HENRIETTA’S TINKER NATURE PARK AND HANSEN NATURE CENTER OFFER REFUGE FOR ALL YEAR-ROUND

BY SUZIE WELLS

If you’re a birdwatcher, hiker, or parent with younger children, chances are you’ve experienced the 68-acre natural oasis that is Tinker Nature Park. As I drive down Calkins Rd., I o en see people enjoying the 1.2-mile self-guided walking/exercise trail. What better way to get out and walk than to enjoy the natural beauty of a nearby park.

School groups from the area enjoy annual excursions to its natural beauty with multiple habitats with rich wildlife across each. I learned a lot when each of my girls’ classes headed to Tinker Park for a nature hike with the knowledgeable docent and toured the Hansen Nature Center with its displays of native birds and animals in their natural habitats (including a working beehive, so cool!) At the Nature Center, you can also nd illustrated guides and checklists for the plants and animals you’ll likely nd on the property – so cool for the treasure hunting sorts.

You may have seen the park, you’ve perhaps even checked out the nature center and its amazing public programming, but have you ever checked out the cobblestone building out front?

During Tinker’s annual events, my family and I like to stop in to the Tinker Homestead and nd it a fascinating glimpse into 1830s America. We mostly see such homes only at the Genesee Country Village in Mumford, so it’s incredible to see one in our own backyard. Caretakers and volunteers do a great job maintaining the building for the public to experience. I’ve been inside in all seasons, and we especially appreciate modern comforts when the cold Rochester winds blow. But stepping into the federal style home is like stepping into history, so house has been restored to the turn of the 20th century. Visitors will appreciate the practical yet elegant Victorian lifestyle of this rural family.” e Farm Museum in the barn next door “charts the growth of agriculture in Western New York from subsistence to commercial farming. Visitors will understand how the Erie Canal forever changed the face of farming in New York state. e farm is composed of several structures that were important to the success of the Tinker Farm. e museum has an extensive collection of farm implements which chart the modernization of farming through the years.”

Public tours of the homestead and farm museum are available ursdays and Saturdays, and by appointment Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It’s de nitely a worthwhile site to check out.

My family and I enjoy the programming at Tinker Park, including its Ice Cream Social, Harvest Festival, and celebration for the winter holidays. Check out their summer concert series at the Henry Hansen Amphitheater on Fridays, Yoga at the park on Saturdays, or check out their Wild Tinker activities, Fall Foliage events, or perhaps rent cross country skis or snowshoes in winter. Perhaps join the Tinker Trekkers (55+) group that convenes to enjoy a hike with other nature enthusiasts. On the east side of the park is a pavilion and playground as well, rounding out the treasures on the Tinker Nature Park property.

Whatever you choose, get out and enjoy the beauty around us in this public treasure. We have such beautiful natural resources around us.

According to Henrietta historians, “ e Tinker Family occupied this homestead for six generations. ey witnessed the transformation of Western New York from a wooded frontier to a thriving community. As a result of the Erie Canal giving farmers access to new markets, the Tinkers could a ord to build a new home. ey chose to build a cobblestone house, a unique architectural style to Western New York. Construction started in 1828 and the house was completed in 1830. e interior of the