town of plattsburgh recreation master plan maste… · town of plattsburgh recreation master plan...

Prepared by: Chazen Engineering, Land Surveying &

Landscape Architects Co., P.C.

Prepared for: Town of Plattsburgh 151 Banker Road

Plattsburgh, NY 12901‐7307

January 2011

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Town of Plattsburgh Recreation Master Plan

Chazen Engineering, Land Surveying & Landscape Architecture Co., P.C. Chazen Environmental Services, Inc.

The Chazen Companies, Inc.

Town of Plattsburgh Recreation Master Plan Acknowledgements

Town of Plattsburgh Youth Commission

Skip Riley Chuck Kostyk Ralph Cross

Joanne Zucker Lenny Strauss Zane Adams

Ad Hoc Advisory Committee Members

Kristy Kennedy Sam Campbell Connie Harrica Chris Blake Tom Metz

Town of Plattsburgh Staff

Melanie Defayette Erin Pangborn

Town Board

Bernie Bassett, Supervisor Marty Mannix, Deputy Supervisor

Paul Lamoy Gerard Renadette

Tom Wood




Table of Contents

Excutive Summary .................................................................................................................... i

1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1

1.1 What is a Recreation Master Plan? ............................................................................. 1

1.2 Planning Process ......................................................................................................... 1

2.0 PARK AND RECREATION INVENTORY ................................................................................. 1

2.1 Overview .................................................................................................................... 1

2.2 Existing Recreational Facilities .................................................................................... 2

2.3 Existing School Facilities ............................................................................................ 11

2.4 Recreational Programs .............................................................................................. 13

3.0 RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT ................................................................................... 16

3.1 Current Needs ........................................................................................................... 16

3.2 Future Needs ............................................................................................................ 24

4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................... 26

4.1 Implementation Plan ................................................................................................ 26

4.2 Funding Sources ........................................................................................................ 33

List of Figures

Figure 1 – Recreation Recommendations

List of Tables

Table 1 ‐ Town of Plattsburgh Park Locations and Amenities

Table 2 ‐ Saranac School District Recreation Facilities

Table 3 ‐ Beekmantown School District Recreation Facilities

Table 4 ‐ Seton Catholic School Recreation Facilities

Table 5 ‐ 2007 Town & County (MSA) Population Estimates by Age Group

Table 6 ‐ Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Recreation Needs for the Current Population

Table 7 ‐ Existing Recreational Facilities and Programs by Age Group

Table 8 ‐ Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Needs for Ten Year Projected Population and Demographic Shift Table 9 ‐ Fund Sources for Park Improvements Table 10 ‐ Funding Sources for Trail Development Table 11 ‐ Funding Sources for Land Acquisition for Trails Table 12 ‐ Funding Sources for Planning & Programmatic Recommendations




Appendices

Appendix 1 – Park Inventory Forms

Appendix 2 – Recommendations for Town Park Improvements

Town of Plattsburgh

Recreation Master Plan i

January 2011 The Chazen Companies

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2010, the Town of Plattsburgh adopted a new comprehensive plan which included the following vision for improving recreation facilities and opportunities in the Town.

We strive to attract new families to our region and to encourage our region's children to remain or return. We advocate for a better integration of work and play, with commercial areas zoned and designed with public access and recreation in mind. We also advocate for a healthy community, with walking and bicycling trails that knit together our neighborhoods. We support the use of sustainable energy sources and agricultural practices. We encourage artistic and social opportunities. Recognizing the importance of new residents to our Town, we support thoughtful development that will afford both new and current residents a high quality of life in a prosperous community. A good parks and recreation system is important for both existing residents as well as for employers considering locating in the Town who seek a high quality of life for their employees.

As articulated by the Comprehensive Plan, recreation is an essential component of a community’s quality of life, and it contributes to its economic well‐being. This fact is underscored by the North Country Chamber of Commerce’s recently completed Clinton County Destination Master Plan, which stated that Clinton County tourism should focus on history, the outdoors and agriculture. The plan emphasizes promoting outdoors activities such as fishing, cycling and paddling. The Town’s 2010 Comprehensive supports this vision, its goals including the creation of diverse recreational opportunities. Diverse opportunities will in turn attract a diverse citizenry with a variety of interests, contributing to the health and vitality of the community. The 2010 Comprehensive Plan further recommended that a recreation master plan be created to guide future improvements in support of this vision.

The Town currently has an outstanding recreation system with numerous parks and facilities throughout Town. Although improvements and upgrades are needed, the condition of the Town’s recreation facilities is generally good. However, the Town’s parks could be better connected to surrounding neighborhoods via sidewalks and bicycle trails, and in general the Town lacks trails and bikeways. Additionally, there are limited opportunities for water access. This plan therefore focuses on these types of recreation opportunities.

The Town’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of programs with a high percentage of its facilities and programs serving users age 5 to 17. These facilities and programs provide an excellent base for continued development of the Town’s recreation system for users of all ages.

Town of Plattsburgh

Recreation Master Plan ii

January 2011 The Chazen Companies

The recommendations in this plan take into account the Town’s current demographics and also projected future demographics which will include a higher percentage of people over 60 years of age. The Town facilities and programs will need to shift, over time, to provide additional recreational facilities and programs for seniors.

In addition to shifting demographics, the current recreational trends are moving towards walking and biking, nature observation and education, fishing and small craft boating. Recommendations include adding hiking and biking trails, nature trails and water access both to the Saranac River and Lake Champlain. With respect to Lake Champlain access, the plan recommends reprogramming the Crab Island Vista park phasing plan to provide for development in smaller, more achievable phases. This plan also recommends that the Town study the feasibility of constructing a multi‐use community center.

The plan’s programmatic recommendations include changing the structure by which citizens provide input to the Town’s Parks and Recreations Departments and a recommendation to reprogram the way recreation fee funds are spent.

Winter is a long season in Plattsburgh and few of the Town’s recreational facilities and programs offer opportunities for winter recreation—either indoors or outdoors. Recommendations include expanding opportunities for recreation for the winter season.

Town of Plattsburgh

Recreation Master Plan 1

September 2010 The Chazen Companies Draft Report

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 What is a Recreation Master Plan?

A recreation master plan is a policy guide that sets forth directions for the future of recreation in a community. It is a blueprint to help guide the provision of recreation services and facilities to townspeople over the next decade.

1.2 Planning Process

The Town of Plattsburgh adopted its current Comprehensive Plan in 2010. One of the recommendations of that plan was to create a Recreation Master Plan. The Town Board assigned Melanie Defayette, the Town’s Recreation Director, to spearhead this effort and hired The Chazen Companies to assist her. The planning team met with members of the Town’s Youth Commission as well as an ad hoc advisory committee of townspeople interested in recreation who provided ideas on how to better utilize the existing parks and facilities. New ideas for recreational opportunities were also sought from these groups. Existing recreational facilities were assessed and recommendations for improvements were compiled. A draft plan was then presented at a public meeting to garner additional input from the Town residents. This plan is the result of this process.

2.0 PARK AND RECREATION INVENTORY

2.1 Overview

Plattsburgh has an outstanding recreation system with numerous parks and facilities throughout Town. Parks are spread throughout the neighborhoods and have historically served the local communities in which they are based. Most of the parks have multi‐use playing fields, tennis and basketball courts and a playground. Parks are maintained by the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department maintenance staff.

