Governor Hochul Announces Completion of Roosevelt Drive Corridor Project in Saratoga Spa State Park

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the $4.2 million redevelopment of Roosevelt Drive within Saratoga Spa State Park. The project improves transportation safety within the park by adding pedestrian and bicycling pathways adjacent to the park’s busiest stretch of roadway, which connects the Avenue of the Pines with the golf course, pools, picnic areas, and the Roosevelt Baths and Spa.

“We continue to make significant investments that enhance Saratoga Springs’ status as a world-class recreational, tourism, and historical destination,” Governor Hochul said. “These improvements make Saratoga Spa State Park safer and more enjoyable for pedestrians and cyclists alike and will help welcome visitors for the Park’s greenspace, history, and shows for years to come.”

The roadway was moved away from the park’s classical arcades, making space for a large circular patio. It’s a new gathering place to families and friends to begin their exploration of what the park has to offer. As part of the Park of the Arts initiative, the corridor improvements mark another major milestone in the restoration of the National Historic Landmark campus. The project also expands parking for the Spa Little Theater plus the recreational and cultural attractions of the Roosevelt Campus and provides new EV charging stations.

The new Welcome Terrace, referred to as The Arcade, sits at the entrance of the Saratoga Spa State Park's neo-classical Roosevelt Campus. It will feature a circle of benches to create the perfect spot for park visitors to socialize, relax, and take in their surroundings. For a limited time, people can adopt and dedicate one of these benches.

New stormwater management features will help protect water quality, stabilize water temperature, and improve brook trout habitat in Geyser Creek. These include installing underground stormwater chambers and porous asphalt at the expanded parking lot to filter rainwater and allow it to slowly seep back into the soil, reducing stormwater runoff and sedimentation flowing into Geyser Creek.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “Just nine months ago we announced this project, backed by Governor Hochul’s historic investment, to truly make Saratoga Spa State Park the Park of the Arts. Backed by federal support, this Roosevelt Drive project delivers improved wayfinding, pedestrian safety, and improved stormwater management. We continue to adapt to climate change and protect and improve this gem in our state park system for the next 100 years.”

Supported by both U.S. Senators, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Congressman Paul Tonko, the federal funds secured boosts the natural beauty and recreational opportunities. This investment will make the park more accessible, walkable, bikeable, and safer for visitors and families to enjoy.

Senator Chuck Schumer said, "Saratoga Spa State Park is one of the true gems of the Capital Region, and with the completion of this game-changing redevelopment project its natural beauty will be preserved for generations and its recreation opportunities will be more accessible than ever. With brand new pedestrian and bicycling paths to connect park amenities, the new and improved Roosevelt Drive will protect the natural beauty of the park, and make the park more walkable, bikeable, and safer for visitors and families to enjoy—just in time for yet another busy summer season in Saratoga. I am proud I helped deliver the federal funding for this project and commend Governor Hochul for her strong commitment to preserving our environment and bolstering these economic drivers of Upstate New York."

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “It is vital that visitors can safely access Saratoga Spa State Park’s natural beauty and recreation opportunities. This is a critical investment that will help revitalize the park, improving transportation safety and attracting additional visitors from across the state and beyond. State parks are one of New York's greatest treasures, and I will continue fighting for resources to ensure they are safe for visitors to enjoy.”

Representative Paul Tonko said, “I’m thrilled to celebrate the swift completion of this project that will further enhance Saratoga Springs’ reputation as a destination for culture and entertainment. This effort is a bold step to revitalize the world-famous Saratoga Spa State Park, enhancing safety for both cyclists and pedestrians while also improving water quality for the park and its native wildlife. With this investment, I’m confident that Saratoga Spa State Park will remain a critical economic driver for our region.”

State Senator James Tedisco said, “It's very fitting that as we kick-off National Parks and Recreation Month in July, that together we're able to announce the completion of the Roosevelt Drive Corridor Project to improve transportation safety and accessibility for walking and biking within Saratoga Spa State Park, which is a true jewel of New York State's 44th Senate District.”

Assemblymember Carrie Woerner said, “I’m thrilled that the Roosevelt Drive Corridor Project is now complete. Thanks to the addition of pathways alongside the park’s busiest road, it is now a safer and more accessible, year-round destination and it serves as a further tribute to Franklin D. Roosevelt, our only wheelchair-bound U.S. president, whom Roosevelt Drive is named after. I encourage everyone to experience first-hand the significant investment our federal government has made into our beloved Saratoga Spa State Park. July is National Recreation and Parks Month after all!”

Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim said, “I am thrilled at the success of the Roosevelt Drive redevelopment. The completion of this project will enhance the city’s own ‘Complete Streets’ plan as it will link up with bikeways and pedestrian sidewalks right outside the State Park. I have no doubt that local residents and visitors will be happy to take advantage of these enhancements especially during our beautiful summer months.”

The Park of the Arts initiative envisions Saratoga Spa State Park as a singular global destination for multi-disciplinary arts presentation, programming, and learning through the adaptive reuse of National Historic Landmark structures, set in a spectacular 2,400-acre natural setting. Through collaborations with cultural and educational organizations, recreational enterprises, and private businesses, New York State will create an artistic and cultural tourism destination in a class of its own in one of New York State's flagship parks.

Funding for the project came from New York Works capital funding as well as $1.2 million from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Additionally, Saratoga Spa State Park supporters are working on a new program to dedicate benches in the park to raise funds for future accessibility projects, improvement to a new history guide and other capital investments. Those would include a slate roof replacement at the Gideon Putnam; large picnic shelter rehabilitations (Columbia and Orenda); Bottling Plant (Auto Museum) Parapet Restoration; SPAC Safety Improvements (Bollards at Route 50 Box Office Entrance). Live Nation recently completed Backstage Dressing Room Improvements and Loading Dock / Performers Road Rehabilitation.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by more than 79 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer mobile app or call 518.474.0456. Also, connect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.