SARATOGA SPRINGS — Recreation and athletic facilities throughout Saratoga Springs are about to receive upgrades totaling north of $1 million.
The City will be undergoing improvements at a variety of recreational spaces, including a new skate park at East Side Recreation Park, a new “destination” playground at Veterans Memorial Park, and a new playground and bathrooms at Waterfront Park on Saratoga Lake.
The East Side Rec Skate Park originally opened in 1989, making it the oldest municipal skate park in New York, according to the city. Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim said while the skate park has been well-utilized, it “needed those improvements.”
“The City had put this in their capital budget last year, so we wanted to move forward on it,” said Kim of the skatepark. “So that’s really exciting.”
The renovations cost roughly $446,000, according to a presentation on Rec Department projects by Administrative Director of Recreation John Hirliman. Approximately $70,000 was raised by local nonprofit group ON DECK Saratoga.
“I think it’ll be well-utilized,” said Kim.
Veterans Memorial Park, located near Geyser Elementary School, is also set to receive a major overhaul. The park will be equipped with nearly $870,000 worth of improvements, including a 6,000-square foot playground and a 2,300-square foot inclusive playground, the presentation states.
“John Hirliman’s idea, and the Rec Commission, was to really have a destination playground,” said Kim of the Veterans Memorial Park plans. “It’s really going to be an impressive sort of facility once it’s constructed. People will come throughout the city to come and enjoy it. So that’s really exciting.”
The playground renovations were designed and will be installed by KOMPAN, a manufacturer of commercial playground equipment based in Austin, Texas, their website states. Construction is set to begin in August, according to the presentation.
“This is a little more modular, in the sense that we’re really purchasing equipment that’s going to be constructed on-site,” Kim said. “It is going to be done fairly quickly, too.”
The main playground will include a pendulum swing, a giant custom mega tower, custom wave net, a net ‘fishing’ bridge, and spinners, the presentation states. The inclusive playground is set to include a wheelchair carousel, fully-inclusive ramp, dolphin spring toy, and a spinner.
A three-bay swing set will also be installed, including two standard seats, two infant bucket seats, and an inclusive basket. The upgrades also include an expanded clubhouse and renovated bathrooms.
“They’re also rehabbing bathrooms and some facilities out there, so there are some additional enhancements other than the playground,” Kim added.
The City has partnered with the Saratoga Springs Department of Public Works and the Saratoga Springs Friends of Recreation for the improvements, the presentation states. Construction at Veterans Memorial Park is expected to last approximately 60 days.
At Waterfront Park on Saratoga Lake, improvements include a new playground and bathrooms, and are estimated at roughly $150,000, excluding new fencing, benches, and signs. The bathrooms are estimated to cost $10,000, the presentation states.
Kim said the park is heavily utilized in the summer, and noted the goal of adding additional amenities to the space. He said funding for the park’s bathrooms were included in the City’s capital budget.
“This is probably the most-used park in a very concentrated time period,” said Kim. “The number of people there, particularly now that it’s hot, is pretty significant.”
The playground will be designed and installed by GameTime, a commercial playground company based in Fort Payne, Alabama, and is expected to begin in mid-fall, according to the presentation. Construction is expected to last roughly 30 days.
In addition, the Scott T. Johnson Rec Center is also set to receive upgrades in the form of a new multi-use court. The total cost, including paving, is estimated around $160,000, the presentation states. The court is designed and will be installed by KOMPAN, with construction set to begin in August and last roughly 15 days.
“They have a huge demand over there,” said Kim of the Johnson Rec Center, located at 15 Vanderbilt Ave.
The City is also currently seeking proposals for the development of a bike park on Weibel Ave near the city’s ice rinks.
“I think one of the things that we’d love to do is have that area serve as multi-sport,” said Kim of the Weibel Ave location.
Kim mentioned that there have also been calls to add a third ice rink, saying the City is considering hiring a landscape architect to examine if the land on Weibel Ave could accommodate both an additional ice rink and the bike park.
“With hockey, I’m advocating that we take a look at whether or not the County would pitch in,” Kim said, noting that the Weibel rinks serve a large populace outside of the city. “There’s probably just as many Greenfield, Wilton people that are taking their kids over to skate.”
Kim credited the Recreation Commission for their work on the projects, saying it’s “very satisfying” to advance them further.
“John Hirliman, the rec director, and the Recreation Commission, have done a really good job in bringing these things forward,” Kim said. “Whether it’s the rec center, the hockey rink, our waterfront, it’s clear they’re important pieces to the services that the City provides. I’m really happy that it’s all coming together and we can address these things, because people utilize them.”