The Parks and Recreation Department operates a number of programs at the various parks. The department has a director, program coordinator, maintenance supervisor, three year round maintenance staff, twenty‐five to thirty seasonal employees and approximately sixty seasonal volunteers. Local organized sports such as youth baseball/softball and youth soccer are based at each park. A volunteer from each area has the role of overseeing the organization of these teams. Collectively, these volunteers are known as the Youth Commission. The Parks and Recreation Department also organizes a number of summer camps as well as year round senior activities.

Section 2.2 lists the parks and summarizes each park’s condition. Recommendations for park improvements are listed in Section 4. Section 2.3 lists the facilities available at the local schools

Town of Plattsburgh



and how the Town and schools share some resources. Section 2.4 lists the programs and activities offered by the Parks and Recreation Department.

2.2 Existing Recreational Facilities

Table 1: Town of Plattsburgh Park Locations and Amenities

ACRE

S

PARK

ING

BALL

FIE

LDS

BASK

ETBA

LL

BIKE

TRA

ILS

BUILDING REN

TAL

DISC GOLF COURS

E

PAVILION

PLAYG

ROUNDS

PICN

IC TABLES

SOCC

ER FIELD

S

BOATING/FISHING

SWIM

MING

TENNIS

RIVER

FRONT

WALKING / XC

PATH

S

Cadyville Park 114 Goddeau Rd 20.5 100 3 1 X 1 1 1 1 2 2 X

Cadyville Beach Route3, Cadyville 1.0 43 3 X 200 1

Cliff Haven Park 16 Cliff Haven Park Rd 6.6 20 2 2 1 1 1 1 2

East Morrisonville Park 22 Bullis Rd

13.4 48 2 1 1 1 1 8 2 200 2

Everest Rabideau Park 35 Oswego La

11.3*

60 3 2 X 1 2 3 2 X

Guy Cedar Park 10 Brenda Boulevard 2.1 15 1 1 1

May Currier Park 305 Tom Miller Rd 6.87 40 2 1 1 1 1 1 2

South Plattsburgh Park 52 Broderick Rd

7.4 40 2 1 1 1 2 2 2

Treadwells Mills Park 1403 Military Turnpike 3.94 30 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

Wallace Hill Park 140 Wallace Hill Rd 5.0 30 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

West Plattsburgh Park 44 Catherine Hayes La 24.5 60 2 1 1 1 1 2 2

TOTALS

19

11 8 1 1 10 21 13 1 17 1

* A thirty acre parcel of land adjacent to Everest Rabideau Park has been donated to the Town. This is mostly wooded land with some wetlands and extensive ATV trails that run throughout Cumberland Head connecting to the school, water tower and other locations.

Town of Plattsburgh



Cadyville Beach 1 acre (leased) on Route 3, Cadyville

This community park is located in a residential area on a narrow strip of land along the Saranac River in the southwest corner of the Town. It serves primarily as a boat launch and swimming beach (with life guard) with a use capacity of 200. There is a gravel boat ramp for use by small fishing boats, kayaks and canoes. Aluminum floating docks are installed in the summer for use in the swimming area.

Picnicking is a secondary use with three picnic tables provided and three trash cans. Forty three parking spaces are provided which appear to be adequate for general use. Cracks are appearing in the parking lot pavement. The park has a comfort station which is in good condition. The park is missing entrance signage and lighting. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Route 3. There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the beach. There is no bike rack. The river bank is eroded in sections. The expansive riverfront is under‐utilized with no access for pedestrians other than at the small beach area.

An increase in the number of geese has become a problem at the beach area. Maintenance staff spends significant time removing geese feces from the beach area. If geese numbers continue to increase, it could lead to water quality and health issues and the possible closing of the beach.

Town programs offered at the park include kayak lessons and trips and swimming lessons.

Cadyville Park 20.55 acres (leased) at 114 Goddeau Road, Cadyville

This community park is located in a residential area. It has a playground, multi‐purpose playing fields, and a community building with restrooms and a small meeting room. One hundred parking spaces are provided. There are no sidewalk connections from the parking lot to the play area or sports fields. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages 5‐12. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a mulch layer which has become compacted over time.

The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are three baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 20 people. There is one basketball court and two tennis courts all in good condition. The tennis nets are of chain link fabric which has poor functionality. There is a new 18 hole disc (frisbee) golf course. An additional 9 holes are planned.

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The park has one picnic table, two benches and five trash receptacles. There are multiple trails within the park, however, there is no signage for the trail system or indication of the extent of the trails or the use(es) for which they are suitable.

The lighting for the parking lot is inadequate. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Goddeau Road. There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the playground, courts and playing fields. There is no bike rack.

Cliff Haven 6.6 acres at 16 Cliff Haven Park Road, Plattsburgh

This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a medium sized building which includes a meeting room and restroom facilities. The paved parking lot has twenty paved but non‐striped spaces.

The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time.

There are two basketball courts and two tennis courts in good condition. The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in poor condition. Two bleachers can seat 40 people. There is one soccer field in poor condition. There are significant ponding and drainage issues over the entire playing field area.

In the winter, a drainage pipe is plugged to flood an area to create an ice skating rink. The local fire department tops off the resulting pond and the Town removes the snow that accumulates once the pond freezes. The pond is for recreational skating and is not large enough for a hockey game.

There are two picnic tables, one bench, and five trash receptacles located in the park.

East Morrisonville Park 13.40 acres at 22 Bullis Road, Morrisonville

This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts and a shallow wading pool. There is a small community building with a meeting room and restrooms.

Forty eight paved parking spaces are provided. There are no sidewalks connections from the parking lot to the play area or sports fields. Buses deliver children to the park for swimming lessons in the summer.

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The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 60 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition. There is one basketball court with numerous cracks in the pavement. The two tennis courts are in good condition. The tennis nets are of chain link fabric which has poor functionality.

There is a shallow circular wading pool (0”to 4’ depth) with a gravel bottom surface and a concrete curb border. In one section, the concrete curb is removed to allow handicap access to the water. The use capacity of the pool is 200. A small beach area has two lifeguard chairs and is surrounded by eight picnic tables and one barbeque. Water from a nearby stream is diverted to fill the pool. The overflow from the pool enters an adjacent stream via a paved apron. The water is not chlorinated or treated as it discharges to the stream and a natural ecological system. This pool is used for swimming lessons by the Town.

There is a wooden pavilion with a concrete floor, three picnic tables and a barbeque. This provides needed shade as there are no trees in the picnic area. The pavilion can be used by groups but cannot be reserved.

The park has inadequate lighting. There is no entrance sign or way finding signage. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Bullis Road. There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the playground, courts and playing fields. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas.

Everest Rabideau Park 11.31 acres at 35 Oswego Lane, Plattsburgh

This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a small building with storage area and restroom facilities. The paved parking lot has ten non‐paved and forty paved but non‐striped parking spaces in poor condition. The pavement has large cracks, potholes and deterioration of asphalt top coat. There’s a small parking area near the tennis courts.


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There are two basketball courts and two tennis courts in good condition. The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are three baseball/softball fields in poor condition. Two bleachers can seat 40 people. There are three soccer fields in poor condition. There are significant ponding and drainage issues over the entire playing field areas.

There are two picnic tables, one bench, and five trash receptacles located in the park.

The park has a large entrance sign off Oswego Lane with a dedication to Everest Rabideau. There are swing gates at the park entrance as well as informational signage. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Oswego Lane. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional area.

The town owns thirty additional acres adjacent to this park. There is an unofficial trail network that is not mapped or signed and which appears to be used by ATVs. Over six years ago, neighborhood meetings were held to discuss development and use of this property but plans were not advanced.

