Niskayuna grapples with bonding
Niskayuna weighs options of fixing the town softball fields
Whenever there’s a thunderstorm, the softball fields at River Road Park fill with water and don’t drain for days, canceling one in every three games, Niskayuna Assistant Town Planner Jeffrey Twitty said.
Elsewhere in the park, bathrooms need an update. Parking lots, bleachers and storage are limited. An aging pavilion rented out by residents is decrepit, he said.
Twitty gave a presentation on River Road Park’s needs Tuesday morning to Niskayuna’s Town Board as it considers whether to bond $315,000 to fix drainage issues and add a new pavilion at River Road and improve other parks. Bonding was postponed at the last Town Board meeting in January because the board wanted further information before taking on more debt.
The town already received $250,000 from Assemblyman Phil Steck to upgrade softball fields one and two, and
build a new park pavilion. The town board is now deciding whether to bond $215,000 to light field one, flip and drain field three, and install bathrooms and water sources closer to the fields. Another $100,000 will be used for other park improvements at the discretion of the highway superintendent. Niskayuna softball has already raised $80,000 for new field grooming equipment, a concession stand, zeroturn mower and other field equipment.
Democratic Town Board member Lisa Weber, chair of the Community Programs Committee and candidate for supervisor this year, previously said she didn’t want to vote without complete information and wanted to ensure that neighbors could give input at public hearings. She asked Tuesday whether the current pavilion could be upgraded instead of building a new one.
“I am very supportive of Niskayuna Girls Softball and improving the drainage and condition of their fields so there is parity with some of the other sports in town,” Weber said. “However, there is much more involved in the proposal that could potentially significantly change the park and I wanted more details.”
She noted that since the park is an important town asset, it will be paramount to maintain its character while balancing the needs of softball with those of the neighborhood and residents.
Town Supervisor Yasmine Syed said pavilion plans had been discussed by the highway superintendent and the head of softball, but she didn’t know if one approach would be cheaper than the other.
“They opted to go for a new pavilion,” Syed said. “There’s always a space and use issue. If someone rents it out, if the softball game is at the same time, there are groups trying to use the same pavilion and bathroom. By adding a new pavilion further away, we’re hoping to mitigate those issues.”
If approved, Twitty said construction on phase one would take place in 2020. Phase two in 2021 and 2022 would light the two remaining fields and add a parking lot. Phase three in 2023 would add a fourth field. Within five years, Twitty said, the goal is to have four lighted fields at River Road Park.
Syedsaidavoteonthe bonding is tentatively set for the town board meeting Feb. 26. Even if the town board votes on bonding, particulars about the project — such as whether to upgrade or build a new pavilion — could be changed. Syed said she hopes to then schedule public hearings.