Prepared for: Town of Plattsburgh 151 Banker Road Plattsburgh, NY

TOWN OF PLATTSBURGH RECREATION MASTER PLAN Prepared by: Chazen Engineering, Land Surveying & Landscape Architects Co., P.C. Prepared for: Town of Plattsburgh 151 Banker Road Plattsburgh, NY 12901 7307 January 2011

Recreation Master Plan Town of Plattsburgh Recreation Master Plan Acknowledgements Town of Plattsburgh Youth Commission Skip Riley Chuck Kostyk Ralph Cross Joanne Zucker Lenny Strauss Zane Adams Ad Hoc Advisory Committee Members Kristy Kennedy Sam Campbell Connie Harrica Chris Blake Tom Metz Town of Plattsburgh Staff Melanie Defayette Erin Pangborn Town Board Bernie Bassett, Supervisor Marty Mannix, Deputy Supervisor Paul Lamoy Gerard Renadette Tom Wood Chazen Engineering, Land Surveying & Landscape Architecture Co., P.C. Chazen Environmental Services, Inc. The Chazen Companies, Inc.

Recreation Master Plan Table of Contents Excutive Summary... i 1.0 INTRODUCTION... 1 1.1 What is a Recreation Master Plan?... 1 1.2 Planning Process... 1 2.0 PARK AND RECREATION INVENTORY... 1 2.1 Overview... 1 2.2 Existing Recreational Facilities... 2 2.3 Existing School Facilities... 11 2.4 Recreational Programs... 13 3.0 RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT... 16 3.1 Current Needs... 16 3.2 Future Needs... 24 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS... 26 4.1 Implementation Plan... 26 4.2 Funding Sources... 33 Figure 1 Recreation Recommendations List of Figures List of Tables Table 1 Town of Plattsburgh Park Locations and Amenities Table 2 Saranac School District Recreation Facilities Table 3 Beekmantown School District Recreation Facilities Table 4 Seton Catholic School Recreation Facilities Table 5 2007 Town & County (MSA) Population Estimates by Age Group Table 6 Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Recreation Needs for the Current Population Table 7 Existing Recreational Facilities and Programs by Age Group Table 8 Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Needs for Ten Year Projected Population and Demographic Shift Table 9 Fund Sources for Park Improvements Table 10 Funding Sources for Trail Development Table 11 Funding Sources for Land Acquisition for Trails Table 12 Funding Sources for Planning & Programmatic Recommendations Chazen Engineering, Land Surveying & Landscape Architecture Co., P.C. Chazen Environmental Services, Inc. The Chazen Companies, Inc.

Recreation Master Plan Appendices Appendix 1 Park Inventory Forms Appendix 2 Recommendations for Town Park Improvements Chazen Engineering, Land Surveying & Landscape Architecture Co., P.C. Chazen Environmental Services, Inc. The Chazen Companies, Inc.

Recreation Master Plan i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 2010, the Town of Plattsburgh adopted a new comprehensive plan which included the following vision for improving recreation facilities and opportunities in the Town. We strive to attract new families to our region and to encourage our region's children to remain or return. We advocate for a better integration of work and play, with commercial areas zoned and designed with public access and recreation in mind. We also advocate for a healthy community, with walking and bicycling trails that knit together our neighborhoods. We support the use of sustainable energy sources and agricultural practices. We encourage artistic and social opportunities. Recognizing the importance of new residents to our Town, we support thoughtful development that will afford both new and current residents a high quality of life in a prosperous community. A good parks and recreation system is important for both existing residents as well as for employers considering locating in the Town who seek a high quality of life for their employees. As articulated by the Comprehensive Plan, recreation is an essential component of a community s quality of life, and it contributes to its economic well being. This fact is underscored by the North Country Chamber of Commerce s recently completed Clinton County Destination Master Plan, which stated that Clinton County tourism should focus on history, the outdoors and agriculture. The plan emphasizes promoting outdoors activities such as fishing, cycling and paddling. The Town s 2010 Comprehensive supports this vision, its goals including the creation of diverse recreational opportunities. Diverse opportunities will in turn attract a diverse citizenry with a variety of interests, contributing to the health and vitality of the community. The 2010 Comprehensive Plan further recommended that a recreation master plan be created to guide future improvements in support of this vision. The Town currently has an outstanding recreation system with numerous parks and facilities throughout Town. Although improvements and upgrades are needed, the condition of the Town s recreation facilities is generally good. However, the Town s parks could be better connected to surrounding neighborhoods via sidewalks and bicycle trails, and in general the Town lacks trails and bikeways. Additionally, there are limited opportunities for water access. This plan therefore focuses on these types of recreation opportunities. The Town s Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of programs with a high percentage of its facilities and programs serving users age 5 to 17. These facilities and programs provide an excellent base for continued development of the Town s recreation system for users of all ages. January 2011 The Chazen Companies

