Albany County residents were generally welcoming of the state’s proposed plan to improve and enhance John Boyd Thacher and Thompson’s Lake state parks to meet modern recreational demands.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation on Thursday, Aug. 1, held a public hearing on its draft master plan and draft environmental impact statement for Thacher and Thompson’s Lake state parks at New Scotland Town Hall. The master plan, which merges the two parks, includes the state parks’ envisioned capital improvements and operational enhancements for the next 10 to 15 years. The exact timing of or possibility for proposed improvements isn’t clearly defined because it hinges on several factors including availability of funds.
“All substantive comments must be taken into consideration by the agency in the preparation of the final master plan and final [environmental impact statement],” Karen Terbush, environmental analyst for State Parks, said. “Our job … is to listen and understand. … We are particularly interested in any comments on the accuracy of the information that is within the plan.”
Salim Chishti, state park planner, provided a brief summary of the plan before hearing comments. The plan states all proposed improvements “cost tens of millions of dollars to implement.”
The immediate priorities are expanding the Bird Conservation Area through both parks and creating a Natural Heritage Area that includes the Calcareous Cliff Community and land below the cliffs.
Capital infrastructure improvements are broken into three priority levels and operational enhancements have two priority levels.
Priority 1 improvements include demolishing and repurposing material from the barn on Ketcham Road; adding four comfort stations throughout the park; designing and installing the first phase of the Tory Cave Trail; viewshed restoration of Hailes Cave, Horseshoe and Indian Ladder trails; installing a bat gate at Hailes Cave; and several trail improvements, along with creating a mountain biking skills course.
Operational enhancements being eyed first include opening all park gates during the day to increase access to areas; planning and implementing rock climbing proposals; seeking proposals for a commercial adventure course; and upgrading lighting and mechanical systems to increase efficiencies.
A flagship first priority improvement is constructing a new visitors center at the park, which will feature meeting rooms and a warming hut for colder months.
“The visitors center will be that … so that when people come to the park they have a place to orientate themselves, to ask questions, to look at some of the exhibits about the geological history of the land,” Chishti said.
Several people did express opposition to the expansion of the sandy area of Thompson’s Lake beach, along with expanding the lake’s campgrounds.
“I just wonder what kind impact this is going to have if we are dumping tens of thousands of pounds of sand onto a soft bottom lake,” said Michael Railly, of Albany, who owns a camp at the lake. “Is this going to sink down into the mud, which is the argument given for why we can’t put shale in?”
Thompson’s Lake Improvement Association President George Christian expressed the desire for the state to increase awareness about the presence of zebra mussels in the lake. He said signs currently aren’t specific enough relating to invasive species in the lake and what precautions should be taken.
Bob Addis, president of the Northeastern Cave Conservancy, said his organization was pleased to see the plans focus on developing caves. The group manages around 12 caves, and he offered its help with the park plan.
“We would certainly encourage that a cage management plan be written before very far along in this process,” Addis said.
Jim MacNaughton, of Albany, said his son is “in love” with the park’s nature center and he was “excited” to see a mountain bike skills area being developed.
The plan can be viewed and downloaded by visiting the state parks’ website at nysparks.com/inside-our-agency/master-plans.aspx. The documents can also be viewed at the Voorheesville, Guilderland and Berne public libraries.