Guy Cedar Park 2.1 acres at 10 Brenda Blvd., Plattsburgh

This is a neighborhood park located in a residential area at the end of a dead end street surrounded by woods. It has a playground and sports fields. There is a small community building with a storage area and restrooms. The paved parking lot has fifteen parking spaces in good condition.


The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There is one baseball/softball field in fair condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There is one soccer field in fair condition. There are ponding and drainage problems evident on the fields.

There are no picnic tables or benches and two trash receptacles located in the park.

The park has inadequate lighting. Way finding signage is located on Wallace Hill Road to the park entrance. Informational signage exists at the park entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas.

Town of Plattsburgh



May Currier 6.87 acres at 305 Tom Miller Rd, Plattsburgh

This is a community park located in a commercial/residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a medium sized community building with full basement, a kitchenette, a meeting room and restrooms. The building is nicely furnished with many windows for natural light. A concrete sidewalk connects the building and the parking lot. The paved parking lot has been recently improved with forty striped spaces and two handicapped parking spaces.


There is one basketball court and two tennis courts in fair condition. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in fair condition. The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in fair condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There is one soccer field in fair condition. There are ponding and drainage problems on the fields.

There is one picnic table and one bench in the park.

There is a small brick entrance sign and a small information park sign at the entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Tom Miller Road. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas.

South Plattsburgh 7 acres at 52 Broderick Road, Plattsburgh

This is a community park located in a residential area and adjacent to the Airborne Speedway. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a small community building with a meeting room and restrooms which are ADA accessible. The paved parking lot has forty non‐striped parking spaces. Users of playing fields in the southwest corner use a fence opening to walk in while parking their vehicles in non‐designated areas.


There is one basketball court and two tennis courts in good to fair condition. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in good condition. The basketball court is

Town of Plattsburgh



adjacent to a pine tree which drops needles and cones on the court. The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition.

There are two picnic tables, one bench, and three trash receptacles located in the park.

There is informational signage inside the park entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas. There is no bike rack.

Treadwells Mills Park 3.94 acres 1403 Military Turnpike, Plattsburgh

This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, an open field and tennis and basketball courts. There is a small community building with a kitchenette, meeting room and ADA accessible restrooms. The building houses the Outreach Center for the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin counties. Thirty paved parking spaces are provided. There are no sidewalk connections from the parking lot to the play area or courts.


There is one basketball court with new rims and backboards. The two tennis courts are in poor condition. The chain link fence nets lack functionality. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in fair condition.

There are no official ball fields; however, there are approximately two acres of open space that is used as a driving range for golfers.

There is one picnic table and one bench in the park.

There is a large entrance sign to the park, however, there are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on the busy Military Turnpike. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas.

Wallace Hill 5.0 acres at 140 Wallace Hill Road, Plattsburgh

This is a community park located in a residential area and adjacent to a fire station. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a small community building with a meeting room

Town of Plattsburgh



and restrooms which are ADA accessible. The paved parking lot has thirty parking spaces in good condition. Paved sidewalks leading to the building and tennis court have significant cracks.


There is one basketball court and one tennis court in good condition. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in fair condition. The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There is one baseball/softball field in fair condition. Bleachers can seat 20 people. There is one soccer field in fair condition. There are ponding and drainage problems on the fields.

There is one picnic table, one bench, and two trash receptacles located in the park.

The park has inadequate lighting. There is no entrance sign or way finding signage. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Wallace Hill Road. There is no bike rack.

West Plattsburgh Park 24.52 acres at 44 Catherine Hayes Lane

This community park is located in a residential area. It has a playground, multi‐purpose playing fields, and a community building with restrooms and a small meeting room. Sixty parking spaces are provided. However, there are no designated handicap parking spaces and fifty of the spaces are on a gravel surface and are not striped which may result in less parking capacity. There is another small parking area adjacent to the basketball and tennis courts. There are no sidewalks connections from the parking lot to the play area or sports fields. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages 5‐12. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a mulch layer covered with pine straw which has become compacted over time.

The playing fields are multi‐use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 20 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition. Boulders with thick metal rope along the edge of playing fields are a potential trip hazard.

There is one basketball court and two tennis courts all in good condition. The tennis nets are of chain link fabric which has poor functionality.

The park has adequate lighting and way finding signage at the gated park entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Rand Hill Road.

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There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the playground, courts and playing fields. There is no bike rack.

Undeveloped Park Properties The Town owns property reserved for park development at two locations. A four acre parcel on Lake Champlain is reserved to become the Crab Island Vista Park. A ten acre site on the Saranac River at the end of La Pierre Lane in Morrisonville is reserved to become a park for small boat launch/fishing access and a riverfront walking trail. See Section 4.1 for discussion of plans for these park facilities.

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2.3 Existing School Facilities

The Saranac, Beekmantown and Seton Catholic school districts use several of the Town parks for a variety of sports including; cross‐country running, baseball, softball, and soccer. The Town uses the Cumberland Head and Morrisonville School gymnasiums for its winter basketball programs. Sharing these resources appears to work well for both the Town and schools. Tables 2, 3 and 4 list the sports facilities at the local schools and indicate Town and school shared resources. Table 2 ‐ Saranac School District Recreation Facilities

School Outdoor Facilities Indoor Facilities

PLAYG

ROUND

BASEBA

LL/SOFTBA

LL

FIELDS

SOCC

ER FIELD

S

BASKETBA

LL COURT

S

TENNIS COURT

S

TRACK

SWIM

MING POOL

GYM

NASIUM

FACILITY NOTES AND CONDITIONS

AVAILABILITY TO TOWN RESIDENTS

Dannemora Elementary 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1

Morrisonville Elementary

1 1 2 2 0 0 0 1

Town organized basketball held in gym.

Saranac Elementary 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Saranac High/Middle

0 3 2 1 4 1 0 2

Schools also use Cadyville Park for cross country running and baseball.

Sunday afternoon basketball open to public Outdoor facilities available to Town residents‐school takes precedence

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Table 3 ‐ Beekmantown School District Recreation Facilities


PLAYG

ROUND

BASEBA

LL/SOFTBA

LL

FIELDS

SOCC

ER FIELD

S

BASKETBA

LL COURT

S

TENNIS COURT

S

TRACK

SWIM

MING POOL

GYM

NASIUM



Cumberland Head Elem.

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Town rec

programs are held here.

Beekmantown Elem. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Beekmantown Middle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Beekmantown High 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 1

Beekmantown Elem., Middle and High School is one complex

New football field

Basketball

courts are

indoor

Built within 5 yrs.

Schools also use Beekmantown Park.

High School has indoor fitness center open to public evenings and weekends. Outdoor facilities are not fenced and are available to Town residents‐school takes precedence.

Town of Plattsburgh



Table 4 ‐ Seton Catholic School Recreation Facilities


PLAYG

ROUND

BASEBA

LL/SOFTBA

LL

FIELDS

SOCC

ER FIELD

S

BASKETBA

LL COURT

S

TENNIS COURT

S

TRACK

SWIM

MING POOL

GYM

NASIUM



Seton Catholic Central School (grades 7‐12)

0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1

School uses South Plattsburgh Park ball fields. School uses Cliff Haven and May Currier Park for soccer and softball.

Outdoor facilities are not fenced and are available to Town residents‐school takes precedence.

2.4 Recreational Programs

The Parks and Recreation Department operates a number of programs at the Town parks and local schools. Residents can learn about these programs and the park facilities at the Parks and Recreation Department website and in an annual Summer Fun Guide brochure.

