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Saratoga
Springs, NY – November 2024 / NewsmakerAlert: The
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic
Preservation (OPRHP) announces the opening of an expanded, renovated,
and now accessible playground and bridge at Saratoga
Spa State Park. The project, which began construction in late August,
is now complete and open to the public, providing an inclusive space for
visitors of all ages and abilities.
“This
playground represents our commitment to providing accessible and enjoyable
spaces for everyone,” said New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore
Randy Simons. “We strive to develop innovative and accessible spaces where
all visitors, regardless of physical ability, can be out in nature, and
have fun.”
The
playground expands on and renovates a previously existing playground and
features a variety of accessible elements designed to improve accessibility
and enhance the visitor experience for all. These elements include a paved
walkway surrounding the perimeter of the playground, allowing individuals
who use mobility devices to navigate easily and access the play structures
from any point. One of the highlights is an accessible overlook, which
gives visitors views to Geyser Creek and a feeder stream from the Ferndell
Trail.
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Key
features of the playground include:
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A paved,
ADA
accessible path that encircles the playground and provides access to
the play structure from any location.
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A scenic
accessible overlook offering a close view of Geyser Creek.
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Musical
elements adjacent to the path, allowing visitors to interact with the instruments
without leaving the walkway.
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Ground-level
play structures, including the Cozy Dome, Painted Turtle, Revirock Bouncer,
and Wobble Pod, designed to be easily accessible for children of all abilities.
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Two accessible
picnic tables situated alongside the pathway for convenient seating options.
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Numerous
native plantings were added to the streambank of the Ferndell Creek, adding
layers of visual interest to the site, providing habitat to native pollinators
and stabilizing the streambank.
The project
manager was OPRHP Senior Landscape Architect Chris More and the general
contractor was Moy Enterprises for a total cost of $463,113.
The
new playground is part of ongoing efforts to make Saratoga Spa State Park
and New York State Parks more inclusive and welcoming to all visitors.
The project also includes the addition of a new pedestrian bridge, enhancing
the park’s connectivity and access to different areas near the Creekside
Classroom and the playground.
Located
in the heart of the park off Geyser Loop Road, the playground is located
near many of the park’s biggest attractions including the Island Spouter,
and many of the parks mineral springs including Polaris, and the State
Seal Springs. Additionally, the playground is a short distance to the Creekside
Classroom which offers year-round educational programming and children’s
activities.
The
completion of this playground is one of several recent accessibly focused
additions to Saratoga Spa State Park which also included the completion
of a 3.2 mile paved trail loop which opened to the public earlier in
May of this year.
Saratoga
Spa State Park is one of the State’s flagship parks with a yearly attendance
of around 3.6 million visitors. The park offers a variety of recreational
options including a golf course, extensive hiking/biking trails, an automobile
museum, concerts, and natural spring baths. Please visit: parks.ny.gov/parks/saratogaspa
for more information.
2024
marks the 100th anniversary the State Parks system. Celebratory initiatives
include ‘Blazing A Trail,’ an interactive timeline chronicling the agency’s
history and influential figures; an exhibit in the New York State Capitol’s
State Street Tunnel currently on view; the Share Your Story project, which
invites people to tell their own stories relating to Parks and Sites; the
Centennial Challenge, which encourages people to win prizes by participating
in various activities at parks and sites; and the release of the Centennial
Collection merchandise, which includes t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more.
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New
York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)
oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf
courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in
2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.NY.gov,
download the free NY State
Parks Explorer app or call 518-474-0456. Join us in celebrating our
Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook,
Instagram,
X
(formerly Twitter) and the OPRHP Blog.
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Contact:
Dan
Keefe
Public
Information Officer
518-486-1868
news@parks.ny.gov |