Milton preferred as camp buyer
Town selected to purchase Boyhaven, but finalizing deal could take time
MILTON, N.Y. » Twin Rivers Council has selected the Town of Milton as its preferred choice for purchasing the 300-acre Boyhaven scout camp, which is slated for closure this fall.
But finalizing the deal might hinge on several factors including the state’s purchase of about 250 acres of the property for forestland.
Under one proposed scenario, once Milton buys the camp, the state Department of Environmental Conservation would buy 250 acres, giving the town the money needed to pay for its portion. The town wants to keep about 50 acres of the core camp area where most activities take place.
“We need a firm commitment from them (DEC) before the town board votes on it,” Supervisor Dan Lewis said. “There’s a lot of ‘ifs.’ There’s quite a few things that need to take place before this is finalized.”
Twin Rivers Council received about 10 bids
for the property. The town submitted a bid of $500,000, plus a private donation from an unnamed party. Milton was one of two finalists under consideration. The council’s roughly 40-member board decided Milton was the best party to sell the property to.
Bids were also received from builders, developers and real estate firms, although council President Richard Stockton declined to identify the other finalist, a private party.
“After a long and healthy debate, the board decided local stewardship and having the land be a public park was overall the best situation,” Stockton said.
Camp Boyhaven is located between Middle Grove Road and Route 29 in Milton, about 10 miles west of Saratoga Springs. Kayaderosseras Creek runs through the mostly forested property, which has a pond, athletic fields, a large dining hall and dozens of smaller buildings. The town is primarily interested in the area where most scouting activities take place. The DEC would add other land to a nearby state forest.
Even if the DEC buys some property, the town still has to decide how to pay for insurance and staffing to run and maintain the site, Lewza said.
A public hearing on the proposed sale is expected in August. Lewza said the town board might vote on the sale in September.
But it’s possible the purchase could be subject to a permissive referendum. This would happen if a large enough number of people oppose the purchase and submit a petition to the town, calling for a public vote, in November.
Given all the complexities involved, it could be early winter before the sale is finalized, Stockton said.
“We have a lot of things that have to be moved,” he said. “It’s just like any real estate transaction. When you sell a house, you sell the building and land, but first you move a lot of stuff out.”
Boyhaven was founded in 1924. However, since 1991 the camp has only been used by Cub Scouts and Webelos, not Boy Scouts. Overnight outings were discontinued following the 2015 season. This summer and last year it’s only been for used for day programs.
Competition from more conveniently located town- and city-run day camps and recreation programs has taken its toll on Boyhaven.
With proceeds from sale of the property, Twin Rivers Council plans improve two other scout sites, Camp Wokpominee on the east side of Lake George in Fort Ann, and Rotary Scout Reservation in Poestenkill.