Programs for Youth

The Town organizes a number of team sports and summer camps for boys and girls ages 5 to 17. The department organizes the volunteer coaches for the teams and provides a free clinic to all coaches which allow them to become certified with the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. Following are the Town organized sports for youth:

o League Youth Basketball (Played indoors at local schools, separate teams for boys and

girls grades 3‐6)

o Instructional Youth Basketball (co‐ed play and instruction for grades 1 and 2)

o League Baseball/softball (ages 7‐16)

o Instructional T‐ball (ages 5‐6)

o League Youth Soccer (ages 6‐15) co‐ed teams

o Instructional Youth Soccer (age 5 co‐ed)

o Instructional swimming (age 5‐17)

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o 10 week Bowling program (ages 5‐18)

Summer Camps are one week camps at local Town parks and are free to residents. Sport Fun Camps are designed for the beginner and intermediate levels of experience in each sport including:

o Soccer Camp

o Archery Camp

o Tennis Camp

o Golf Camp

o Disc Golf Camp

o Basketball Camp

Non sport camps include: o Readers Rock: a reading program for children entering grades 1 – 6

o Art Week: for 8‐12 year olds

o Kids Cook It Up: kids ages 9‐12 learn cooking skills for healthy treats

o Kayaking: free equipment usage and lessons on kayaking for ages 10+

Programs for All Age Levels The Town organizes a weekly Disc Golf play day. Typical player age is eighteen and older. The Town holds weekly Zumba classes for all ages at the Town offices. The Town organizes the following winter activities for families and people of all ages

o Snowshoeing and cross‐country skiing

o Family swim nights at the Wellness Center at PARC

o Ice skating at the PSUC Fieldhouse

o Beartown Family Nights—downhill skiing at a local ski center

o Archery nights at Gander Mountain

o NYS Snowmobile Safety Course (ages 10‐16)

Programs for Active Seniors (age 50+) The Town offers the following programs to people age 50 and older:

o Crafts, bingo and meetings twice weekly

o Fitness for Life exercise class held 3 times weekly

o Kayaking classes and trips several times throughout the summer and fall

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o Snowshoeing at the Cadyville Park

o Day trips throughout the region to places such as museums, casinos, boat trips

and other places of interest

Community Room Use Most of the Town parks have a community room that can be reserved for use year round. Organized groups that follow Town rules and regulations are permitted to use the facilities. Youth organizations and not‐for‐profit organizations use the facilities free of charge. Individuals and private groups use Town facilities for parties, showers, family reunions, meetings, etc. There is a minimal fee for use of community rooms for private functions.

Special One Day Events The Parks and Recreation Department currently organizes these one day events:

o Doggie Paddle Day: takes place in August at the East Morrisonville Park after the pool is

closed for the season. The dogs are allowed in the pool to play and romp with other

dogs. The pool is drained, cleaned and closed for the season following this event.

o Kite Day: at Everest Rabideau Park

o Living Sculpture Project: youth ages 8 to 12 explore the realm of living sculptures

o Take a Hike: bus transportation and supervision for an Adirondack mountain hike for

ages 12 and older.

o Disc Golf Tournaments.

Other Recreational Activities

Although not an activity organized or supervised by the Town, windsurfers access Lake

Champlain on the west side of Cumberland head near the McDonogh Farm. When conditions

are favorable, windsurfers travel long distances to access the lake at this spot.

Town of Plattsburgh



3.0 RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT

3.1 Current Needs

Recreational needs of the Town have been determined through input from the Youth Commissions, ad hoc committee and the experience of the Recreation Director and Parks and Recreation Department staff who work with the Town’s parks and programs.

Population demographics help tell the story of met and unmet recreational needs within the Town. Table 5 lists the 2007 county population by age group. The percentage of the population from ages 5 to 19 years is 19.3 percent. These are the ages served by most of the Town’s programs and park facilities. The percentage of population from ages 20 to 59 is 58.7 percent. The percentage of the population 60 and older is 17.5 percent.

The Town is doing very well in meeting the recreation needs of the youth population. In recent years it has added a few facilities and programs for the older residents. Facilities such as Disc Golf and programs such as senior kayaking are steps in the direction of balancing the recreational needs for the entire population.

Table 5 ‐ 2007 Town & County (MSA) Population Estimates by Age Group Gender & Age County Estimate Percent of County State Estimate Percent of StateTotal population 82,048 100% 19,280,753 100% Male 41,781 50.9% 9,343,951 48.50% Female 40,267 49.1% 9,936,802 51.50%

Under 5 years 3,796 4.6% 1,201,950 6.20% 5 to 9 years 3,488 4.3% 1,178,018 6.10% 10 to 14 years 5,326 6.5% 1,271,062 6.60% 15 to 19 years 6,950 8.5% 1,397,353 7.20% 20 to 24 years 7,552 9.2% 1,365,909 7.10% 25 to 34 years 11,545 14.1% 2,524,715 13.10% 35 to 44 years 12,180 14.8% 2,901,095 15.00% 45 to 54 years 12,304 15.0% 2,827,241 14.70% 55 to 59 years 4,585 5.6% 1,180,711 6.10% 60 to 64 years 3,850 4.7% 904,745 4.70% 65 to 74 years 5,713 7.0% 1,270,797 6.60% 75 to 84 years 3,283 4.0% 901,194 4.70% 85 years and over 1,476 1.8% 355,963 1.80%

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Table 6 lists the Town’s existing park facilities and the unmet needs of the current population. This table does not include local school facilities except for those sports where facilities are shared by the Town and schools.

Table 6 ‐ Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Needs for the Current PopulationType of Recreation Existing

Facilities Current Unmet Need Additional Information

Baseball/Softball 19 There is a need for a few dedicated baseball fields for the end of season games in late August when soccer practice is beginning

These are multi‐use fields, not dedicated fields.

Basketball/Outdoor 11 The number of outdoor basketball courts is sufficient.

Basketball/Indoor 2 (at local school)

The use of school facilities for youth basketball is sufficient.

The Town offers an indoor youth basketball program at local schools.

Biking 0 Bike trails for both transportation and local and regional recreation are desirable facilities for the Town

Blueway Trails (canoeing, kayaking, motor boating)

1 There is a greater need for boat access to the Saranac River for small watercraft. This water resource needs to be assessed for connections to regional blueway trails, specifically, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

There is a need for water access to Lake Champlain.

There is one boat launch but this is not part of a waterway trail system.

Fishing 1 The Town’s fishing access is on the Saranac River. Access to Lake Champlain would extend fishing opportunities.

Fishing access could be expanded in conjunction with blueway trails.

Football 0 A youth football league operates independently of the Town

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Greenway Trails (walking, hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing)

0 There is a strong need for hiking and walking trails.

These trails could also be used in the winter for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.

There are some trails at Cadyville and Everest Rabideau Parks but they are unmarked and are not part of a larger trail system. The Town’s parks could be better connected to surrounding neighborhoods by sidewalks and bicycle trails.

Hockey 0 A youth hockey league operates independently of the Town

Ice Skating Rink 1 There is a need for an outdoor ice skating rink where youth can play hockey.

The town creates a skating rink at Cliff Haven Park but it is not large enough for hockey games.

Playground 10 There is an unmet need for playgrounds for ages 2 to 5.

Ages 5‐12 only

Pool 0 There is a need for a public indoor pool

Swimming has become popular with all age groups, especially seniors. This type of facility would fill the need for additional winter activities. Swimming lessons could be offered.

Soccer 17 There is a need for a few dedicated soccer fields for the summer use while baseball games are still being held.


