CHENANGO COUNTY – With threats of all-time high temperatures and rising mercury reflecting the warnings, the governor dropped entrance fees to all state parks with beaches or pools Wednesday. Locally, residents took advantage of one of the most popular ways in Chenango County to beat the heat.

Park Manager of Bowman Lake State Park, Martin Howden, said a rise in attendance has been very noticeable this week as Chenango County temperatures climbed into the high 90s. He said the closure of Kurt Beyer Pool in Norwich brought extra swimmers in past weeks, and both the heat and the free entrance yesterday continues to drive traffic.

“Yesterday was really busy and I suspect that today will be too,” Howden said Wednesday. Beyond the amount of swimmers doubling during this week’s heat wave, the park manager said that a number of park goers have simply taken refuge in the high altitude trees of McDonough. “We really do have quite a few shaded sites,” he said of the nearly 200 camping spots available.

Swimming was the theme of the day county-wide on Wednesday, as 9 miles east of Bowman, Kurt Beyer was again open for summer splashing. Swimmers treaded water as 14-year-old Carlie Thomas stood by, ready to give the crowd further temperature control.