Recreation Master Plan ii The recommendations in this plan take into account the Town s current demographics and also projected future demographics which will include a higher percentage of people over 60 years of age. The Town facilities and programs will need to shift, over time, to provide additional recreational facilities and programs for seniors. In addition to shifting demographics, the current recreational trends are moving towards walking and biking, nature observation and education, fishing and small craft boating. Recommendations include adding hiking and biking trails, nature trails and water access both to the Saranac River and Lake Champlain. With respect to Lake Champlain access, the plan recommends reprogramming the Crab Island Vista park phasing plan to provide for development in smaller, more achievable phases. This plan also recommends that the Town study the feasibility of constructing a multi use community center. The plan s programmatic recommendations include changing the structure by which citizens provide input to the Town s Parks and Recreations Departments and a recommendation to reprogram the way recreation fee funds are spent. Winter is a long season in Plattsburgh and few of the Town s recreational facilities and programs offer opportunities for winter recreation either indoors or outdoors. Recommendations include expanding opportunities for recreation for the winter season. January 2011 The Chazen Companies

Recreation Master Plan 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 What is a Recreation Master Plan? A recreation master plan is a policy guide that sets forth directions for the future of recreation in a community. It is a blueprint to help guide the provision of recreation services and facilities to townspeople over the next decade. 1.2 Planning Process The Town of Plattsburgh adopted its current Comprehensive Plan in 2010. One of the recommendations of that plan was to create a Recreation Master Plan. The Town Board assigned Melanie Defayette, the Town s Recreation Director, to spearhead this effort and hired The Chazen Companies to assist her. The planning team met with members of the Town s Youth Commission as well as an ad hoc advisory committee of townspeople interested in recreation who provided ideas on how to better utilize the existing parks and facilities. New ideas for recreational opportunities were also sought from these groups. Existing recreational facilities were assessed and recommendations for improvements were compiled. A draft plan was then presented at a public meeting to garner additional input from the Town residents. This plan is the result of this process. 2.0 PARK AND RECREATION INVENTORY 2.1 Overview Plattsburgh has an outstanding recreation system with numerous parks and facilities throughout Town. Parks are spread throughout the neighborhoods and have historically served the local communities in which they are based. Most of the parks have multi use playing fields, tennis and basketball courts and a playground. Parks are maintained by the Town s Parks and Recreation Department maintenance staff. The Parks and Recreation Department operates a number of programs at the various parks. The department has a director, program coordinator, maintenance supervisor, three year round maintenance staff, twenty five to thirty seasonal employees and approximately sixty seasonal volunteers. Local organized sports such as youth baseball/softball and youth soccer are based at each park. A volunteer from each area has the role of overseeing the organization of these teams. Collectively, these volunteers are known as the Youth Commission. The Parks and Recreation Department also organizes a number of summer camps as well as year round senior activities. Section 2.2 lists the parks and summarizes each park s condition. Recommendations for park improvements are listed in Section 4. Section 2.3 lists the facilities available at the local schools

Recreation Master Plan 2 and how the Town and schools share some resources. Section 2.4 lists the programs and activities offered by the Parks and Recreation Department. 2.2 Existing Recreational Facilities Table 1: Town of Plattsburgh Park Locations and Amenities ACRES PARKING BALL FIELDS BASKETBALL BIKE TRAILS BUILDING RENTAL DISC GOLF COURSE PAVILION PLAYGROUNDS PICNIC TABLES SOCCER FIELDS BOATING/FISHING SWIMMING TENNIS RIVERFRONT WALKING / XC PATHS Cadyville Park 114 Goddeau Rd Cadyville Beach Route3, Cadyville Cliff Haven Park 16 Cliff Haven Park Rd East Morrisonville Park 22 Bullis Rd Everest Rabideau Park 35 Oswego La Guy Cedar Park 10 Brenda Boulevard May Currier Park 305 Tom Miller Rd South Plattsburgh Park 52 Broderick Rd Treadwells Mills Park 1403 Military Turnpike Wallace Hill Park 140 Wallace Hill Rd West Plattsburgh Park 44 Catherine Hayes La 20.5 100 3 1 X 1 1 1 1 2 2 X 1.0 43 3 X 200 1 6.6 20 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 13.4 48 2 1 11.3 * 1 1 1 8 2 60 3 2 X 1 2 3 2 X 2.1 15 1 1 1 200 6.87 40 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 7.4 40 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 3.94 30 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 5.0 30 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 24.5 60 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 TOTALS 1 11 8 1 1 10 21 13 1 17 1 9 * A thirty acre parcel of land adjacent to Everest Rabideau Park has been donated to the Town. This is mostly wooded land with some wetlands and extensive ATV trails that run throughout Cumberland Head connecting to the school, water tower and other locations. 2