Tennis 17 The number of outdoor tennis courts is sufficient.

Volleyball 0 There does not seem to be a demand for volleyball courts at the Town parks.

Adult pick‐up games are played indoors at a local school but are not organized by the Town.

Table 7 matches age groups with the recreational facilities and programs that meet the needs of each group. This table shows how a large portion of the recreational resources are meeting the needs of the five to fifteen year old age groups. Recommendations to balance the resources over the entire population are made in Section 3.

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Table 7 ‐ Existing Recreational Facilities and Programs by Age GroupAge Group Current Programs Existing Facilities Unmet Need

Under 5 years None Wading at East Morrisonville Park pool

wading at Cadyville Beach

Playgrounds and equipment for this age group is needed

5 to 10 years Living Sculpture Project (8‐12) Soccer Camp Archery Camp Tennis Camp Golf Camp Disc Golf Camp Basketball Camp Swimming Lessons Readers Rock (grades 1 – 6) Art Week (8‐12) League Youth Basketball ( grades 3‐6) Instructional Youth Basketball (grades 1 and 2) League Baseball/softball (7‐16) Instructional T‐ball (5‐6) League Youth Soccer (6‐15)

Playgrounds at most parks

Swimming at beach and pool

Soccer and Baseball fields

Tennis Courts

Basketball courts (indoors and outdoors)

Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms

Nature trails and ecological education

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Instructional Youth Soccer (age 5)

Bowling

10 to 15 years Kayaking lessons Living Sculpture Project (8‐12) Soccer Camp Archery Camp Tennis Camp Golf Camp Disc Golf Camp Basketball Camp Swimming Take a Hike (12+) Kayaking Lessons (10+) Kids Cook It Up (9‐12) Readers Rock (grades 1 – 6) Art Week (8‐12) Bowling

Playgrounds at most parks

Swimming at beach and pool

Swimming at PARC Wellness Center in winter


Tennis Courts

Basketball courts (indoors and outdoors)

Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms

Ice Skating at Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse

Bike trails

Nature trails and ecological education

15 to 20 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing Bowling

Swimming at beach


Hockey facility and lessons

More indoor swimming hours available

Bike trails

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Archery Snowshoeing and cross‐country skiing Zumba


Tennis Courts

Basketball courts (outdoors)

Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms

Boat Launch

Ice Skating at Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse

Hiking Trails

20 to 30 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing and cross‐country skiing Archery Zumba

Swimming at beach



Tennis Courts


Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms

Boat Launch

More Indoor swimming hours available

Bike trails

Hiking Trails

30 to 40 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing and cross‐country skiing

Swimming at beach


Tennis Courts


Bike trails

Hiking Trails

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Archery Zumba


Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms

Boat Launch


Swimming at beach

Tennis Courts

Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms Boat Launch


Bike trails

Hiking Trails


Swimming at beach

Tennis Courts

Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms

Boat Launch


Bike trails

Hiking Trails

50 to 60 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing Archery Fitness for life Day trips Zumba

Swimming at beach

Tennis Courts

Disc Golf Course

Community Rooms

Boat Launch


Bike trails

Hiking Trails

Birding Trails and Guided walks

60 plus Crafts, bingo and potluck lunch twice

Swimming at beach

Community Rooms


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weekly

Fitness for Life exercise class held 3 times weekly

Kayaking classes and day trips

Snowshoeing at the Cadyville Park

Day trips throughout the region to places such as museums, casinos, boat trips and other places of interest

Take a Hike (12+) Disc Golf Course Zumba

Boat Launch Bike trails

Hiking Trails especially for bird watching and nature enjoyment Benches in parks at playgrounds for outings with grandchildren Play equipment at playground designed for seniors

Families Moonlight Movie Indoor Ice Skating at SUNY Field House Family Ski Night at Beartown Ski Area Disc Golf Kite Day Family Swim Night in Winter at PARC Wellness Center

Families can use many of the existing parks for a family recreational outing meeting the needs of all age groups concurrently. Community Room rental for birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

There is no facility that families can use in the winter that would provide activities and programs for various age groups concurrently.

Dogs

Doggie Paddle Day Dogs are allowed in all parks and waste bags are provided

There is a need for a dog park where dogs can be let off leash to play with each other in a contained area.

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3.2 Future Needs

The Town’s population is growing slowly and it is also aging. According to the New York Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan (SCORP) the number of New York residents over the age of 60 is projected to increase by 52.6 percent in twenty years. This aging population will cause a shift in the types of recreational programs, parks and facilities needed. It will become even more important that parks and facilities are universally accessible and meet ADA guidelines. The shift from youth focused recreation to the inclusion of elderly focused recreation may create training needs as staff and volunteers learn to work with the elderly.

According to SCORP, the ten most popular activities among NY residents age 60 and older (in order of preference) are:

o Relaxing in the park o Visiting historic sites o Walking for pleasure o Gardening o Swimming o Boating o Bicycling o Bird watching o Fishing o Camping

Table 8 lists the existing parks and facilities and projects how these may or may not meet the future needs of its residents as the Town’s demographics change and the proportion of seniors increases.

Table 8 ‐ Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Needs for Ten Year Projected Population and Demographic Shift Park Facility Existing

Facilities

Future Unmet Need Additional Information

Baseball/Softball 19 It is unlikely that additional ball fields will be needed. The schools may rely more on the Town parks as several school properties are for sale.


Basketball/Outdoor 11 It is unlikely that additional basketball courts will be needed.

Biking 0 Bike trails for both transportation Biking can be enjoyed

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and local and regional recreation are desirable facilities for the Town

by people of all ages.

Blueway Trails (canoeing, kayaking, motor boating)

1 There is a greater need for boat access to the Saranac River and Lake Champlain for small watercraft.

In ten years the Town may have completed construction on its two planned boat launches, one on the Saranac River and one on Lake Champlain. The greatest concern with these resources will be water quality. The Town may want to research how best to protect the river and lake waters.

Fishing 1 Fishing is a sport enjoyed by all ages and will likely increase in popularity. There are limited locations for pier or shore fishing for those with no boat access.

Fishing access could be expanded in conjunction with blueway trails.

Football 0 There is a separate youth football league in Town. They do not use Town park facilities.

Greenway Trails (walking, hiking, biking)

0 Walking trails that include access to natural areas for birding will be more in demand.

These will be used by people of all ages. Seating areas at intervals will assist young and senior users. Some trails need to be ADA accessible while other can be more rustic.

Ice Skating Rink 1 There is a need for an outdoor ice skating rink where youth can play hockey.

The town creates a skating rink at Cliff Haven Park but it is not large enough for hockey games.

Lessons could be offered if the facility is enlarged.

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Playground 10 Playgrounds could also include activities and equipment for seniors as well as ages 2 to 5.

Ages 5‐12 only

Pool The need for an indoor pool in the Town will increase over time as swimming has become popular with all age groups, especially seniors.

Soccer 17 It is unlikely that additional soccer fields will be needed.


Tennis It is unlikely that additional tennis courts will be needed.

Volleyball

0 It is unlikely the demand for this will increase.

Senior Room for Indoor Activities

2 Additional facilities for indoor activities for seniors will be needed.

4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Implementation Plan

Short Term Goals

Create a Recreation Commission There has been a marked decrease in participation in organized sports at the local neighborhood parks and an increased interest in other forms of recreation. In consequence, the current Youth Commission structure appears to have outlived its usefulness. It is recommended that the Town disband the Youth Commission structure and form a Recreation Commission consisting of a broad array of individuals and interest groups to advise the Town about recreation matters. Either as a component of this commission or as a separate body, the Town should create an “ad hoc” citizens committee to promote/advocate for safe biking and walking.

