Organizational Timeline
Saratoga PLAN
Saratoga PLAN officially opens the 606-acre Hennig Preserve, its largest preserve – “a milestone for land conservation in Saratoga County.”
The approximately 84.6-acre Van Arnum Farm consists primarily of agricultural, crop-producing land and also consists of forested woodlands. The Property contains approximately 27 total forested acres, and the high field where the cemetery area is located provides a view for many miles north so that the Lake George basin can be seen. The area is now farmland forever.
This program makes an effort to encourage families to explore nature preserves throughout the county.
PLAN provides pocket-sized passports to children and families. The Preserve Passports include descriptions, driving directions, and an area for children to stamp as they visit each preserve. The stamps are located at each preserve in hidden “letterboxes” and can be located by following posted clues at each preserve.
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This preserve is part of an innovative conservation subdivision project in conjunction with the new Meadow Vista Estates development. A wooded trail system invites people to safely explore the preserve while the woodlands protect wildlife habitat and the unpaved lands protect the water quality and wetlands surrounding Rowland Hollow Creek.
Project partners include Charlew Builders and the City of Saratoga Springs. The Rotary Club of Saratoga Springs provided funding for the trail improvements, entryway, and signage built by PLAN staff, volunteers and contractors.
Wing Road Farm was built in 1880 and was purchased from the estate of Alice Kremp in 2004 by Linell Lands, Inc. Alice Kremp lived on the farm until her death at age 102 and the proceeds of her estate went entirely to the Jane Goodall Foundation. Barbara Linell Glaser and her husband Paul Zachos established the small development company, Linell Lands Inc., for the purpose of acquiring special places for unique purposes. Wing Road Farm was purchased because Linell Lands wanted to preserve local farmland and model a different style of development that conserved traditional agricultural uses, rural scenic vistas while also demonstrating a profitable business model.
The pastoral Foster Sheep Farm lies within one of Saratoga County’s working Farmland Core Areas, and is also located in an Agricultural Core Area of the County’s Green Infrastructure Plan. The property is approximately one and a half miles north of the Hamlet of Bacon Hill, with the Hudson River to the immediate east. The Foster farm has maintained agricultural operations for over 60 years. Currently, the farm houses nearly 60 sheep and also raises hay. The wool from the sheep is used for spinning and is sold within the old homestead on premises. The Fosters also raise meat. The location of the farm along the Hudson River helps protect water quality by serving as a buffer while also providing space for sheep and cattle. The Foster Sheep Farm consists of agricultural land, woodlands and classified wetlands, two streams, and a pond.
The Saratoga Springs Greenbelt Trail is a visionary 24-mile shared-use path that forms a continuous loop connecting the City of Saratoga Springs. This project has the potential to transform the Saratoga community by creating a new green infrastructure for active transportation and recreation.
Support for the creation of this trail came in many forms from the Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, the American Battlefield Protection Program, the Bender Family Foundation, Brookfield Power, the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, Greenman-Pederson, Inc., NYSOPRHP, Saratoga National Historical Park, Siena College, Saratoga County, the Town of Saratoga, the Village of Victory, and the RBC Foundation. It is PLAN’s hope that the Saratoga Siege Trail will draw and educate visitors for years to come.
It is quite fitting that the Coldbrook Preserve was opened on Earth Day. Creating significant buffer to wetland habitat for the threatened Blanding’s Turtle, this 64-acre preserve has close to two miles of marked trails through wetlands and towering pines along the Wilton/Northumberland border. Once farmland, the property has now regenerated back to forest with the Cold Brook stream running through.
The Landscape of Saratoga County project was designed to help people start thinking about larger-scale landscape-level conservation and to take a bird’s eye view of Saratoga County using the data provided to help them understand places they haven’t personally experienced.
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