Recreation Master Plan 3 Cadyville Beach 1 acre (leased) on Route 3, Cadyville This community park is located in a residential area on a narrow strip of land along the Saranac River in the southwest corner of the Town. It serves primarily as a boat launch and swimming beach (with life guard) with a use capacity of 200. There is a gravel boat ramp for use by small fishing boats, kayaks and canoes. Aluminum floating docks are installed in the summer for use in the swimming area. Picnicking is a secondary use with three picnic tables provided and three trash cans. Forty three parking spaces are provided which appear to be adequate for general use. Cracks are appearing in the parking lot pavement. The park has a comfort station which is in good condition. The park is missing entrance signage and lighting. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Route 3. There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the beach. There is no bike rack. The river bank is eroded in sections. The expansive riverfront is under utilized with no access for pedestrians other than at the small beach area. An increase in the number of geese has become a problem at the beach area. Maintenance staff spends significant time removing geese feces from the beach area. If geese numbers continue to increase, it could lead to water quality and health issues and the possible closing of the beach. Town programs offered at the park include kayak lessons and trips and swimming lessons. Cadyville Park 20.55 acres (leased) at 114 Goddeau Road, Cadyville This community park is located in a residential area. It has a playground, multi purpose playing fields, and a community building with restrooms and a small meeting room. One hundred parking spaces are provided. There are no sidewalk connections from the parking lot to the play area or sports fields. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages 5 12. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a mulch layer which has become compacted over time. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are three baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 20 people. There is one basketball court and two tennis courts all in good condition. The tennis nets are of chain link fabric which has poor functionality. There is a new 18 hole disc (frisbee) golf course. An additional 9 holes are planned.

Recreation Master Plan 4 The park has one picnic table, two benches and five trash receptacles. There are multiple trails within the park, however, there is no signage for the trail system or indication of the extent of the trails or the use(es) for which they are suitable. The lighting for the parking lot is inadequate. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Goddeau Road. There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the playground, courts and playing fields. There is no bike rack. Cliff Haven 6.6 acres at 16 Cliff Haven Park Road, Plattsburgh This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a medium sized building which includes a meeting room and restroom facilities. The paved parking lot has twenty paved but non striped spaces. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time. There are two basketball courts and two tennis courts in good condition. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in poor condition. Two bleachers can seat 40 people. There is one soccer field in poor condition. There are significant ponding and drainage issues over the entire playing field area. In the winter, a drainage pipe is plugged to flood an area to create an ice skating rink. The local fire department tops off the resulting pond and the Town removes the snow that accumulates once the pond freezes. The pond is for recreational skating and is not large enough for a hockey game. There are two picnic tables, one bench, and five trash receptacles located in the park. East Morrisonville Park 13.40 acres at 22 Bullis Road, Morrisonville This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts and a shallow wading pool. There is a small community building with a meeting room and restrooms. Forty eight paved parking spaces are provided. There are no sidewalks connections from the parking lot to the play area or sports fields. Buses deliver children to the park for swimming lessons in the summer.

Recreation Master Plan 5 The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 60 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition. There is one basketball court with numerous cracks in the pavement. The two tennis courts are in good condition. The tennis nets are of chain link fabric which has poor functionality. There is a shallow circular wading pool (0 to 4 depth) with a gravel bottom surface and a concrete curb border. In one section, the concrete curb is removed to allow handicap access to the water. The use capacity of the pool is 200. A small beach area has two lifeguard chairs and is surrounded by eight picnic tables and one barbeque. Water from a nearby stream is diverted to fill the pool. The overflow from the pool enters an adjacent stream via a paved apron. The water is not chlorinated or treated as it discharges to the stream and a natural ecological system. This pool is used for swimming lessons by the Town. There is a wooden pavilion with a concrete floor, three picnic tables and a barbeque. This provides needed shade as there are no trees in the picnic area. The pavilion can be used by groups but cannot be reserved. The park has inadequate lighting. There is no entrance sign or way finding signage. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Bullis Road. There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the playground, courts and playing fields. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas. Everest Rabideau Park 11.31 acres at 35 Oswego Lane, Plattsburgh This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a small building with storage area and restroom facilities. The paved parking lot has ten non paved and forty paved but non striped parking spaces in poor condition. The pavement has large cracks, potholes and deterioration of asphalt top coat. There s a small parking area near the tennis courts. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time.

Recreation Master Plan 6 There are two basketball courts and two tennis courts in good condition. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are three baseball/softball fields in poor condition. Two bleachers can seat 40 people. There are three soccer fields in poor condition. There are significant ponding and drainage issues over the entire playing field areas. There are two picnic tables, one bench, and five trash receptacles located in the park. The park has a large entrance sign off Oswego Lane with a dedication to Everest Rabideau. There are swing gates at the park entrance as well as informational signage. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Oswego Lane. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional area. The town owns thirty additional acres adjacent to this park. There is an unofficial trail network that is not mapped or signed and which appears to be used by ATVs. Over six years ago, neighborhood meetings were held to discuss development and use of this property but plans were not advanced. Guy Cedar Park 2.1 acres at 10 Brenda Blvd., Plattsburgh This is a neighborhood park located in a residential area at the end of a dead end street surrounded by woods. It has a playground and sports fields. There is a small community building with a storage area and restrooms. The paved parking lot has fifteen parking spaces in good condition. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There is one baseball/softball field in fair condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There is one soccer field in fair condition. There are ponding and drainage problems evident on the fields. There are no picnic tables or benches and two trash receptacles located in the park. The park has inadequate lighting. Way finding signage is located on Wallace Hill Road to the park entrance. Informational signage exists at the park entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas.