Make Improvements to Existing Parks and Programs

Recommended improvements fall under two categories: 1) improvements to facilities and, 2) improvements or additions to programs. The following are general recommendations for all parks. Specific recommendations for each park are found in Appendix 2.

Facilities improvements: o Place fencing at basketball courts to keep balls from adjacent roads.

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o Continue upgrading tennis nets from chain link to rope netting material. o Place benches and shade trees throughout parks at key locations and particularly at the

playgrounds if none exist. o Place safety barriers at playgrounds adjacent to parking lots. o Install senior oriented play facilities at the playgrounds. This could include new style play

equipment designed for seniors as well as facilities for moderate exertion games such as Bocce ball.

o Install uniform signage at each park identifying the park name, the hours of operation, information about park policies and information particular to use of facilities at each park.

o Create links from the appropriate parks to the existing and future bike and hike trails. o Add bike racks to each park. o Stripe the parking areas for better usage of the lots. o Remove the bark mulch at playgrounds and replace with recycled rubber mulch. Rubber

mulch does not break down over time or attract insects, mold or fungus. Rubber particles are heavier than water and will not easily float away in a strong rain the way wood chips often do. A six inch thick layer of rubber playground mulch can offer protection against serious injury from a fall height of up to twelve feet—more than twice the impact protection offered by wood chips. Rubber mulch is good for use in cold or wet climates because it drains well and will not freeze in cold weather.

Program Enhancements: Examples of programs that those 50 years and older might enjoy:

o Guided bird watching walks o Geocaching: using a GPS to walk or bike to various “cache” locations around town o Fishing lessons o Training program for volunteers at historic sites (for example at Crab Island Vista Park)

Recreation Fee The Town currently collects $250 per lot for new residential developments and the money is allocated to the park that serves the development paying the fee. There is no fee collected for multi‐family developments. This plan recommends that the recreation fee be collected for all residential projects and that the money is placed into a single capital account. This money would then be used to fund new recreational facilities (capital projects) rather than for maintenance of existing parks.

Redesign the Proposed Crab Island Vista Park The Town owns property along the western shore of Lake Champlain with the potential for becoming a tremendous recreation area. The property is just over 4 acres and is accessed off

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Route 9. One of the highlights of the property is that it is about a mile and a quarter across from Crab Island in Lake Champlain—a site of historic significance from the War of 1812. The Town property is a former industrial site and is surrounded by residences, an office and oil storage facility. An active railroad line runs along the shore of the lake cutting off direct access between the Town property and the lake.

A concept plan for the park—named Crab Island Vista Park—was commissioned in 2009. The concept proposed a park to be used for education on the history of Crab Island, viewing the lake and island, boat docking, swimming, picnicking, and trail walking. The plan calls for the following features and park amenities:

o Tree lined access road o Parking lot for 66 vehicles o Flag array and signage o Amphitheater type outdoor classroom o Concrete walkways o Comfort station and storage facility o Preservation of a small natural area o A railroad underpass for pedestrian access to the lake o Benches and picnic tables in several locations o Floating boat docks o A beach area o Fencing along the railroad o Adirondack style “fire” or observation tower for distance viewing o Picnic pavilion (25’ x 50’)

This plan has not been advanced past the concept phase and the Town has not started construction. The concept is extensive and in consequence would be costly to construct. It is recommended that the park design be revised to divide development into smaller, less extensive and expensive phases. It would be beneficial to include public input for this redesign.

It’s possible that current construction costs would require reducing the scope of the park amenities or require the park to be constructed in phases. This would reduce the initial construction costs while preserving the long term potential of the site.

An initial scope for the park could be: o Tree lined access road o Paved parking area for thirty to forty cars with stormwater bio‐retention area o Bus parking area for 1 bus o Comfort station

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o Walking trail combining historic and ecological educational signage o Raised lake and island viewing platform connected to the trail o Bike rack o Picnic tables and benches o Fencing along the railroad

The Town would have time after initial construction of the park to observe the level of use and to survey residents on possible additional amenities for the park. These could include:

o Picnic pavilion o Observation tower (“fire tower”) o Railroad underpass o Extension of the trail to the lake o Creation of a beach on the lake o Lakefront picnic table and benches o Floating docks o Additional plantings for screening of surrounding properties o Restoration of natural habitat o Launch for kayaks and canoes

Formalize the Existing Access Facility at La Pierre Lane in Morrisonville

The Town owns a ten acre property on the Saranac River at the end of La Pierre Lane in Morrisonville. There is currently informal river access and parking space for a couple of vehicles. This facility should be developed as a formal Town facility providing parking for ten to fifteen vehicles, a boat launch and small dock for kayaks and canoes, and access for fishing. There are existing ATV trails that could be improved and converted to multi‐use trails for bikes and pedestrians. Motorized vehicles would be prohibited. Trails would be clearly marked and maintained. Benches and picnic tables could be placed at strategic locations along the trail. Development of this facility should be guided by a grass roots committee that includes neighbors so that its design is sensitive to their interests.

This trail would eventually become a portion of the longer Saranac River Trail to be developed as a long term goal.

Long Term Goals

Create an Integrated Trail System There is a strongly recognized need for the creation of bike trails, walking trails and blueway (small personal watercraft) trails in Town that connect parks and locations in Town and also connect to existing trail systems at the Town’s borders. Specific routing and other details of

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each trail facility should be developed in concert with users of these trail systems. As a first step, the Town should inventory and map its sidewalks, unmarked paths at existing Town parks and other Town‐owned land, and its bikeable roadway shoulders. This inventory could be carried out in conjunction with local colleges as a student project.

Following are the recommendations for trail development.

a. Akey Road: There is a large area which encompasses City owned land, the Cadyville State Forest and Town owned land in the vicinity of Akey Road. (Between Akey Road, Route 374 and Jennings Road). Local landowners have created and maintain cross country and walking trails through this area. The Town has GPS data for some of the trails in this is area and has created a map.

b. Riverfront Trail: A trail along the Saranac River currently exists in the City. The Town should extend the trail from its border with the City to continue along the river as far as Morrisonville. Some of the property along the river is owned by the County and some by private landowners. Negotiations and agreements would need to be made with these entities to develop this trail system.

c. Cadyville Park: Develop the trails at Cadyville Park to provide universal accessibility on some trails and rustic hiking trails on others. Explore the existing trails to see where connections could be made to neighborhoods or other facilities and to the Saranac River. Provide signage and mapping at the park and publicize the trails.

d. Cumberland Head Trail System: develop a trail system that utilizes the existing ATV trails that run throughout Cumberland Head. Focus on important connections such as from Everest Rabideau Park to the school. Refresh the input obtained from neighborhoods six years ago as to the best connections and use of the trails. Pave the appropriate sections and maintain others as hiking trails. Provide signage and mapping at key access locations.

e. LaPierre Lane: Pave and develop the existing trails to become universally accessible and part of a future Riverfront Trail network.

f. Nature trails: The 2010 comprehensive plan recommends two areas for the development of nature trails. These are lands that are part of the old County airport and lands surrounding Woodruff Pond. Both areas exhibit a varied landscape including wetlands which make great places for environmental education. Amenities at these locations would include parking, bike racks, universally accessible paths and boardwalks, benches, and educational signage. Other towns in New York have been connecting with educators at local schools at all levels —grade school through

