Friends of Clifton Park Open Space, P.O. Box 821, Clifton Park, New York 12065

Board of Directors Frank Berlin, President James Ruhl, EVP Susan Burton, VP Ray Seymour, Secretary Margaret Catellier, Treasurer William Koebbeman, Director Pam Marshall, Director

Date: August 4, 2016

To: Letter to the Editor,

Subject: Sale of 34 Acres of Shenendehowa School Property in Central Clifton Park

The Shenendehowa School District owns 34 acres of undeveloped land between the YMCA building and the main school campus. The School Board is considering selling this land in the middle of Clifton Park’s town center district. Friends of Clifton Park Open Space would like to encourage the School Board and the Town Board to work together to keep this space in the public domain

The reasons to keep this parcel in the public domain are compelling. First, it has an obvious use as a “Central Park” in the most developed and developing part of Clifton Park’s Town Center. Additionally, this general use, urban open space would have the following town-wide advantages:

1. Complement the existing parks and preserves in western Clifton Park with a generous open space in the eastern part of town. 2. Create a less rugged, more groomed park parcel at the hub of town activity as a gathering point for town-wide commercial, civic and public events similar to Congress Park in Saratoga Springs or The Crossings in Colonie; 3. Augment existing public facilities such as the Shatekon/ Arongen Elementary School campus; the State/Town Public Safety complex, Clifton Park /Halfmoon Public Library; the William R. Collins Jr. Park and ensure direct access to the Central School complex and Clifton Commons to the west; 4. Attract shoppers and guests to the economic activity in the surrounding commercial entities; 5. Encourage guests—attracted to the proposed “Hotel District”—to “stay awhile" and enjoy Clifton Park and its various commercial and civic attractions; 6. Improve the area’s attractiveness to increase property values for owners at Exit# 9 as well as town- wide; 7. As this parcel is already tax exempt, no property is removed from the tax rolls; 8. Establish an attractive Commercial, Civic and Public use “anchor" for Southern Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s promotional activities; 9. Provide a needed, walkable area retreat for future multi-use developments slated for this Town Center Zone. The creation of a “Central Park” on the 34 acre site can create a quality, interconnected open space that links the newly envisioned Town Center to the Shenendehowa Campus and the Clifton Commons. This initiative can complement the suburban fabric of our Town and enhance its sustainability, economic competitiveness, and livability. We urge all citizens to support this initiative to improve our town.

Susan Burton Friends of Clifton Park Open Space (518) 371-4703