Recreation Master Plan 7 May Currier 6.87 acres at 305 Tom Miller Rd, Plattsburgh This is a community park located in a commercial/residential area. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a medium sized community building with full basement, a kitchenette, a meeting room and restrooms. The building is nicely furnished with many windows for natural light. A concrete sidewalk connects the building and the parking lot. The paved parking lot has been recently improved with forty striped spaces and two handicapped parking spaces. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time. There is one basketball court and two tennis courts in fair condition. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in fair condition. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in fair condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There is one soccer field in fair condition. There are ponding and drainage problems on the fields. There is one picnic table and one bench in the park. There is a small brick entrance sign and a small information park sign at the entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Tom Miller Road. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas. South Plattsburgh 7 acres at 52 Broderick Road, Plattsburgh This is a community park located in a residential area and adjacent to the Airborne Speedway. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a small community building with a meeting room and restrooms which are ADA accessible. The paved parking lot has forty non striped parking spaces. Users of playing fields in the southwest corner use a fence opening to walk in while parking their vehicles in non designated areas. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time. There is one basketball court and two tennis courts in good to fair condition. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in good condition. The basketball court is

Recreation Master Plan 8 adjacent to a pine tree which drops needles and cones on the court. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 40 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition. There are two picnic tables, one bench, and three trash receptacles located in the park. There is informational signage inside the park entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas. There is no bike rack. Treadwells Mills Park 3.94 acres 1403 Military Turnpike, Plattsburgh This is a community park located in a residential area. It has a playground, an open field and tennis and basketball courts. There is a small community building with a kitchenette, meeting room and ADA accessible restrooms. The building houses the Outreach Center for the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin counties. Thirty paved parking spaces are provided. There are no sidewalk connections from the parking lot to the play area or courts. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time. There is one basketball court with new rims and backboards. The two tennis courts are in poor condition. The chain link fence nets lack functionality. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in fair condition. There are no official ball fields; however, there are approximately two acres of open space that is used as a driving range for golfers. There is one picnic table and one bench in the park. There is a large entrance sign to the park, however, there are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on the busy Military Turnpike. There is no bike rack. The park is open with little shade or separation between functional areas. Wallace Hill 5.0 acres at 140 Wallace Hill Road, Plattsburgh This is a community park located in a residential area and adjacent to a fire station. It has a playground, sports fields and courts. There is a small community building with a meeting room

Recreation Master Plan 9 and restrooms which are ADA accessible. The paved parking lot has thirty parking spaces in good condition. Paved sidewalks leading to the building and tennis court have significant cracks. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages five to twelve. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a shredded mulch layer which has become compacted over time. There is one basketball court and one tennis court in good condition. The fence surrounding the tennis and basketball courts is in fair condition. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There is one baseball/softball field in fair condition. Bleachers can seat 20 people. There is one soccer field in fair condition. There are ponding and drainage problems on the fields. There is one picnic table, one bench, and two trash receptacles located in the park. The park has inadequate lighting. There is no entrance sign or way finding signage. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Wallace Hill Road. There is no bike rack. West Plattsburgh Park 24.52 acres at 44 Catherine Hayes Lane This community park is located in a residential area. It has a playground, multi purpose playing fields, and a community building with restrooms and a small meeting room. Sixty parking spaces are provided. However, there are no designated handicap parking spaces and fifty of the spaces are on a gravel surface and are not striped which may result in less parking capacity. There is another small parking area adjacent to the basketball and tennis courts. There are no sidewalks connections from the parking lot to the play area or sports fields. The playground has a variety of play equipment suitable for ages 5 12. The equipment is in good condition and is placed in a mulch layer covered with pine straw which has become compacted over time. The playing fields are multi use and serve as baseball/softball fields or soccer fields depending on the season. They are unlighted. There are two baseball/softball fields in good condition. Bleachers can seat 20 people. There are two soccer fields in good condition. Boulders with thick metal rope along the edge of playing fields are a potential trip hazard. There is one basketball court and two tennis courts all in good condition. The tennis nets are of chain link fabric which has poor functionality. The park has adequate lighting and way finding signage at the gated park entrance. There are no sidewalks entering the park from surrounding areas and no crosswalks on Rand Hill Road.

Recreation Master Plan 10 There are no sidewalks between the parking area and the playground, courts and playing fields. There is no bike rack. Undeveloped Park Properties The Town owns property reserved for park development at two locations. A four acre parcel on Lake Champlain is reserved to become the Crab Island Vista Park. A ten acre site on the Saranac River at the end of La Pierre Lane in Morrisonville is reserved to become a park for small boat launch/fishing access and a riverfront walking trail. See Section 4.1 for discussion of plans for these park facilities.

