FACT: THE PROPERTY IS GEOGRAPHICALLY IN CLIFTON PARK, BUT ITS USE IS FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING THOSE WHO LIVE ELSEWHERE—IN OR OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
It is been mentioned in letters-to-the editor and in some public forums that only Clifton Park will enjoy the benefits of any potential park on the 34 acres and that other towns in the school district should not have to sacrifice money paid by the school district for Clifton Park residents alone.
Map of Land in District
But in looking at a map, you can see the 34 acres are nearly in the exact middle of the district. The property certainly resides on the very border between Clifton Park and Halfmoon—two of the largest towns in the school district. A case could be made that Clifton Park will have the expense of maintaining, patrolling and planning any services at the property while everyone else will have the easy enjoyment of it. Also worth noting, petition forms submitted to the School District January 4, 2017, show that many of the signers were from Halfmoon and included signatures from all the district towns.
FACT: QUALITY OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT AND THE VALUE OF KEEPING THE 34 ACRES IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN CAN ALSO BE MEASURED FOR ALL DISTRICT RESIDENTS.
Commons Playground
The Commons was once controversial but now it is provides a place for our children to play sports, for the Community Players to perform, for the Ice Arena and the Senior Citizens Center. The central library is in Clifton Park as is the Southern Saratoga County YMCA, yet people from all over come to use these amenities. All residents benefit from such public spaces. Even if you don’t use these facilities, places like The Commons also provide a strong economic benefit to all taxpayers as a landmark drawing visitors and outside groups to the area for sports events which increases the tax base and economic vitality of the entire area. These entities—like the quality of the school district itself—help underwrite higher property values for all residents of the district.
A potential park on the 34 acres will provide similar advantages. But if the 34 acres is lost to more development, then the quality of life in these towns will suffer.
The district residents spoke in many public forums about their reasons for opposing more development on the 34 acres, the comments were strong and consistent about the need to protect the quality-of-life here:
• “Clifton Park is continuing to be built up with new shopping centers, hotels, and housing developments. We need something that will add enjoyment and leisure to the already busy community. “ A Murray, Clifton Park
• “These views are consistent with recommendations made by the Halfmoon Zoning Review Committee. “ F. Bahr, Halfmoon
• “Preserve the land before it is too late. A park can only improve the quality of life here, and increase property values. There are empty buildings now—let new businesses move into them.” R. Crocetti, Clifton Park
• “I would love to see this land developed into a park similar to The Crossings in Colonie. A beautiful place for the community to gather and attend social events. It’s time for the town to give back to its residents. We need more recreational areas and less commercial and residential developments.” S. Rischert, Halfmoon
• “I used to walk on these trails in middle school and high school all the time. I also used to run on them when I ran cross country. They are awesome and I’d hate to see them go to businesses….” K. Garger Clifton Park
Furthermore, Quality-of-Life benefits pay off year-after-year. But a one-time purchase price only affects us a single time. If the Town of Clifton Park were to pay $1M less than the current high bid, then with a district of 50,000 people that only equates to $20 each a single time. Isn’t improved Quality-of-Life for all residents worth more than that?
Where the property is, is only geography. What these 34 acres of open space can provide—that’s for everyone.
FACT: PEOPLE ACROSS ALL THE DISTRICT TOWNS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING DEVELOPMENT, TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION IN THE MAIN BUSINESS DISTRICT—AND SO CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL CAMPUS
School Board Meeting
Throughout the petition drive, the FRIENDS message for keeping the 34 acres in the public domain—and away from more development— touched a very deep chord in people. They consistently wanted to contain the increase in development and were anxious for their voices to be heard on this point. On several occasions, we were both impressed and heartened by the number of people who helped gather signatures for the referendum and how passionately they came forward to be heard. These growing concerns and frustrations were what allowed us to gather over 7000 signatures in just 3 weeks.
Such a big number in such a short time by people all over the district has to be a statement about the widespread desire to stop the development on this last, pristine parcel of open space in the business center and the middle of the school district.
As summed up by one School Board speaker, “The Right Thing is to protect these 34 acres, preserve this last vestige of natural landscape at the demographic, geographic, economic, and civic center of Southern Saratoga County or, in Teddy Roosevelt’s words as he established our most famous national parks, “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People.”