SARATOGA SPRINGS — A ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 14 celebrated the completion of improvements to Waterfront Park. 

The community will now be able to enjoy a new playground, handicap accessible ramps, and renovated bathrooms and gazebo. 

“Waterfront Park was made possible by preservation and land acquisitions in 2001 by the Open Space Advisory Committee,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim. “It remains to this day one of the only points of public access to Saratoga Lake.” 

The project was made possible by a collaboration between the Mayor’s Office/Recreation Department and the Department of Public Works, using funds that had lingered in the Mayor’s Office’s Capital Budget program since 2013. 

Waterfront Park is located at 622-630 Crescent Ave. 

“Improving the property and structures at Waterfront Park for our community has been a priority of mine since taking office,” DPW Commissioner Jason Golub said, whose public works department played a large role in the renovation. “The bathrooms are restored and operational for the first time in a year, and the gazebo has been updated and renovated as well.”

BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency held its monthly Honor Deceased Veterans Program on Sept. 19, when it staged a ceremony honoring David E. McDonald of the Town of Charlton.

McDonald entered the US Army on Aug. 2, 1966 and served as a Field Artilleryman with 2nd Battalion, 10th Composite Artillery Battalion, 197th Infantry Regiment at Ft Benning, GEorgia – where he trained on 105- and 155-mm Howitzers, as well as “Honest John” rockets.

For his service he was awarded the National Defense Service medal and the Expert Rifle Badge. McDonald was honorably discharged on Aug. 1, 1968. McDonald married his soulmate, Shirleyan Shakan in 1966 and together they had four children.

After service McDonald worked for Sheet Metal Workers #83 as a superintendent, through MCD Mechanical. He was a member of the American Legion Post 234 in Ballston Spa and served as Commander for seven years. 

While serving as Post Commander, McDonald played an integral role in the Saratoga County Honor Deceased Veterans program. He was born March 9, 1947, and died at age 75 on Oct. 24, 2022.

 Established in 1999 by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, the Honor Deceased Veterans Program provides a way for county leadership and residents to show gratitude for the service of veterans past and present. The program honors a range of veterans and each ceremony – held at 2 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month – is dedicated to a different Saratoga County veteran. To date, more than 300 Saratoga County Veterans have been honored.

For more information about the Honor Deceased Veterans Ceremony, contact Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency at 518-884-4115.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —As part of a NYSDOT project to improve the area between East Avenue and Henning Road, invasive trees are being removed. 

Landscape plans from NYSDOT Design-Build Assistant Project Manager Corey Barringer indicate that 11 trees will be removed with an addition of 17 trees and two bushes.

“I walked the entire stretch of the median East of East Ave with DOT Landscapers/Arborists. We discussed the condition of each tree, the species and we determined the required maintenance needs, whether that was pruning or removal etc.,” said City Arborist Steve Lashomb, who is in consultation with the State regarding the project. “No red maples are being removed in the median. There are some Crimson King Maples that have dark red leaves and some of those are getting removed. Crimson Kings are a Norway Maple cultivar which are an invasive species and a threat to the native species in natural areas.”

Later this fall, a detour will be established around this stretch of Union Avenue to allow for milling and repaving, utilizing Henning Road to State Route 29 and East Avenue, according to a statement released by the New York State Department of Transportation. Dates of the detour will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Motorists are also reminded to Move Over a lane, if safely possible, or slow down significantly whenever encountering roadside vehicles displaying red, white, blue, amber or green lights, including maintenance and construction vehicles in work zones. 

SARATOGA COUNTY — From January through July in 2023, Saratoga County collected $95.17 million in sales taxes, up 4.7% from the same time in 2022, according to a statement released by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. The City of Saratoga Springs, specifically, collected $9.71 million in the first 7 months of 2023 compared with $8.72 million the same time in 2022, up 11.3%. 

The county’s overall collections in June and July in 2023 were up 17.5% and 8.5% respectively versus the prior year.

Additionally, the median sales price of a home in Saratoga County is $401,000 according to the Greater Capital Association of REALTORS. That figure is year-to-date as of July 2023 and represents an increase of more than $100,000 or 33.8% in the last five years when the median sales price year to date as of July of 2018 was $299,570.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Springs’s first Cannabis Growers Showcase, which took place Sunday, Sept. 3 and Tuesday, Sept. 5 returned over $70,000 in gross sales, city Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran said.  

The local showcase will take place 2 to 8 p.m. at the City Center Parking Garage Friday and Sunday, Sept. 15 and 17, and every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the year beginning Sept. 30, according to the NYS Office of Cannabis Management. 

Nine farms presented their products in addition to a processor – who essentially makes edible goods and drinks – during the Saratoga Springs showcase, which returned more than 300 transactions on each of its first two days. 

Municipalities receive a 3% tax on cannabis sales, under New York State law. That formula indicates a return of about $2,100 for the first two days of operations in Saratoga Springs.  

“When you start to look at what potential ramifications can be on a full roll-out or a full-market basis, it’s very obvious…the cannabis market on a tax basis is going to be transformative,” Commissioner Moran said. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A revised plan, submitted to the city for an existing demolition and proposed mixed-use development at 126 West Ave., is among the items under consideration by the city Design Review Board this week. 

Additional applications under consideration include a two-story addition to an existing commercial structure at 395 Broadway, and a three-story addition to a commercial structure at 453 Broadway. 

For meeting times and dates of the three city Land Use Boards, go to: saratoga-springs.org.