Editor, The Spotlight:
The Saratoga Springs City Council wants to put an EMS station on Waterfront Park land on Saratoga Lake. Its inconsistent with the law.
Under State common law the City Council holds all parkland in trust for the public and if it wants to use it for use for non-park purposes the Council must seek approval from the Legislature and the Governor.
The State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has a manual on this subject on its website and provides advice. The Council also should be seeking advice from its Open Space Advisory Committee, a group that hasn’t met in a year. The position of Administrator of Parks, Open Lands and Historic Preservation, established by the City Charter, has equal priority for funding with all other Charter-mandated positions, such as the Mayor and Council members, but it was de-funded anyway two years ago, leaving no qualified professional in City Hall to address such matters.
Regardless, the Waterfront Park was purchased under the city’s Environmental, Parks and Open Land Protection Program, with 2001 open space bond act monies, and use of the land must be consistent with the purposes of that program and bond act. An EMS station is not co
Charles C. Morrison
Saratoga Springs
