A BETTER PATH
Saratoga PLAN outlines steps to improve nature trail
"The city of Saratoga Springs owns the trail corridor and, for the most part, Saratoga PLAN owns the lands surrounding the trail, and PLAN and PLAN’s volunteers have maintained the trail for 25 years." — Maria Trabka, Saratoga PLAN’s Executive Director
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Saratoga PLAN outlined improvement plans for Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail on the path’s 25th anniversary Tuesday.
The two-mile long trail is surrounded by 174 acres of Meadowbrook Preserve’s wetlands and woods. Saratoga PLAN hopes to make improvements to three areas of the trail: the construction of a new connector trail, the elevation of the northern trail section and repairing the large boardwalk on the southern portion of the trail.
Maria Trabka, Saratoga PLAN’s Executive Director, explained how the Bog Meadow Trail was the first trail in Saratoga Springs opened for recreational purposes.
“The city of Saratoga Springs owns the trail corridor and, for the most part, Saratoga PLAN owns the lands surrounding the trail, and PLAN and PLAN’s volunteers have maintained the trail for 25 years,” said Trabka.
Greg Redling, the Stewardship Coordinator, outlined the specific plans moving forward for the trail.
The first phase, the construction of a new connector trail, will join the existing parking area on Meadowbrook Road, with the existing trailhead, eliminating the need to walk 700 feet along the shoulder and ditch of Meadowbrook Road to access the trail. Redling said the trail will be approximately 1,100 feet in length, eightfeet wide and comprised of a base layer of crushed stone, with a top layer of stone dust that will be
compacted to form a hard, even surface.
The second phase will elevate the northern trail section, from the parking area on Lake Avenue to the large bridge over Bog Meadow Brook.
“The trail section has endured years of intensive use, increased storm events and flooding due to increased beaver activity,” said Redling. “Emerging railroad ties on this section make traversing the trail difficult and unpleasant. The raised section will be approximately 2500 feet, eight-foot wide.”
The second phase will use the same base layer as the first phase, according to Redling.
The final phase will focus on critical repairs to the large boardwalk, which sits nears the Meadow Brook Road trailhead.
“Over the years the boardwalk has begun to sag and weather,” said Redling. “To restore this infrastructure, the boardwalk will be adjusted to create a flat plane, and many of the old boards will be replaces, especially at the southern and northern ends. These improvements will strengthen the boardwalk and increase its resiliency against these changing conditions.”
Redling said a few things need to happen before the project begins. Saratoga PLAN expects to finish the improvements by the fall, with a re dedication then.
The organization is waiting to hear back from a fund application to the Land Trust Alliance’s New York State Conservation Partnership Program. PLAN did not provide an estimated total cost for all of the work.
“Saratoga PLAN is a community-based conservation organization, conserving ‘places for people,’” according to the group’s website — https://www. saratogaplan.org.
Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly, and Tina Carton, the city’s Park, Open Space, Historic Preservation — Sustainability coordinator, spoke Tuesday about the city’s Open Space Plan and its support for the Bog Meadow Brook Nature Trail improvements with a $10,000 grant.