Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

October 29, 2024

(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov

New York State Parks Announces New, Accessible Playground at Saratoga Spa State Park

(Saratoga Springs, NY) – The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announces the opening of an expanded, renovated, and now accessible playground and bridge at Saratoga Spa State Park. The project, which began construction in late August, is now complete and open to the public, providing an inclusive space for visitors of all ages and abilities.

"This playground represents our commitment to providing accessible and enjoyable spaces for everyone," said New York State Parks Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. "We strive to develop innovative and accessible spaces where all visitors, regardless of physical ability, can be out in nature, and have fun."

The playground expands on and renovates a previously existing playground and features a variety of accessible elements designed to improve accessibility and enhance the visitor experience for all. These elements include a paved walkway surrounding the perimeter of the playground, allowing individuals who use mobility devices to navigate easily and access the play structures from any point. One of the highlights is an accessible overlook, which gives visitors views to Geyser Creek and a feeder stream from the Ferndell Trail.

Key features of the playground include:

• A paved, ADA accessible path that encircles the playground and provides access to the play structure from any location.
• A scenic accessible overlook offering a close view of Geyser Creek.
• Musical elements adjacent to the path, allowing visitors to interact with the instruments without leaving the walkway.
• Ground-level play structures, including the Cozy Dome, Painted Turtle, Revirock Bouncer, and Wobble Pod, designed to be easily accessible for children of all abilities.
• Two accessible picnic tables situated alongside the pathway for convenient seating options.
• Numerous native plantings were added to the streambank of the Ferndell Creek, adding layers of visual interest to the site, providing habitat to native pollinators and stabilizing the streambank.

The project manager was OPRHP Senior Landscape Architect Chris More and the general contractor was Moy Enterprises for a total cost of $463,113.

The new playground is part of ongoing efforts to make Saratoga Spa State Park and New York State Parks more inclusive and welcoming to all visitors. The project also includes the addition of a new pedestrian bridge, enhancing the park's connectivity and access to different areas near the Creekside Classroom and the playground.

Located in the heart of the park off Geyser Loop Road, the playground is located near many of the park's biggest attractions including the Island Spouter, and many of the parks mineral springs including Polaris, and the State Seal Springs. Additionally, the playground is a short distance to the Creekside Classroom which offers year-round educational programming and children's activities.

The completion of this playground is one of several recent accessibly focused additions to Saratoga Spa State Park which also included the completion of a 3.2 mile paved trail loop which opened to the public earlier in May of this year.

Saratoga Spa State Park is one of the State's flagship parks with a yearly attendance of around 3.6 million visitors. The park offers a variety of recreational options including a golf course, extensive hiking/biking trails, an automobile museum, concerts, and natural spring baths. Please visit: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/saratogaspa for more information.

2024 marks the 100th anniversary the State Parks system. Celebratory initiatives include ‘Blazing A Trail,' an interactive timeline chronicling the agency's history and influential figures; an exhibit in the New York State Capitol's State Street Tunnel currently on view; the Share Your Story project, which invites people to tell their own stories relating to Parks and Sites; the Centennial Challenge, which encourages people to win prizes by participating in various activities at parks and sites; and the release of the Centennial Collection merchandise, which includes t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more.