Recreation Master Plan 11 2.3 Existing School Facilities The Saranac, Beekmantown and Seton Catholic school districts use several of the Town parks for a variety of sports including; cross country running, baseball, softball, and soccer. The Town uses the Cumberland Head and Morrisonville School gymnasiums for its winter basketball programs. Sharing these resources appears to work well for both the Town and schools. Tables 2, 3 and 4 list the sports facilities at the local schools and indicate Town and school shared resources. Table 2 Saranac School District Recreation Facilities School Outdoor Facilities Indoor Facilities PLAYGROUND BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS SOCCER FIELDS BASKETBALL COURTS TENNIS COURTS TRACK SWIMMING POOL GYMNASIUM FACILITY NOTES AND CONDITIONS AVAILABILITY TO TOWN RESIDENTS Dannemora Elementary 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 Morrisonville Elementary Saranac Elementary 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Town organized basketball held in gym. Saranac High/Middle 0 3 2 1 4 1 0 2 Schools also use Cadyville Park for cross country running and baseball. Sunday afternoon basketball open to public Outdoor facilities available to Town residentsschool takes precedence

Recreation Master Plan 12 Table 3 Beekmantown School District Recreation Facilities School Outdoor Facilities Indoor Facilities PLAYGROUND BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS SOCCER FIELDS BASKETBALL COURTS TENNIS COURTS TRACK SWIMMING POOL GYMNASIUM FACILITY NOTES AND CONDITIONS AVAILABILITY TO TOWN RESIDENTS Cumberland Head Elem. Beekmantown Elem. Beekmantown Middle Beekmantown High 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 0 1 Town rec programs are held here. Beekmantown Elem., Middle and High School is one complex New foot ball field Basket ball courts are indoor Built within 5 yrs. Schools also use Beekmantown Park. High School has indoor fitness center open to public evenings and weekends. Outdoor facilities are not fenced and are available to Town residentsschool takes precedence.

Recreation Master Plan 13 Table 4 Seton Catholic School Recreation Facilities School Outdoor Facilities Indoor Facilities PLAYGROUND BASEBALL/SOFTBALL FIELDS SOCCER FIELDS BASKETBALL COURTS TENNIS COURTS TRACK SWIMMING POOL GYMNASIUM FACILITY NOTES AND CONDITIONS AVAILABILITY TO TOWN RESIDENTS Seton Catholic Central School (grades 7 12) 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 School uses South Plattsburgh Park ball fields. School uses Cliff Haven and May Currier Park for soccer and softball. Outdoor facilities are not fenced and are available to Town residentsschool takes precedence. 2.4 Recreational Programs The Parks and Recreation Department operates a number of programs at the Town parks and local schools. Residents can learn about these programs and the park facilities at the Parks and Recreation Department website and in an annual Summer Fun Guide brochure. Programs for Youth The Town organizes a number of team sports and summer camps for boys and girls ages 5 to 17. The department organizes the volunteer coaches for the teams and provides a free clinic to all coaches which allow them to become certified with the National Youth Sports Coaches Association. Following are the Town organized sports for youth: o League Youth Basketball (Played indoors at local schools, separate teams for boys and girls grades 3 6) o Instructional Youth Basketball (co ed play and instruction for grades 1 and 2) o League Baseball/softball (ages 7 16) o Instructional T ball (ages 5 6) o League Youth Soccer (ages 6 15) co ed teams o Instructional Youth Soccer (age 5 co ed) o Instructional swimming (age 5 17)

Recreation Master Plan 14 o 10 week Bowling program (ages 5 18) Summer Camps are one week camps at local Town parks and are free to residents. Sport Fun Camps are designed for the beginner and intermediate levels of experience in each sport including: o Soccer Camp o Archery Camp o Tennis Camp o Golf Camp o Disc Golf Camp o Basketball Camp Non sport camps include: o Readers Rock: a reading program for children entering grades 1 6 o Art Week: for 8 12 year olds o Kids Cook It Up: kids ages 9 12 learn cooking skills for healthy treats o Kayaking: free equipment usage and lessons on kayaking for ages 10+ Programs for All Age Levels The Town organizes a weekly Disc Golf play day. Typical player age is eighteen and older. The Town holds weekly Zumba classes for all ages at the Town offices. The Town organizes the following winter activities for families and people of all ages o Snowshoeing and cross country skiing o Family swim nights at the Wellness Center at PARC o Ice skating at the PSUC Fieldhouse o Beartown Family Nights downhill skiing at a local ski center o Archery nights at Gander Mountain o NYS Snowmobile Safety Course (ages 10 16) Programs for Active Seniors (age 50+) The Town offers the following programs to people age 50 and older: o Crafts, bingo and meetings twice weekly o Fitness for Life exercise class held 3 times weekly o Kayaking classes and trips several times throughout the summer and fall

Recreation Master Plan 15 o Snowshoeing at the Cadyville Park o Day trips throughout the region to places such as museums, casinos, boat trips and other places of interest Community Room Use Most of the Town parks have a community room that can be reserved for use year round. Organized groups that follow Town rules and regulations are permitted to use the facilities. Youth organizations and not for profit organizations use the facilities free of charge. Individuals and private groups use Town facilities for parties, showers, family reunions, meetings, etc. There is a minimal fee for use of community rooms for private functions. Special One Day Events The Parks and Recreation Department currently organizes these one day events: o Doggie Paddle Day: takes place in August at the East Morrisonville Park after the pool is closed for the season. The dogs are allowed in the pool to play and romp with other dogs. The pool is drained, cleaned and closed for the season following this event. o Kite Day: at Everest Rabideau Park o Living Sculpture Project: youth ages 8 to 12 explore the realm of living sculptures o Take a Hike: bus transportation and supervision for an Adirondack mountain hike for ages 12 and older. o Disc Golf Tournaments. Other Recreational Activities Although not an activity organized or supervised by the Town, windsurfers access Lake Champlain on the west side of Cumberland head near the McDonogh Farm. When conditions are favorable, windsurfers travel long distances to access the lake at this spot.

