Saratoga Springs residents came out in full force at Tuesday, May 20, City Council meeting to once again voice their opinions and concerns over a proposed indoor recreation center that the city intends to build on the South Side recreation field.
During the public comment period, Linda Terricola, director of recreation, read a note from Henry and Kathleen Christopher, who live near the field. The letter said the couple was in favor of the proposed rec center because it would protect peoples’ homes from unstructured play that currently takes place on the field. It blamed baseballs being hit out of the park as the major cause of damage to neighborhood homes. The letter also spoke of the field being a sanctuary for widespread drug and alcohol use.
Peter Brown, of 2 Webster Street, said he was for the building of the rec center, as well; however, he opposed it being built on the south side recreation field.
“I think it’s a good thing for the youth, but I don’t support eliminating a park to do so,” Brown said. “Our city has so few parks and this is the one thing that makes it an attractive place and to eliminate a park to build a big building and parking lot doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”
Brown also addressed the letter previously read by Terricola. He said the allegations of constant drug use and drinking going on at the field is “categorically inaccurate.”
“I live there and I see what is going on, and yes, there are kids playing at the basketball courts and yes, they get rowdy, but that’s what kids do. Is it excessive? Well, maybe sometimes, but it’s just wrong to say that there are constant problems as described.” He said.
Girard Hawthorne, a member of the recreation commission, spoke on behalf of the parents and children of Jefferson Terrace. He presented signatures of some 200 adults and said there were also around 250 kids who favor the indoor recreation center being built at the location.
“The kids of Jefferson Terrace have no way to get to any other site,” Hawthorne said. “It’s the perfect location because they can actually walk there, and the only reason they are not here clapping tonight is because they could not get here.”
Hawthorne also said the proposed facility would be scaled back by 5,000 feet from its original plans and there would still be close to 1/3 an acre of open land present at the site, including the existing spray park.
Other business discussed:
• The council approved a revision to Chapter 225 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law which deals with the right to park in areas designated as loading zones and the right to have these vehicles towed.
Chapter 225-34 will now state that unauthorized vehicles cannot be parked in a designated loading zone. Chapter 225-40 gives all law enforcement personnel the right to tow vehicles with outstanding fines and any unauthorized vehicle parked in a loading zone.
• During the Finance Agenda, Commissioner Ivins presented an update on city finances. He said 45 percent of property taxes have been collected this year, which is a 2 percent rise from the 43 percent collected at this point last year.
Sales tax revenue is also up 9.5 percent which Ivins contributed to rising gas prices. Ivins said he is cautiously optimistic that the city will meet the 2008 budget numbers if sales continued at the current rate.
• Commissioner Ivins also discussed the city’s July Fourth “All American Celebration” scheduled to take place July 4-6, 2008.
The theme of this year’s event is “Family, Freedom & Founding Fathers” and will begin on July 4 with a day-long celebration in Congress Park. The day will feature food vendors, music and fireworks at night, Ivins said.
Ivins also announced that on July 5 a parade will take place along Broadway at 10 a.m. and Sunday would feature a fashion show for dogs on Grove Street.
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