PTNY Executive Director Robin Dropkin ushered in National Trails Day by helping to cut the ribbon on a new multi-use trail in Saratoga Spa State Park.

Two miles of paved multi-use trail and a new park trail map featuring 13 miles of trails within the iconic park were dedicated on June 4 in honor of National Trails Day.The $315,000 trail improvement project was funded by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020 plan.

The park’s trail improvements include:

• Completing one mile of paved bike-pedestrian trail along Route 9/South Broadway. The trail links East-West Road to Gideon Putnam Road, extending the existing trail that begins at the Avenue of the Pines, and creating a new trail loop within the park. This new trail helps increase the park’s connectivity to the community as well.
• Establishing a new nearly one-mile paved off-road Peerless Loop trail around the Peerless Pool complex.
• Providing an updated trail map to make it easier for park patrons to explore the over 13 miles of trails available at the park. This new map is available on the park website.

Several trail improvement projects have been completed in the park over the last few years. In 2012 State Parks created a new trail on the west side of the park along Route 50. The following year State Parks installed a pedestrian crossing on Route 50 to connect this trail within the park to the Railroad Run trail, which extends north of the park past the Saratoga YMCA. The new trail and pedestrian crossing allows safe access into the park by walking or bicycle on the west side.

In addition to these recent projects, the park has an ongoing program of improving bike infrastructure, including installing bike racks throughout the park. Connecting the park’s trails to the surrounding community adds value for both the park and the community, and the park plans to continue to work with its partners to do so.