The Town of Clifton Park proudly announces the completion of its updated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan. This plan underscores the Town’s ongoing commitment to enhancing accessibility within the community, particularly for pedestrian infrastructure in the public right-of-way.

The ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan is a dynamic document designed to identify and prioritize barriers to accessibility and establish a structured approach to address them. The recent update focuses on evaluating all pedestrian facilities, including curb ramps, sidewalks, multi-use paths, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, and transit stops, to align with federal standards finalized in 2023 and adopted by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2024.

This vital project was made possible through funding support from the Capital Region Transportation Council, with additional resources from a Federal Highway Administration grant. The Town collaborated with LaBella Associates to conduct the comprehensive self-evaluation and guide the transition plan’s development.

The Town of Clifton Park invites public review and commentary on the Draft ADA Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan, available electronically on the Town’s website until April 1, 2025. For individuals unable to access the draft online, a paper copy is available for review at the Town Clerk’s Office.

Comments can be submitted via email to the Town of Clifton Park Planning Department at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by mail to:

Clifton Park Town Hall
Re: ADA Transition Plan Comments
One Town Hall Plaza
Clifton Park, NY 12065

The Town encourages community input to help shape a more accessible future for all residents and visitors.

Town of Clifton Park Continues to Protect Farmland
Farmland Protection Plan Advisory Committee Established and Right to Farm Signs Going Up Throughout Town

The Town of Clifton Park is proud of our farming community and the positive impact farms have had for generations.  We continue to support our farms and build on the successful efforts of permanently preserving four working farms, offering tax incentives for large landowners, the annual Farm Fest, the newly established initiative and committee to develop a Farm Preservation Plan and most recently a request by Councilwoman Agatha Reid to have Right to Farm signs posted throughout Town.

Clifton Park kicked off its Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan on July 17, 2024, at Historic Grooms Tavern with an initial meeting of its advisory committee and consultant team led by Nan Stolzenburg of Community Planning and Environmental Associates. The committee is comprised of town board members, residents and landowners, town staff and committee members.

The planning process will include three phases:
1. Learning about what is the current state of agricultural resources, community resources and natural resources including learning about community interest and support for farming.
2. Creating the community vision and goals and setting a direction for the future.
3. Deciding “what to do” through strategies, programs, regulatory challenges, grants, and projects.

This project will take into consideration all that the town has done in the past, understand the past work and community support, and integrate this knowledge into the current work.

“The Town of Clifton Park is building on our efforts of the last 25 years that included exponentially expanding our parks network, permanently protecting 2,000 acres of property and completing long range planning studies to guide the future of our Town, said Town Supervisor Phil Barrett.  The new Farmland Protection study will provide additional resources and ideas to further our efforts to assist our working farms and add to the list of four farms we have already partnered with to permanently remain a vital part of our agricultural community.”

The current effort will be focused on a deeper analysis of the realm of farming, farms and open lands, economics, and what the community’s vision and strategies are for the future. The Town was awarded a $25,000 funding grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets towards conducting the municipal agricultural and farmland protection plan. Nan Stolzenburg said, “the planning process is integral to creating what will be an action plan. The goal is to complete the plan by Fall 2025, allowing time for a robust range of public participation.”

The committee is working on ideas for reaching the public through surveys, meetings, open houses, and Farm Fest. The project will include outreach and engagement with farmers, farmland owners, large landowners, and agricultural support businesses and agencies. Everyone throughout the community is invited to be involved in the creation of the vision, goals and public plan leading to actions.

The Town of Clifton Park has Right to Farm law in the town code.  Right to Farm laws protect farmers through their land use and farming practices and help to promote a strong agricultural community. The addition of Right to Farm signs to our community was a logical next step in promoting the agricultural aspects of our town. This may be a small step, but it builds on what the town has already done over the past two decades and continues to do to support local agriculture. “Agriculture not only creates local jobs, but it also puts food on our tables. We all need to eat, so supporting farms is in essence supporting every other leg of the economy, and I am so proud to be in a community that understands and recognizes this. We will continue to do everything in our power to support farmers,” said Councilwoman Reid.

Right to Farm signs have been installed by the Highway Department at the intersections of Grooms Road and Riverview Road, Hubbs Road and Schauber Road, and at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon town line on Ushers Road. Additional signs will be installed on Hatlee Road at the Clifton Park/Ballston Town line, on Longkill Road where Longkill Road becomes Eastline Road at the Clifton Park/Malta Town line, on Route 146 at the Rexford Bridge, on Glenridge Road at the Clifton Park/Glenville Town line, and on Riverview Road at the Clifton Park/Halfmoon Town line.

Clifton Park’s Farm Fest, an event that focuses on the agricultural aspects of the town, will be held September 14-15 at a variety of locations around town.  For more information on Farm Fest please go to Farm Fest - Town of Clifton Park Official Website.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that the Town of Clifton Park achieved Bronze certification in the latest round of New York State’s Climate Smart Communities Certification program. The program supports local efforts across the state to meet the economic, social, and environmental challenges posed by climate change. Through planning and implementing climate smart actions, Clifton Park should see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resilience.

Established in 2009, the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program provides guidance and technical support to local governments to take locally driven climate action. The first step to becoming a Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

To be certified, communities must demonstrate an active task force, which includes residents and municipal representatives, to lead the charge and advance local climate action. “Achieving this milestone is a testament to Clifton Park’s continued and expansive efforts towards reducing pollution, improving community resilience and taking substantive and positive actions to address climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases”, said Deputy Supervisor and Clifton Park Climate Smart Coordinator, Anthony Morelli.

