Trails & Open Space 8/4/2026

The Saratoga County Trails & Open Space Committee met on August 4, 2026, to discuss several procurement and funding matters related to local trail and open space projects. The committee approved minutes from the previous meeting and took action to apply for and execute agreements related to the New York State snowmobile trail grant and aid program, which supports local snowmobile clubs through state funding derived from snowmobile registrations. They reviewed the trail network with no major reroutes planned and noted the first year of funding for the Boxill West connector trail expansion. The committee also discussed the status of open space projects, including a 2021 project requiring reapplication and a total of five current applications requesting $1.3 million in funding against a $450,000 allocation plus reserves. A subcommittee is reviewing these applications to recommend partial funding based on project merits. Additionally, the committee addressed challenges related to a timber bid impacted by the recent closure of a local mill, which may affect bid responses and revenue. Finally, trail usage data from the Zim Smith Trail was presented, showing increasing public use and the potential need for additional trail counters. No final votes on funding allocations were made, but action items include further review of open space project applications and timber bid outcomes.