Where in the World is Indian Allan Park?

Indian Allan Park is a nearly 60 acre parcel of land owned by the Town of Wheatland, located along the southerly banks of Oatka Creek, to the east of Canawaugus Park in the Village of Scottsville, also to the east of the Genesee Valley Greenway State Park trail near the “George” bridge and directly adjacent to the former location of the Wheatland water treatment plant and now Monroe County pump station. The park stretches more than 1/2 mile east from the edge of the former water treatment plant property and includes the bed of the creek which follows a winding course through deep pools and gravelly ripples toward the nearby Genesee River. Huge willows and cottonwoods shade the stream where trout and other fish species can be found.

The park land is largely undeveloped at the current time with public usage limited to occasional fishermen. The Park’s convenient location and natural setting, which includes the Oatka Creek provides a substantial opportunity for the incremental design and development of a beautiful new recreation area for the community. Envision a picturesque public park which can support a number of diverse activities and interests, such as wooded creek-side trails for walking, sitting and fishing, open space for running and cycling among other activities, and public picnic areas with associated amenities.

The land for the park was provided to the Town of Wheatland as a gift in 1975 by Col. Carey H. Brown for the purpose of creating a municipal park. Col, Brown was a Wheatland resident and farmer who was active in Scottsville Village and Town of Wheatland affairs at the time. The idea of preserving this area along Oatka Creek was originally suggested by a group of local Wheatland residents, including Wheatland Supervisor at the time, James C. Guthrie. Brown’s farm was part of a large tract of land deeded by the Iroquois Indian Nation to Ebenezer ‘Indian” Allan. Allan built a log cabin in 1787 near where Oatka Creek flows into the Genesee River, from there, for years he supplied the British at Fort Niagara with stock and produce. The park was dedicated in April 1990 by the Town of Wheatland as Indian Allan Park, recognizing one of the earliest frontiersmen to settle in this area.