Clifton Park residents turned out in large numbers several weeks ago to participate in an open discussion with town officials about the Moe Road Corridor and the possibility of extending the trail network in the southeast section of town.
Town Planner Kate Maynard and open space coordinator Jennifer Viggiani deemed the meeting a success.
It was very well attended, said Maynard, who estimated that more than 100 residents attended the April 5 meeting. Maynard said the purpose of the meeting was to gauge the feelings of residents about whether the trails should be provided in this area of town.
`We heard a resounding, ‘Yes,’` said Maynard.
She said the idea of bringing trails to this area of town is not new; it had been tossed around for 10 or 11 years before falling by the wayside. Reintroducing the idea was met with enthusiasm from many residents, but Maynard did say concerns were raised about the impact these trails would have on some property owners along the projected pathways.
`This is a first step in trying to give the town a direction to go from,` said Eric Hamilton, a former Trails Committee chairman for the town, who attended the meeting. `The lower end of Moe Road has some challenging issues surrounding wetlands and existing properties, which makes it difficult to retrofit.`
Maynard agreed and emphasized that `nothing has been designed` yet in regard to the trail suggestions discussed at the meeting.
`We are still looking at the opportunities,` said Maynard. `The town has been very responsive. Residents have said for many years they want trails and open space.`
Not only did those at the meeting express an interest in adding to the trail system, but many said they would like to fill in the gaps of the current trails system as well.
`We are trying to connect existing neighborhoods to trails,` said Hamilton. He noted that the southeast portion of town is well established.
`As the town expands westward, the town has incorporated trails into the plans of developers,` said Hamilton.
Maynard agreed that the trails in discussion at the meeting would connect established neighborhoods with some town-owned property and to larger trail systems within town.
Ideally, Maynard said the new trails would resemble the existing Clifton Park Center Trail.
Also discussed at the meeting was how to educate residents about trails that are coming in the near future. Included among these are the Carlson Farm Trail and the West Sky Trail.
With a scheduled completion date of 2010, the Crescent Road trail will begin in Halfmoon, cross over Interstate 87 and through Clifton Park. This trail will connect the Plaza 8 shopping area and other commercial areas to residences and Okte Elementary School.
Maynard said she and Viggiani are in the process of compiling the comments from the meeting and will soon be posting them on the town’s Web site at www.cliftonpark.org. Residents with comments or questions are encouraged to call Maynard or Viggiani at 371-6054.
Another meeting will be scheduled for June and provide a more specific plan as to where future trail connections might be developed.
`This is an open process,` said Maynard. `We are working with residents.“