In October 2021, funding was secured for the preservation and renovation of the Coesa Mineral Spring in Saratoga Spa State Park, an underused area of the park that had become tough to access. Read about the latest updates from this project, and what Saratoga mineral spring fans can look forward to.
What Is the Coesa Mineral Spring?
The Coesa Mineral Spring, once a well-known stop on Route 50 in Saratoga Springs, lost roadside access due to highway expansion. Access from within the park was also difficult because there is a pond located in front of the spring house.
To help revive the Coesa Mineral Spring, the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park kicked off a new restoration project in 2021. Parks & Trails New York granted $75,000 to the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park for the project, and an additional $59,000 was raised by the Spa Park Centennial Fund to expand the project’s scope.
In total, this initiative is expected to cost approximately $134,000, and it will include rehabilitating the spring house, installing interpretive signage, replicating the original granite fountain, and revitalizing the trails.
Progress Update for the Restoration Project
Renovations at the site began in summer 2022, with most of the work being done by volunteers. Throughout the year, the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park completed structure stabilization and installed a new roof, and then moved on to restoring other aspects of the spring house, including window and door renovations.
This year, efforts are being made to collect oral and written histories of the spring, gather old photographs for signage, and find an authentic and historically accurate fountain.
Future plans include landscaping the area surrounding the new spring house, marketing the project, and creating a more accessible access point from the park to enhance visitor experiences.
Although a completion date hasn’t been announced, the Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park is working hard on the project and will continue to update the public about its progress and future opening.
See more places to explore in Saratoga Spa State Park >>
Source:
- Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park – Coesa Spring House Restoration
- Daily Gazette – Saratoga Spa State Park’s Coesa Mineral Spring to undergo preservation, renovation work