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university—to create environmental education programs. This approach may work in Plattsburgh. The recommendation is to contact the local schools, including Clinton County Community College, Plattsburgh State University, and Cornell Cooperative Extension, to see if there is an interest. An appropriate first step would be to conduct a biological assessment of these lands. The Woodruff Pond system should be developed in cooperation with the State, which owns the land and manages it as part of the Cumberland Bay State Park.

g. Bike Trails: The 2010 comprehensive plan recommends that bike trails be established as shared roadways along Routes 3 and 374. (Note that Route 9 has already been designated a bikeway by New York State). See Figure 1 for the location of these proposed routes. These routes and several local roads are listed in the regional bike booklet “The Adirondack Coast” recently published by the Adirondack Cycling Team. Several starting points for the 800 miles of scenic routes described in this booklet originate at Town and school facilities. In addition, the trails on Cumberland Head and at Cadyville Park are appropriate areas to develop mountain bike trails.

h. Blue way trail: The Saranac River flows from Saranac Lake to Lake Champlain. Portions of both these waterways are within the Town borders and provide the opportunity for residents and visitors to travel an historic waterway that connects to a much larger blueway trail called the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT). The NFCT links the waters of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Quebec. The NFCT has expressed an interest in developing a small campsite at the La Pierre Lane Park for the use of boaters. Because kayaking and canoeing is becoming popular with all ages and especially with those over 50, it is recommended that the Town cooperate with the NCFT to develop this park with the needs of hikers and boaters in mind. To enhance this blueway trail, the Town could also assess the access points and portage routes along the Saranac River which are within the Town and which boaters must use to avoid dams, rapids and waterfalls en route to Lake Champlain. The Town should participate in the FERC relicensing process for dams on the Saranac River to encourage enhanced access. Access and portage improvements might include paving of sections, clear signposting and maps, rest areas with benches, and comfort stations at key locations. Additionally, a takeout should be developed at Treadwells Mills.

Study the Feasibility of a Community Recreation Center

Many communities benefit from a central community recreation center with both indoor and outdoor recreation facilities that meet a wide range of recreational needs. The Town may benefit from this type of facility. However, the cost of acquiring land, design and construction

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and ongoing operation and maintenance is significant. A good site and planning in the design phase could allow the facility to be built in phases.

It is recommended that the Town study the feasibility of purchasing land for the purpose of building a community recreation center that would provide facilities for the following uses.

Indoor Recreation o Swimming pool o Community Room that could be used for a variety of uses o Fitness room o All purpose gym o Kitchen

Outdoor Recreation o Multiple ball fields (soccer and baseball) large enough to meet the needs of the Town’s

sports teams and also large enough to hold a tournament. It would be important to include enough parking for a tournament size event. If ball fields were constructed at this facility, land at some of the Town parks may be able to be converted to other uses.

o An area that could be flooded in the winter for use as a community outdoor skating rink. o An open area that could be used for concerts, festivals, and outdoor events. o Trail connections to other parks and neighborhoods. These should be both bike and

walking trails.

Investigate the Need for a Dog Park

This would be a small fenced in area where dogs could be let off leash to play together. It has been suggested that Treadwell Mills Park may be the best location for this facility.

Investigate the Need for a Separate Senior Facility

Seniors would like to have their own facility where they can gather and hold activities. They currently use the building at May Currier Park but it is not large enough—especially with the growing senior population. There is a senior center operated by the Office of the Aging located in the City of Plattsburgh, but it would be desirable for the Town to have a facility too. If a Community Center is developed, it may be that senior activities and programs are focused there. It also might be possible to enlarge an existing community room at one of the parks for this facility.

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4.2 Funding Sources

Municipal budgets and grants are the most common funding sources for recreational projects. Leveraging monies that are part of one project to help pay for another is also common. For example, a road improvement project may be designed to include recreational trails such as a bike path. Given this variety of sources and strategies it is important to continually plan, creatively think, and constantly seek new opportunities to champion a particular project from its conceptual phase to its completion.

The following tables identify potential funding sources for the various recommendations outlined in Section 4.1, above.

Park Improvements

Specific improvements to the Town’s existing park facilities are outlined in Section 4.1. These include improvements to basketball and tennis courts, benches, landscaping, safety equipment, signage, access and parking improvements, and more. Potential funding sources for such improvements are outlined in Table 9.

Table 9 –Fund Sources for Park Improvements Recommendation Funding Sources

Facilities Improvements (see Section 4.1 for specific improvements)

1. NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation – Parks Program.

2. NYS Department of State – Local Waterfront Revitalization Program/Environmental Protection Funding.

3. New York State Coastal Resources Interpretive Program (Signage Only).

4. Town Budget/Recreational Fees. Redesign the Proposed Crab Island Visitor Center



3. NYS Department of State New York State Coastal Resources Interpretive Program (Signage Only).

4. Town Budget/Recreational Fees. Formalize Existing Access Facility at La Pierre Lane (Morrisonville)


2. Town Budget/Recreational Fees.

Trail Development

Trail development is often an incremental process. The first step is the preparation of site‐specific plans. The linier nature of trails, sometimes crossing multiple properties and/or natural

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features, is conducive to a phased development. As such, some trails my take years to come to fruition. Individuals or a designated group that can patiently champion the development of a particular trail and/or network of trails may help to achieve this goal. Likely funding sources for trail development are outlined in Table 10.

Table 10 – Funding Sources for Trail Development Recommendation Funding Sources

Akey Road 1. NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation – Parks Program.


3. NYS Department of State New York State Coastal Resources Interpretive Program (Signage Only).

4. NYS Department of Transportation ‐ SAFE TELU‐Transportation Enhancement Program (currently not funded).

5. Town Budget/City Budget/County Funding/Recreational Fees.

6. Lake Champlain Land Trust.

Riverfront Trail

Cadyville Park

Cumberland Head Trail System

La Pierre Lane

Nature Trails

Land Acquisition for Trails

Many funding opportunities are designed for planning, designing, and/or construction. As such, there are fewer opportunities for land acquisition. The leveraging of municipal funds is often required, and in some instances, may be use as a “match” for other necessary work. Likely funding sources for land acquisition are outlined in Table 11.

Table 11 – Funding Sources for Land Acquisition for Trails Recommendation Funding Sources

Lands Associated with Proposed Riverfront Trail

1. NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation – Acquisition Program.

2. Town Budget/ County Funding/Recreational Fees. 3. Lake Champlain Land Trust.

Lands Associated with Proposed Nature Trails

1. NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, & Historic Preservation – Acquisition Program.

2. Town Budget/ County Funding/Recreational Fees. 3. Lake Champlain Land Trust.

Planning & Programmatic Recommendations

Developing an organization to champion the recommendations outlined in Section 4.1 is critical. Likely funding sources future planning is outlined in Table 12.

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Table 12 – Funding Sources for Planning & Programmatic Recommendations Recommendation Funding Sources

Recreation Commission 1. Town Budget Feasibility Study for Community Center 1. Town Budget.

1. USDA Community Facilities Program. Dog Park Needs Assessment 1. Town Budget. Additional Planning 1. NYS Department of State – Local Waterfront

Revitalization Program/Environmental Protection Funding.

2. Town Budget. Funding Information The following is information for each of the programs that have been identified as a potential source of funding.

• NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS OPRHP) Parks Program: The OPRHP Parks Program is used for projects to preserve, rehabilitate or restore lands, waters or structures for use by all segments of the population for park, recreation or conservation purposes, including such things as playgrounds, courts, rinks, community gardens and facilities for swimming, boating, picnicking, hunting, fishing, camping or other recreational activities.

