THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Officials want the public to know more about $15.6M project to improve buildings, parks
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The $15.6 million “Great Outdoors Project” — which would make improvements at multiple building and parks in the city — will be voted on by Saratoga Springs City School District residents on Tuesday, May 15.
Officials have said no tax increase will be needed to fund the project.
The proposal calls for outdoor improvements and renovations to the school district’s eight school buildings as well as district-owned Gavin Park, East Side Recreation Park and West Side Recreation Park.
Approximately 27 percent of the project is expected to be covered by state aid. The remaining $11.4 million would be financed largely through an existing Capital Reserve Fund — essentially a district savings account — and borrowing money. Officials said though the district will be issuing debt, it will merely replace
existing debt that is due to expire.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the school and the community to collaborate on a project like this,” said new Superintendent Michael Patton.
The project, which first was presented to the Board of Education last July by Assistant Superintendent David L’Hommedieu and the district’s Director of Facilities John Thuener, is entering the marketing phase, officials said. A brochure outlining the project will be made available online in the coming weeks. The district has plans to present the marketing campaign with stakeholders, including the city’s recreation center and community groups.
If approved, construction documents are scheduled to be finalized from June through November 2018, and then be followed by a state Education Department review. Construction could then start before fall 2019 with full construction possibly completed by summer 2021. The potential project timeline says a second summer or additional time may be required depending on impact to facilities.
Thuener said the project would be a big benefit, especially the recreational opportunities for the community at large.
Aside from improvements to playgrounds, fields and courts, some schools would get outdoor learning environments.
The plan includes irrigation for some fields, LED lighting in gymnasiums and completed perimeter fencing at some sites.
The lighting in gymnasiums expects to save the city approximately $26,000 per year while reducing electricity consumption by 74 percent in those spaces, officials said.
Some improvements — and the estimated total cost for the work at the site — include:
• High school — upgrade bathroom and concessions building, improve storage, irrigation at all fields and add a multi-use turf field; $2.9 million total cost.
• Maple Avenue Middle School — develop courtyard outdoor learning, library patio extension fencing at the soccer field and irrigation at all fields; $354,500.
• Caroline Street Elementary School — develop outdoor learning classrooms and LED lighting in the gym; $45,000.
• Dorothy Nolan school — remove relocatable classrooms, add storage, create an outdoor pavilion and add two new playgrounds/ swings; $582,000.
• Gavin Park — add paved entry road and provide parking off entry road; $300,000.
• Geyser Road school — upgrade playground, provide a nature trail with learning components and interpretive signage; $232,000.
• Lake Avenue school — add a garden planting wall at the sidewalk and improve the gymnasium; $156,250.
• Greenfield school — add an outdoor learning space, complete perimeter fencing, improve parent/bus drop off and add outdoor pavilion; $273,700.
• East Side Rec — add turf baseball infield, renovate stadium seating, new basketball fencing, new entrance and pathways, lighting for the tennis and basketball courts, and new perimeter fencing; $4.45 million.
• West Side Rec — upgrade upper storage building, replace perimeter fencing, replace playground equipment, replace freshman baseball scoreboard, add new equipment at splash area and wall pads at upper storage exterior; $547,500.