Parks & Recreation Committee

Meetings

  • 6:30 pm
  • 3rd Wednesday of every month
  • Ballston Town Hall
    Community Room
    323 Charlton Road
    Ballston Spa, NY 12020


Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

  • Rob Fendrick, Town Board Liaison
  • Sally Draina, Chairperson
  • Steve Hopsicker, Committee Member
  • Amy Jones, Committee Member
  • Matthew Kniskern, Committee Member
  • Mary Alice Nyhan, Committee Member
  • Sarah Statham, Committee Member
  • Patrick Whitton, Committee Member
  • Lynnette Ziskin, Alternate Committee Member

Volunteer Opportunities

The Parks & Recreation Committee is looking for a volunteer to fill an Alternate Committee Member position. Please email Sally Draina if interested.

Overview

The purpose of the Parks and Recreation Committee is to advise and make recommendations to the Town Board for parks and recreation opportunities that enhance active and passive recreational needs in the Town of Ballston.

Jenkins Dog Park

Jenkins Dog Park is now open! it is located within Jenkins Park on Jenkins Road in Burnt Hills. Registration is required. Visit the Jenkins Dog Park page for details.

Anchor Diamond Park

The former Hawkwood property is now home to the Town of Ballston's new, Anchor Diamond Park located at the corner of Route 50 and Middleline Road.

Anchor-Diamond Bridge Repair

The Town of Ballston and the Parks and Recreation Committee would like to recognize the hard work and valuable contribution of members of two local Boy Scout troops and their families. We extend our gratitude and appreciation for performing some much needed repair work on a bridge in the Town's Anchor-Diamond Park to:

  • Troop 56: Dave, Charlie, Gayle Bennett, Jim, and Colin Moorehead
  • Troop 54-Bill: Stephen and Matt Hagan, Rich and Jack Royer, Dave and Matt Foster, Bill, Margaret and Stuart McDowell, and Colin Winters

Work on bridges and trails in the park will be continuing throughout the early fall.

Saratoga Plan Trail Stewards

The Town of Ballston and the Parks and Recreation Committee appreciates the unique partnership with Saratoga Plan in the conservation and development of Anchor Diamond Park at Hawkwood off Middleline Road. We would especially like to recognize and express gratitude for the volunteer hours dedicated by Saratoga Plan trail stewards in 2016.

These trail stewards meet nearly every Monday throughout the year to work to maintain or develop preserves with a connection to Saratoga Plan. This year the group, which includes Town of Ballston residents*, has dedicated over 343 volunteer hours to developing trails and water crossings and marking boundaries at Anchor Diamond Park. The Parks and Recreation Committee could not have opened the park without the considerable help of this group. Thank you to:

Residents*

  • Bill Bechtel
  •  Claudia Carman
  • Mary Alice Nyhan
  • Randy Putnam
  • Cliff Samson
  • Jonathan Samson
  • Bill Zona

Other

  • Kraig Armstrong
  • Larry Felpel
  • Anita Harris
  • Tom Harris
  • Ann Henderson
  • Ralph Keating
  • Bill Lasher
  • Joanna Lasher
  • Tom Nelson
  • Jim Sevinsky
  • Pat Stephan
  • Don Washburn

American Heritage Troops NY2222 & NY1618

The Parks and Recreation Committee is grateful to Laura Vitkavage for organizing a November workday for her Burnt Hills American Heritage Troop NY2222 and sister troop from Saratoga Springs NY1618. Together the troops brought a group of nearly 40 girls, parents, and siblings to clear the Red Maple Trail and a portion of the Old Field Trail.

Skidmore Students

The Parks and Recreation Committee is grateful to Greg Redling and Emma Hatch of Saratoga Plan and a group of Skidmore students who spent a workday in November moving logs, clearing brush, and raking a portion of the Old Field Trail.