Funding Amounts: Funding can range from $10,000‐$600,000. A grant match of 50 percent is required.

Funding Cycle: Annually awarded through the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

Website: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/grants/parks/default.aspx

• NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Acquisition Program: The OPRHP’s Acquisition Program funds are used for the acquisition of a permanent easement in or fee title to lands, waters or structures for use by all segments of the population for park, recreation, conservation or preservation purposes, including open space, community gardens and properties on the State or National Register or identified in a local heritage area management plan.

Funding Amounts: Funding can range from $10,000‐$600,000. A grant match of 50 percent is required.


Website: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/grants/acquisition/default.aspx

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• NYS Department of State (DOS) Local Waterfront Revitalization Program/Environmental Protection Funding: The Department of State solicits grant applications from local governments for matching grants from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. These monies may be used for a variety of projects and planning activities.

Funding Amounts: Funding limits vary. A grant match of 50 percent is required.


Website: http://nyswaterfronts.com/grantopps_EPF.asp

• NYS Department of State (DOS) New York State Coastal Resources Interpretive Program: The Department of State solicits grant applications from local governments for matching grants from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. These monies may be used for a variety of projects and planning activities.

Funding Amounts: Funding limits vary. A grant match of 50 percent is required.


Website: http://www.nyswaterfronts.com/grantopps_EPF.asp

• NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) SAFE TELU‐Transportation Enhancement Program: The Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) is a federal reimbursement program under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA‐LU), administered by DOT.

Funding Amounts: As of the 2007‐2008 funding cycle, the minimum project amount was raised to $200,000 and the maximum federal participation was raised to $2.5 million.

Funding Cycle: Annually awarded. However, Congressional reauthorization of funding has not occurred since 2007‐2008.

Website: https://www.nysdot.gov/programs/tep

• US Department of Agriculture Community Facilities Program: Community Programs provide loans, grants and loan guarantees for projects to develop essential community facilities for public use in rural areas. This may include hospitals, fire protection, public safety, libraries, schools, day care centers as well as many other community‐based initiatives.

Town of Plattsburgh



Funding Amounts: Funding limits vary

Funding Cycle: Open Enrollment

Website: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/HCF_CF.html

• Lake Champlain Land Trust: The Lake Champlain Land Trust’s (LCLT) mission is to save the scenic beauty, natural communities, and recreational amenities of Lake Champlain by permanently preserving significant islands, shoreline areas, and natural communities in the Champlain Region.

Funding Amounts: Not Applicable: The LCLT uses various financial methods to work with public and private partnerships to advance its preservation goals. However, it does not offer a grants program.

Funding Cycle: Not Applicable

Website: http://www.lclt.org


Appendix 1 Park Inventory Forms


Appendix 2 Recommendations for Park Improvements


General recommendations for park facilities improvements are listed in Section 2.2. This section lists the specific improvements recommended for each park.

Cadyville Beach This beach is the only Town swimming facility and boat launch on the Saranac River and is well used in the summer. Boaters traveling east encounter a dam within a quarter mile of the boat launch. However, the river is navigable to the west for several miles without a portage and all the way to Saranac Lake with portages. It meanders through residential, agricultural and forested lands. The Town of Saranac has a park five miles from the Cadyville boat launch. This park has been designated as a part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. A campsite is planned for the park which would be available to boaters. As the only launch point on waters navigable for small boats between Lake Saranac and Cadyville, this site has the potential for becoming more popular. It is recommended that the Town purchase this leased property and consider expanding the facilities (restrooms and parking) in the future if demand warrants.

Current park users could benefit from the addition of a foot shower with a bench near the comfort station.

The park is adjacent to residential neighborhoods. Encouraging walking and biking to the park could help relieve parking congestion. Pedestrian way access into the park and crossroads on Route 3 would encourage this activity as would bike racks. The numbers of geese frequenting the park in summer has been increasing. If this continues, they could become a greater nuisance and a health concern. Methods of eliminating or discouraging them need to be explored. Cadyville Park This is a large park which is currently on leased property. It is recommended that the Town purchase this property to ensure its use as a Town park for generations to come. The lease expires in 2013.

In addition, the following improvements are recommended:

o install the second nine holes of the disc golf course as planned

o install a fence at one end of the basketball court to prevent balls from rolling into the

busy road

o add a barrier between the playground and entrance road for safety

o add a tree to provide afternoon shade and a bench or two at the playground

o add a bike rack to encourage biking to the park


o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Goddeau Road to encourage walking to

the park

o add striping to the parking lot to improve parking capacity and indicate handicapped

parking spaces

o add one or two more picnic tables and trees for shade.

o refurbish the playground mulch annually; consider replacing wood mulch with rubber

mulch

o Improve the trail system: many unofficial trails exist in the park. The Town needs to

collect GPS data for mapping and planning purposes. Plans could then be developed to

decide which trails could be paved for universal accessibility and which could be

maintained as rustic hiking trails. Signage could then be added with a map showing trail

system.

o Expand the park: Undeveloped lands adjacent to the park are currently owned by

Clinton Community College. If it becomes available, the Town could consider acquiring it

and using it to expand the park and especially the trail system.

Cliff Haven The following improvements are recommended:




parking spaces


mulch

o refurbish ball fields by installing underdrainage to eliminate ponding and a new playing

surface

East Morrisonville Park The following improvements are recommended:




o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Banker Road to encourage walking to the

park


parking spaces


mulch

o resurface the basketball court

o install a foot shower and bench near the comfort station

o plant shade trees at the swim area near the picnic tables

Everest Rabideau Park The following improvements are recommended:



o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Oswego Lane to encourage walking to the

park

o improve parking lot: improve drainage and replace pavement, add striping to improve

parking capacity and indicate handicapped parking spaces


mulch

o refurbish ball fields by installing underdrainage to eliminate ponding and install a new

playing surface

o consider adding a picnic pavilion to the park

o improve trail system on undeveloped land as described in Section 4

o consider adding a disc golf course if demand and interest warrants

Guy Cedar Park The following improvements are recommended:




o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Brenda Blvd to encourage walking to the

park


mulch


playing surface

o add a picnic table to the park, preferably in a shaded location

o add lighting at the parking lot

May Currier The following improvements are recommended:



o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Tom Miller Road to encourage walking to

the park


mulch.


playing surface

South Plattsburgh The following improvements are recommended:


o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Route 22 and Broderick Road to

encourage walking to the park

o add striping to improve parking capacity and indicate handicapped parking spaces

o consider removing pine tree adjacent to basketball court to eliminate dropped needles

and cones which are a danger to players

o Refurbish the playground mulch annually; consider replacing wood mulch with rubber

mulch.


o Consider adding vegetative screening on the north side of the park to allow more

privacy for residences.

Treadwells Mills Park The following improvements are recommended:



o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Military Turnpike to encourage walking to

the park

o add striping to improve parking capacity and indicate handicapped parking spaces


mulch.

o resurface tennis courts

Wallace Hill The following improvements are recommended:



o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Wallace Hill Road to encourage walking to

the park


parking spaces


mulch.


playing surface

West Plattsburgh Park The following improvements are recommended:


o add pedestrian way access and crosswalks on Rand Hill Road to encourage walking to

the park


o pave the entire parking lot and add striping to improve parking capacity and indicate

handicapped parking spaces


mulch.

o Consider removing the boulders with metal rope at the edges of the ball fields as they

are a potential trip hazard for players and spectators

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