Recreation Master Plan 16 3.0 RECREATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT 3.1 Current Needs Recreational needs of the Town have been determined through input from the Youth Commissions, ad hoc committee and the experience of the Recreation Director and Parks and Recreation Department staff who work with the Town s parks and programs. Population demographics help tell the story of met and unmet recreational needs within the Town. Table 5 lists the 2007 county population by age group. The percentage of the population from ages 5 to 19 years is 19.3 percent. These are the ages served by most of the Town s programs and park facilities. The percentage of population from ages 20 to 59 is 58.7 percent. The percentage of the population 60 and older is 17.5 percent. The Town is doing very well in meeting the recreation needs of the youth population. In recent years it has added a few facilities and programs for the older residents. Facilities such as Disc Golf and programs such as senior kayaking are steps in the direction of balancing the recreational needs for the entire population. Table 5 2007 Town & County (MSA) Population Estimates by Age Group Gender & Age County Estimate Percent of County State Estimate Percent of State Total population 82,048 100% 19,280,753 100% Male 41,781 50.9% 9,343,951 48.50% Female 40,267 49.1% 9,936,802 51.50% Under 5 years 3,796 4.6% 1,201,950 6.20% 5 to 9 years 3,488 4.3% 1,178,018 6.10% 10 to 14 years 5,326 6.5% 1,271,062 6.60% 15 to 19 years 6,950 8.5% 1,397,353 7.20% 20 to 24 years 7,552 9.2% 1,365,909 7.10% 25 to 34 years 11,545 14.1% 2,524,715 13.10% 35 to 44 years 12,180 14.8% 2,901,095 15.00% 45 to 54 years 12,304 15.0% 2,827,241 14.70% 55 to 59 years 4,585 5.6% 1,180,711 6.10% 60 to 64 years 3,850 4.7% 904,745 4.70% 65 to 74 years 5,713 7.0% 1,270,797 6.60% 75 to 84 years 3,283 4.0% 901,194 4.70% 85 years and over 1,476 1.8% 355,963 1.80%

Recreation Master Plan 17 Table 6 lists the Town s existing park facilities and the unmet needs of the current population. This table does not include local school facilities except for those sports where facilities are shared by the Town and schools. Table 6 Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Needs for the Current Population Type of Recreation Existing Current Unmet Need Additional Information Facilities Baseball/Softball 19 These are multi use fields, There is a need for a few dedicated baseball fields for the end of season games in late August when soccer practice is beginning not dedicated fields. Basketball/Outdoor 11 Basketball/Indoor 2 (at local school) Biking 0 Blueway Trails (canoeing, kayaking, motor boating) 1 The number of outdoor basketball courts is sufficient. The use of school facilities for youth basketball is sufficient. Bike trails for both transportation and local and regional recreation are desirable facilities for the Town There is a greater need for boat access to the Saranac River for small watercraft. This water resource needs to be assessed for connections to regional blueway trails, specifically, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. The Town offers an indoor youth basketball program at local schools. There is one boat launch but this is not part of a waterway trail system. There is a need for water access to Lake Champlain. Fishing 1 The Town s fishing access is on the Saranac River. Access to Lake Champlain would extend fishing opportunities. Football 0 A youth football league operates independently of the Town Fishing access could be expanded in conjunction with blueway trails.

Recreation Master Plan 18 Greenway Trails (walking, hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing) Hockey 0 Ice Skating Rink 1 Playground 10 0 There is a strong need for hiking and walking trails. These trails could also be used in the winter for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. A youth hockey league operates independently of the Town There is a need for an outdoor ice skating rink where youth can play hockey. There is an unmet need for playgrounds for ages 2 to 5. Pool 0 There is a need for a public indoor pool Soccer 17 There is a need for a few dedicated soccer fields for the summer use while baseball games are still being held. Tennis 17 The number of outdoor tennis courts is sufficient. Volleyball 0 There does not seem to be a demand for volleyball courts at the Town parks. There are some trails at Cadyville and Everest Rabideau Parks but they are unmarked and are not part of a larger trail system. The Town s parks could be better connected to surrounding neighborhoods by sidewalks and bicycle trails. The town creates a skating rink at Cliff Haven Park but it is not large enough for hockey games. Ages 5 12 only Swimming has become popular with all age groups, especially seniors. This type of facility would fill the need for additional winter activities. Swimming lessons could be offered. These are multi use fields, not dedicated fields. Adult pick up games are played indoors at a local school but are not organized by the Town. Table 7 matches age groups with the recreational facilities and programs that meet the needs of each group. This table shows how a large portion of the recreational resources are meeting the needs of the five to fifteen year old age groups. Recommendations to balance the resources over the entire population are made in Section 3.

