Dedication Rock

On June 2, 1929 with the controversy over the acquisition of the Taylor estate closed, the name of the park was changed from Deer Range State Park to Heckscher State Park.

The dedication ceremony was attended by August Heckscher, Lt. Governor Herbert H. Lehman, Former Governor Al Smith, Robert Moses, and other state and local officials. 

The speeches made on this occasion were delivered from the front porch of George C. Taylor’s mansion to an assembled crowd of several thousand people.  

In 1933 the old mansion was demolished.

A large boulder was moved to the front of the park office. A bronze plaque was placed on the boulder reading:  

HECKSCHER STATE PARK: THE GIFT OF AUGUST HECKSCHER TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Photo: Lt. Governor Herbert H.Lehman, Former Governor Al Smith, and August Heckscher  at park dedication. Courtesy of The Power Broker, 1974