PARK HISTORY
Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation kicks off bike tour in state park
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has kicked off its series of monthly bike tours around Saratoga State Park. The three-hour, socially distanced tours, which take participants through the historic highlights of the park, are in their third year of operation.
“It started because I’ve gone on all the other city tours, and I’ve always had a passion for the park,” explained tour guide Linda Harvey-Opiteck, who is on the Preservation Foundation’s board. “I decided we needed a tour of this historic resource.”
The bike tours cover about five miles of ground and tons of the park’s rich history. Saratoga State Park is a national historic landmark, one of four in Spa City. That is the highest federal designation that a park can get.
The tours feature stops at Lincoln Park, Geyser Park, and the Spa Complex. Harvey-Opiteck says the thing she loves best about giving the bike tours is the educational aspect for herself as well as her tour attendees.
“I learn more and more every year! It’s like filling in the pieces of a puzzle,” she commented. “We have people who’ve lived here their whole lives, who don’t know about parts of the park. I’m teaching people historic things about stuff in their own backyard that they didn’t know was there.”
Tour participants are required to follow all safety guidelines, including wearing a helmet and mask and maintaining social distancing - which Harvey-Opiteck says is relatively easy to do on a bike. It is also strongly suggested that participants register for a tour early. Preregistration is required and spots fill up quickly, so the earlier you can commit to going on a tour, the better your chances are of getting a spot.
The bike tours are part of the Preservation Foundation’s ongoing efforts to raise money for maintenance and upkeep costs. Since their annual fundraiser was canceled due to COVID-19, the Foundation is coming up with other ways to raise the money they need.
“We couldn’t do our one big thing this year, so we’re trying to do lots of smaller things instead,” HarveyOpiteck explained.
Tour participants must bring their own bikes. For those who don’t own a bike, a CDPHP Cycle! bike rental station is very close to the tour’s start location, and there are others nearby.
The first bike tour was held on July 11. HarveyOpiteck started things off in front of the National Museum of Dance, which used to be the Washington Bath House. She gave a brief talk about the park’s history, including the importance of the natural spring waters that were the basis for early city growth and development.
“If you ask people what they think the most important part of Saratoga’s history is, they’ll probably tell you the racetrack,” she explained to her attendees. “But the word ‘spring’ is in the city’s name. The water is at the center of the city’s history.”
Molly and Steve Bederian, of Wilton, are avid bikers and have done historical bike tours before. This was their first time doing a bike tour in Saratoga, and they were looking forward to the experience.
“We like to do things outdoors, and there’s been precious few activities,” said Steve. “I’m hoping to have some things filled in that I didn’t have the details for. The in-depth information that a tour can give is great.”
“We love riding our bikes,” added Molly. “We ride a lot at home. We’re so glad the weather cooperated.”
State Park bike tours cost $20 for Foundation members and $25 for nonmembers. Space is limited to 20 bikers per tour. Upcoming tours are on Aug. 22 and Sept. 27.
To register for a tour, call the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation at (518) 587-5030. For more information about the tour, visit the tour’s website at https://www. saratoga.com/event/biketour-saratoga-spa-statepark-211657/.