Recreation Master Plan 19 Table 7 Existing Recreational Facilities and Programs by Age Group Age Group Current Programs Existing Facilities Unmet Need Under 5 years None Wading at East Morrisonville Park pool wading at Cadyville Beach Playgrounds and equipment for this age group is needed 5 to 10 years Living Sculpture Project (8 12) Soccer Camp Archery Camp Tennis Camp Golf Camp Disc Golf Camp Basketball Camp Swimming Lessons Readers Rock (grades 1 6) Art Week (8 12) League Youth Basketball ( grades 3 6) Instructional Youth Basketball (grades 1 and 2) League Baseball/softball (7 16) Instructional T ball (5 6) League Youth Soccer (6 15) Playgrounds at most parks Swimming at beach and pool Soccer and Baseball fields Tennis Courts Basketball courts (indoors and outdoors) Disc Golf Course Community Rooms Nature trails and ecological education

Recreation Master Plan 20 Instructional Youth Soccer (age 5) Bowling 10 to 15 years Kayaking lessons Living Sculpture Project (8 12) Soccer Camp Archery Camp Tennis Camp Golf Camp Disc Golf Camp Basketball Camp Swimming Take a Hike (12+) Kayaking Lessons (10+) Kids Cook It Up (9 12) Readers Rock (grades 1 6) Art Week (8 12) Bowling 15 to 20 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing Bowling Playgrounds at most parks Swimming at beach and pool Swimming at PARC Wellness Center in winter Soccer and Baseball fields Tennis Courts Basketball courts (indoors and outdoors) Disc Golf Course Community Rooms Ice Skating at Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse Swimming at beach Swimming at PARC Wellness Center in winter Bike trails Nature trails and ecological education Hockey facility and lessons More indoor swimming hours available Bike trails

Recreation Master Plan 21 Archery Snowshoeing and cross country skiing Zumba Soccer and Baseball fields Tennis Courts Basketball courts (outdoors) Disc Golf Course Community Rooms Boat Launch Ice Skating at Plattsburgh State Fieldhouse Hiking Trails 20 to 30 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing and cross country skiing Archery Zumba 30 to 40 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing and cross country skiing Swimming at beach Swimming at PARC Wellness Center in winter Soccer and Baseball fields Tennis Courts Basketball courts (outdoors) Disc Golf Course Community Rooms Boat Launch Swimming at beach Soccer and Baseball fields Tennis Courts More Indoor swimming hours available Bike trails Hiking Trails More Indoor swimming hours available Bike trails Hiking Trails

Recreation Master Plan 22 Archery Zumba Basketball courts (outdoors) Disc Golf Course 35 to 44 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing and cross country skiing Archery Zumba 40 to 50 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing and cross country skiing Archery Zumba 50 to 60 years Kayaking lessons Take a Hike (12+) Snowshoeing Archery Fitness for life Day trips Zumba Community Rooms Boat Launch Swimming at beach Tennis Courts Disc Golf Course Community Rooms Boat Launch Swimming at beach Tennis Courts Disc Golf Course Community Rooms Boat Launch Swimming at beach Tennis Courts Disc Golf Course Community Rooms Boat Launch More Indoor swimming hours available Bike trails Hiking Trails More Indoor swimming hours available Bike trails Hiking Trails More Indoor swimming hours available Bike trails Hiking Trails Birding Trails and Guided walks 60 plus Crafts, bingo and potluck lunch twice Swimming at beach Community Rooms More Indoor swimming hours available

Recreation Master Plan 23 weekly Fitness for Life exercise class held 3 times weekly Kayaking classes and day trips Snowshoeing at the Cadyville Park Day trips throughout the region to places such as museums, casinos, boat trips and other places of interest Take a Hike (12+) Disc Golf Course Boat Launch Bike trails Hiking Trails especially for bird watching and nature enjoyment Benches in parks at playgrounds for outings with grandchildren Play equipment at playground designed for seniors Zumba Families Moonlight Movie Dogs Indoor Ice Skating at SUNY Field House Family Ski Night at Beartown Ski Area Disc Golf Kite Day Family Swim Night in Winter at PARC Wellness Center Doggie Paddle Day Families can use many of the existing parks for a family recreational outing meeting the needs of all age groups concurrently. Community Room rental for birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Dogs are allowed in all parks and waste bags are provided There is no facility that families can use in the winter that would provide activities and programs for various age groups concurrently. There is a need for a dog park where dogs can be let off leash to play with each other in a contained area.

