Bench dedicated in Saratoga Spa State Park
Former state parks commissioner Alexander ‘Sam’ Aldrich honored
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Former state parks commissioner and longtime Saratoga Springs resident Alexander “Sam” Aldrich was honored over the weekend with a bench dedication ceremony at Saratoga Spa State Park.
A large crowd gathered despite dreary weather to honor Aldrich’s legacy on Saturday afternoon at the Creekside Classroom in Saratoga Spa State Park.
Aldrich served as the commissioner of New York State Office of Parks and Recreation from 1971 to 1974. Aldrich was the agency’s second commissioner, serving at a crucial time soon after State Parks became an autonomous agency within state government.
Under his leadership, State Parks first took on its historic preservation role – taking over jurisdiction of the state’s historic sites, which were previously operated by the State Education Department.
Earlier, he had been president of Olana Preservation Inc., which helped bring Frederic Church’s majestic Hudson River estate into the public domain in 1966.
As commissioner, Aldrich was known for traveling the state’s waterways on a Maine lobster boat and had an affection for islands. He helped make several island destinations part of the park system, including Peebles
Island State Park, Pollepel Island, (home of Bannerman Castle), and Roosevelt Island, where he helped pave the way for Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park. The first state park in New York City, Roberto Clemente State Park, opened during his tenure.
Aldrich passed away in 2017 and in honor of his legacy with New York State Parks a custom-designed bench was crafted and installed along the Geyser Creek Trail at Saratoga Spa State Park.
“The bench along the Geyser Creek is a tribute to his many contributions to the state park system, including the preservation of Olana State Historic Site and Peebles Island State Park,” said Alane Chinian, Saratoga-Capital District Regional Director of New York State Parks. “Sam was a champion of waterways and education, so placing this tribute in Spa Park, where we are devoted to the preservation of the historic mineral springs, and the stewardship of Geyser Creek, close to the new Creekside Classroom, seemed fitting.”
The bench was custom made and installed earlier this year with the intention of it being dedicated to Sam Aldrich. Its design and location were influenced by his wife Phyllis Aldrich.
At Saturday’s event, attendees listened to heartfelt remarks about the former leader, enjoyed a wood fire, hot apple cider and cider donuts from Saratoga Apple, and walked from the Creekside Classroom down the trail to the bench dedicated to Aldrich.