$729K awarded for park upgrades in Saugerties, Rensselaerville

Two local communities are receiving a combined $729,672 in state funding to improve their municipal parks.

The Town of Rensselaerville has been awarded $124,647 to restore a combination sports court and add an accessible parking spot and pathway to the court at the town park in the hamlet of Rensselaerville.

In Saugerties, $605,025 is coming to develop a new summertime attraction at the Cantine Veterans Sports Complex for people of all ages and abilities. Specifically, a splash pad will serve up to 80 people at a time with a non-slip surface and various nozzles and features that spray, mist, rain, and shoot streams of water-creating an engaging and interactive space for water play.

The funding, announced this week, is part of more than $10 million for 20 projects as part of Round 2 of the Municipal Parks and Recreation (MPR) Grant Program, aimed at development and improvement of municipal parks and recreation sites statewide.

Funding was provided by the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.  

"These grants will help communities with a range of projects to encourage New Yorkers to ‘Get Offline, Get Outside’ and enjoy healthy, active recreation,” said Governor Kathy Hochul.

"This investment in the Cantine Veterans Sports Complex will enhance one of our community's most important gathering places and create more opportunities for residents and families to get outside and stay active,” added Saugerties Town Supervisor Fred Costello.

The MPR grant funding provides for the construction of recreational facilities and other improvements to municipally owned recreational sites and parks, such as playgrounds, courts, playing fields, and facilities for swimming, biking, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping or other recreational activities. The grant opportunity can fund up to 90% of the total eligible project costs and total grant awards are capped at $900,000 for each project.

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