Recreation Master Plan 24 3.2 Future Needs The Town s population is growing slowly and it is also aging. According to the New York Statewide Comprehensive Recreation Plan (SCORP) the number of New York residents over the age of 60 is projected to increase by 52.6 percent in twenty years. This aging population will cause a shift in the types of recreational programs, parks and facilities needed. It will become even more important that parks and facilities are universally accessible and meet ADA guidelines. The shift from youth focused recreation to the inclusion of elderly focused recreation may create training needs as staff and volunteers learn to work with the elderly. According to SCORP, the ten most popular activities among NY residents age 60 and older (in order of preference) are: o Relaxing in the park o Visiting historic sites o Walking for pleasure o Gardening o Swimming o Boating o Bicycling o Bird watching o Fishing o Camping Table 8 lists the existing parks and facilities and projects how these may or may not meet the future needs of its residents as the Town s demographics change and the proportion of seniors increases. Table 8 Existing Park Facilities and Unmet Needs for Ten Year Projected Population and Demographic Shift Park Facility Existing Facilities Future Unmet Need Additional Information Baseball/Softball 19 Basketball/Outdoor 11 Biking 0 It is unlikely that additional ball fields will be needed. The schools may rely more on the Town parks as several school properties are for sale. It is unlikely that additional basketball courts will be needed. Bike trails for both transportation These are multi use fields, not dedicated fields. Biking can be enjoyed

Recreation Master Plan 25 Blueway Trails (canoeing, kayaking, motor boating) Fishing 1 1 and local and regional recreation are desirable facilities for the Town There is a greater need for boat access to the Saranac River and Lake Champlain for small watercraft. Fishing is a sport enjoyed by all ages and will likely increase in popularity. There are limited locations for pier or shore fishing for those with no boat access. Football 0 There is a separate youth football league in Town. They do not use Town park facilities. Greenway Trails (walking, hiking, biking) 0 Walking trails that include access to natural areas for birding will be more in demand. by people of all ages. In ten years the Town may have completed construction on its two planned boat launches, one on the Saranac River and one on Lake Champlain. The greatest concern with these resources will be water quality. The Town may want to research how best to protect the river and lake waters. Fishing access could be expanded in conjunction with blueway trails. These will be used by people of all ages. Seating areas at intervals will assist young and senior users. Ice Skating Rink 1 There is a need for an outdoor ice skating rink where youth can play hockey. Some trails need to be ADA accessible while other can be more rustic. The town creates a skating rink at Cliff Haven Park but it is not large enough for hockey games. Lessons could be offered if the facility is enlarged.

Recreation Master Plan 26 Playground 10 Playgrounds could also include activities and equipment for seniors as well as ages 2 to 5. Pool The need for an indoor pool in the Town will increase over time as swimming has become popular with all age groups, especially seniors. Soccer 17 It is unlikely that additional soccer fields will be needed. Tennis It is unlikely that additional tennis courts will be needed. Volleyball 0 It is unlikely the demand for this will increase. Ages 5 12 only These are multi use fields, not dedicated fields. Senior Room for Indoor Activities 2 Additional facilities for indoor activities for seniors will be needed. 4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 4.1 Implementation Plan Short Term Goals Create a Recreation Commission There has been a marked decrease in participation in organized sports at the local neighborhood parks and an increased interest in other forms of recreation. In consequence, the current Youth Commission structure appears to have outlived its usefulness. It is recommended that the Town disband the Youth Commission structure and form a Recreation Commission consisting of a broad array of individuals and interest groups to advise the Town about recreation matters. Either as a component of this commission or as a separate body, the Town should create an ad hoc citizens committee to promote/advocate for safe biking and walking. Make Improvements to Existing Parks and Programs Recommended improvements fall under two categories: 1) improvements to facilities and, 2) improvements or additions to programs. The following are general recommendations for all parks. Specific recommendations for each park are found in Appendix 2. Facilities improvements: o Place fencing at basketball courts to keep balls from adjacent roads.

Recreation Master Plan 27 o Continue upgrading tennis nets from chain link to rope netting material. o Place benches and shade trees throughout parks at key locations and particularly at the playgrounds if none exist. o Place safety barriers at playgrounds adjacent to parking lots. o Install senior oriented play facilities at the playgrounds. This could include new style play equipment designed for seniors as well as facilities for moderate exertion games such as Bocce ball. o Install uniform signage at each park identifying the park name, the hours of operation, information about park policies and information particular to use of facilities at each park. o Create links from the appropriate parks to the existing and future bike and hike trails. o Add bike racks to each park. o Stripe the parking areas for better usage of the lots. o Remove the bark mulch at playgrounds and replace with recycled rubber mulch. Rubber mulch does not break down over time or attract insects, mold or fungus. Rubber particles are heavier than water and will not easily float away in a strong rain the way wood chips often do. A six inch thick layer of rubber playground mulch can offer protection against serious injury from a fall height of up to twelve feet more than twice the impact protection offered by wood chips. Rubber mulch is good for use in cold or wet climates because it drains well and will not freeze in cold weather. Program Enhancements: Examples of programs that those 50 years and older might enjoy: o Guided bird watching walks o Geocaching: using a GPS to walk or bike to various cache locations around town o Fishing lessons o Training program for volunteers at historic sites (for example at Crab Island Vista Park) Recreation Fee The Town currently collects $250 per lot for new residential developments and the money is allocated to the park that serves the development paying the fee. There is no fee collected for multi family developments. This plan recommends that the recreation fee be collected for all residential projects and that the money is placed into a single capital account. This money would then be used to fund new recreational facilities (capital projects) rather than for maintenance of existing parks. Redesign the Proposed Crab Island Vista Park The Town owns property along the western shore of Lake Champlain with the potential for becoming a tremendous recreation area. The property is just over 4 acres and is accessed off