complex
Inside Elm Avenue Park
- 50-meter pool, intermediate pool and diving pool
- Two children's splash pads and a children's play area
- Locker rooms
- Open roughly mid-June through Labor Day
- For Town of Bethlehem residents and their guests; a pool pass and proof of residency are required. Bethlehem Central School District residents who live in New Scotland can also get a pass.
Bethlehem Dog Park (Delmar)
Northern end of Elm Avenue Park, entered from the Delmar Bypass extension; park in the adjacent Park and Ride lot
- Fenced 1.3-acre off-leash area
- Open daily, year-round, 8 a.m. to dusk (lit until 7 p.m. in late fall and winter)
- Annual permit required for each dog, available from the Town Clerk
Henry Hudson Park (Selkirk / Cedar Hill)
Off Route 144 in Cedar Hill, on the banks of the Hudson River
- Boat launch for motorized boats, plus a separate launch for kayaks and canoes
- Accessible fishing area
- Pavilion (rentable by Town residents and organizations), gazebo and picnic areas with grills
- Playground, softball field, volleyball and horseshoes
- Restrooms
Maple Ridge Park (Delmar)
Elm Avenue East, off Elm Avenue
- Pavilion seating up to about 75 (rentable)
- Playground and basketball court
- Large open lawns, picnic areas and a winter sledding hill
Colonial Acres Park (Glenmont)
15 Saybrook Drive, Glenmont
- 9-hole disc golf course with 18 tees
- Nature walking trail and open grounds for leashed dog walks and bird watching
- Koi pond (viewing only, no fishing)
- Winter snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and a small sledding hill
South Bethlehem Park
Wylie Lane, South Bethlehem
- Playground and basketball court
- Softball field and soccer field
- Volleyball and picnic tables
- Pavilion available to rent
Selkirk Park
Houck Lane, off Route 396 and Thatcher Street, Selkirk
- Two tennis courts and a basketball court
- Playground with swings and a small kids' playing field
- Picnic tables and drinking water
North Bethlehem Park
Off Russell Road, North Bethlehem
- Playground and basketball court
- Picnic tables
Firefighters Memorial Park (Slingerlands)
Next to the Slingerlands Fire House
- Memorial honoring Bethlehem's firefighters
- Large grassy play area
Nature Preserves, Trails and Fishing
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (Delmar)
56 Game Farm Road, Delmar (run by NYS DEC)
- More than 450 acres of fields, forests and wetlands
- Over 10 miles of trails, open daily sunrise to sunset; free admission
- Visitor center with nature programs (Monday to Saturday)
- Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter, with snowshoe rentals from Friends of Five Rivers
- Note: pets are not allowed, even on leash
Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail
Runs through Delmar, Elsmere and Slingerlands
- Paved former railroad line for walking, running, biking and strollers
- Connects many Delmar neighborhoods to the Four Corners and beyond, toward Albany and Voorheesville
Moh-He-Con-Nuck Nature Preserve (Selkirk)
806 River Road (Route 144), Selkirk
- 53 acres along the Hudson River
- About 1.2 miles of walking trails
- Land originally occupied by the Mohican people
Normans Kill Ravines Park (Delmar)
70 Wright Lane, Delmar
- Wooded park along the Normans Kill ravines with walking trails
Rupert Road Fishing Access
Rupert Road, next to the town transfer station
- Public fishing access to Onesquethaw Creek, provided by the Town and NYS DEC
- Parking area with a footpath to the water
Programs and Events
The Bethlehem Parks and Recreation Department runs year-round programs and community events, including Family Day on July 4th, Thursdays in the Park summer concerts and the spring Eggstravaganza. See the town's Seasonal Park Playbook for current programs, or browse the full list of Town parks.
Find a Home Near Your Favorite Park
Want to be close to the pool, the rail trail or the river? Browse all Bethlehem homes for sale, or explore our neighborhood guides for Chadwick Square, Country Meadows, Haswell Farms, Kenholm Gardens and Old Delmar / Hamagrael.
Contact us or call the Greaux Team at (518) 875-2800.
Park details are from the Town of Bethlehem, NYS DEC and Albany County websites as of October 2026. Hours, fees and amenities can change, so please check each park's official page before you go.