Two Culverts Being Replaced on Riverview Road, Between Sugar Hill Road and Brian Drive
Clifton Park Highway Superintendent Dahn Bull has announced an upcoming Road Closure for a road construction project taking place on July 22 and 23, 2025. This project will be the replacement of two culverts on Riverview Road. Schools and Local Emergency Response have been informed. Please make sure to avoid the area. Closing at approximately 8:00 AM, the Road will reopen at approximately 3:00 PM each day.
Last Monday evening the Town Board held a public hearing involving the topic of E Bikes. E Bikes have become very popular, and many people enjoy using the bikes for fun or as an alternate form of transportation to get to a destination. The Town Board is currently in a lengthy study of E bikes involving the assessment of the various types of bikes and associated safety measures we may be able to incorporate into the potential travel routes as well as the actual definition of E bikes that needs to be incorporated into our Town Code and other important elements of the topic.
Currently, New York State regulations are in effect given there are no Town regulations pertaining to E bikes. New York State regulations state E bikes are not allowed on any public lands or roadways with a stated speed limit over 30 mph. The Town Board must define E bikes within our Town Code and stipulate regulations to allow E Bikes to be used on public lands. The process we have embarked upon will lead to the proper definition and regulations to allow E bikes in specific public areas. To be clear, the proposed legislation being considered by the Town Board would expand the permissible use of e-bikes, not restrict it.
Many people who attended the public hearing were surprised by the discussion that ensued on this topic. Unfortunately, the dissemination of a false narrative that was propagated on social media led people to believe the Town was embarking on a far different process than the reality of the situation. This is unfortunate but all too common. It is true E bikes are currently banned in public areas, based on New York State regulations but the Town Board is working toward a commonsense resolution which considers the safety of pedestrians as well as E bike riders. We assume many people are not aware of the current state regulations that we have found during the early stage of our review process. A process like the one the Town Board has initiated is vital to resolve the contradictions in state and local laws.
The Town Board regularly conducts studies on topics that arise as new technologies evolve and changes to New York State law allow for new industries to emerge. Other studies that are underway include the analysis of Battery Storage Systems and large-scale cannabis growing and cultivation businesses. The E Bike study will be conducted over the next several months and will continue to be a public, comprehensive process. However, the first task will be to define E bikes in the Town code and allow their use in specific public areas. Further analysis of associated issues will follow.
Thank you to everyone who attended the public hearing. We will provide updates on the process as we move forward.
Wintertime is great for reflecting and planning for the future. If you haven’t already shared your opinions on agriculture and farming in the Town of Clifton Park, you can still do so by filling out an online public survey at www.cliftonparkfarms.com from now through February 1, 2025.
Your input as a resident of Clifton Park is essential in shaping a plan that reflects our community's shared values and vision for preserving farmland and supporting local agriculture in town. By sharing your views, you can help shape a public plan for sustainable opportunities for our local agricultural industry for generations to come.
The Town of Clifton Park’s Agriculture and Farmland Advisory Committee and town consultants are making progress on the town-wide public farming plan that was kicked off by the Town Board in Fall 2024 with help from a $25,000 state planning grant from NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. This public planning project is scheduled to be ongoing throughout 2025, with the goal of creating a draft public plan by Fall 2025.
During Clifton Park’s 2024 Farm Fest, we kicked off public outreach discussing farming with community members at multiple local farms and venues, and with a public online survey. As of January 2025, 258 people have responded to the public survey.
In December 2024, the Town mailed out a focused survey customized for Farmers / Farmland Owners / Large Landowners. To date, 14% of this focused group of property owners have responded. The Farmer Survey is still open, and the Town welcomes additional responses from farmers and property owners of farmland through February 1, 2025.
The Agriculture and Farmland Advisory Committee will be hosting public meetings in early 2025. Please stay tuned for more information. For any comments or questions on this Town Farmland Planning Project, please feel free to contact the Open Space Coordinator at (518) 371-6054.
Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve to Re-Open February 22, 2025
The Town of Clifton Park closed the Vischer Ferry Nature Preserve last Friday, February 14th due to two separate encounters with an aggressive coyote in this area of Town. We assume the coyote was of failing health due to the nature of the encounters. DEC was immediately contacted, and agents have been patrolling the area regularly since these encounters occurred. Since February 14th, there has been no evidence of aggressive coyote activity in the Preserve or in this general area of Town. The Town of Clifton Park thanks our partners at DEC and the Canal Corporation for their support in this situation. The Vischer Ferry Preserve will open to the public Saturday morning. As with all of our many beautiful parks and nature preserves, please use caution while visiting.
Volunteer Nature Preserve Work Group Open House
Hosted by the Town of Clifton Park Open Space Commitee
February 8, 2025
10 to 11:30 AM
Historic Grooms Tavern
Interested citizens are invited to join their fellow residents to form a Volunteer Nature Preserve Work Group to accomplish prescribed projects in our parklands.
Keeping nature a part of our community has always been important in Clifton Park, and residents, landowners and visitors to town have benefited from the dedication of the public and private support of our open spaces. The Town of Clifton Park Open Space, Trails and Riverfront Committee is an advisory group that provides input to the Town Board and town departments on the stewardship of the 40 parks and preserves in the Town and also provides advice and counsel on future open space acquisitions. Preserving our open spaces helps maintain our town’s special character.
The Open House will provide residents with information about this proposed team and the opportunity to help enhance the quality of life in our community.
Winter Season Parking Restrictions
Please be advised, in the event of winter weather, vehicles should not be parked on town roads or streets.
Chapter 194-5-E states: "No person shall park or leave unattended any vehicle on the pavement or shoulder of any Town highway, road or street during a period of snowfall, sleet, freezing rain or other winter-type weather and for a forty-eight-hour period after the precipitation ceases."
Vehicles that are in violation of this code may be ticketed.
We appreciate your assistance in helping to keep our town’s roads and streets clear!
Mailbox Winter Checklist
Snow has incredible force when it flows off the end of the plow. Often, the weight of the snow is enough to topple a mailbox. Check on your mailbox and make sure it’s ready for winter. Here’s some suggestions and rules set out by the United States Postal Service!
- Ensure your mailbox post is solid, no rot or breakage.
- Make sure your mailbox is positioned between 41” and 45” from the roads surface.
- Mailboxes should be at least 6” back from the curb to avoid plow hits.
- Make sure it has a reflector and is visible to our plow drivers.
In the event the Highway Department damages your Mailbox
If a plow truck damages your mailbox, please contact the Clifton Park Highway Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or (518) 371-7310. We have a team of employees that make repairs and replacements with mailboxes after storms. This is only for damage done by highway equipment. In the event we replace the entire mailbox, we provide a pressure treated 4x4 post and traditional black or white USPS approved mailbox.