The Town of Clifton Park established the CSC Task Force in 2024 and with the rigorous support of volunteers on the Town’s GREEN Committee, was able to accomplish significant steps in this effort, including but not limited to:

1. Installation of electric vehicle charging stations in multiple locations, including Town Hall, Clifton Common and Town Center Park.
2. Installation of LED Streetlights throughout the Town as well as utilization of LED lighting inside Town Hall, the Ice Arena, and other municipal buildings.
3. The Town of Clifton Park GREEN committee has held multiple Repair Cafes since 2023. These Repair Cafes were held at the Clifton Park Senior Center (free of charge) and promote reuse and repurpose of items that might otherwise be The Repair Cafe Teams typically consist of General and Electrical Repair, Mechanical Repair, Woodworking, Fabric mending/sewing, Computer Hardware and Software, Clock, Jewelry, and knife sharpening.
4. For Earth Day, the Town distributed composters and rain barrels to residents.
5. Establishment of a drop-off yard waste program as well as a drop-off food waste program at the Town Transfer Station. The Town also has an established community-wide curbside pick-up yard waste program. The quantity picked up and mulched annually has exceeded 22,000 cubic yards collected from residents, landscapers, and Town pickup. About 16,000 cubic yards of the mulch are given to residents, used in municipal projects, given/sold to landscapers, blended to make topsoil, and sold.
6. The Town expanded and improved bike/walking paths, bike lanes, and sidewalks; bike parking improvement projects; and improvement of signage for pedestrians and bicyclists.
7. The Town Board has permanently protected over 2000 acres since the inception of the open space plan in 2001 exponentially expanding our parks and recreational resources.

Hometown Heroes Banner Program

The Town of Clifton Park is working in collaboration with Erin Fariello to honor the service of Clifton Park’s military men and women by initiating a Hometown Heroes Banner Program open to all who would like to support this initiative to honor all Veterans, past present and future.

Miss. Fariello is a Shenendehowa student and Girl Scout who has chosen this project as her Gold Award. When asked why she chose to honor Veterans with her Gold Award project she said, “There is extensive military service on both sides of my family.  I have always considered what veterans do for our country extremely important, and I want them to be memorialized for what they do.  In talking with my neighbors and friends, I realized there are a lot of people who have served or are serving, and I want to honor them.”

Forms to purchase a banner to honor a Hometown Hero are available at www.CliftonPark.org. The banners will initially be displayed on Vischer Ferry Road in front of the Clifton Common.  The goal is to have the initial batch of banners displayed in July for the July 4^th Celebration at the Common.

Deputy Town Supervisor, Anthony Morelli is looking forward to the banners being displayed. “I couldn’t be more excited for this program! The opportunity to recognize the service and sacrifices of Clifton Park service-members, past and present, is incredibly important and we are grateful to Erin for choosing this project as part of her Girl Scout journey.”

“Clifton Park is honored to take every opportunity to recognize the men and women who serve our country, said Town Supervisor Phil Barrett.  The recently completed Veteran Memorial Walkway on the Common and the upcoming Hometown Heroes banner program are two new options for people to honor their favorite Veteran.”

The first banner that will be installed will be in honor of CPT John J. McKenna IV.  CPT McKenna gave the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.  Please see the attached bio for CPT McKenna.  The program is allowed one free banner through the manufacturer and the banner recognizing CPT McKenna was chosen. 

Hometown Heroes Banner Order Form

Bio- CPT John J. McKenna IV 

Town of Clifton Park Public Education & Engagement Strategy for Climate Adaptation and Mitigation 2023-2024

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification Program is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Under this program, the Town of Clifton Park has made a commitment to act by passing the CSC pledge.

The Town of Clifton Park is working to achieve Bronze Certification for New York State’s Climate Smart Communities initiative. Clifton Park is committed to identifying solutions and taking action to mitigate climate change and adapt to its inevitable consequences. Public education, outreach, and engagement are critical to preparing communities for the effects of climate change and to enlist the public in taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of preventing further climate change.

In order to reach, engage, and educate the residents of Clifton Park, the Climate Smart Task Force has developed a Public Education and Engagement Strategy Plan for educating the public about efforts within the Town to address adaptation and mitigation.

Documents:
document Climate Smart Task Force letter June 2024(91 KB)
pdf PE9 Education Engagement Strategy CP 2023 2024(291 KB)

Town of Clifton Park Receives Arbor Day Foundation Distinction
2024 Tree City USA

The Arbor Day Foundation named Clifton Park a 2024 Tree City USA, for the fourth consecutive year, in honor of its commitment to plant, grow, and maintain trees to benefit its community.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries since 1972. The Tree City USA program has recognized cities and towns that leverage urban forestry to enhance the livability and sustainability of their local area for over 40 years.

“We all have a role to play in shaping our future and tree champions like Clifton Park are leading the way,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency and fostering good health in our nation’s cities and towns. We’re proud Clifton Park is among the Arbor Day Foundation’s growing network of communities dedicated to creating positive impact through trees.”

Trees are proven to reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health. When the right trees are planted in the right places, they can also reduce traffic noise, increase property values, and lower energy costs for homeowners.

“We are proud that Clifton Park has again been named a Tree City USA”, said Deputy Supervisor Anthony Morelli. “It is a testament to the commitment and prioritization of this town and its residents when it comes to preserving and enhancing the environment in a smart and balanced manner.”

The Town of Clifton Park has announced a photograph contest spotlighting the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve. Entries will be accepted electronically between August 15^th and December 1^st, 2024, by the Office of Parks and Recreation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

All are invited to submit their best photographs taken at the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve. The photographs should highlight the preserve, historic sites, nature and/or wildlife within. There is no limit on the number of photographs that may be submitted by an individual. Anyone may submit a photograph if it is their property, and it was taken at the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve.

There will be a two-round public voting process.  In round one photographs will be displayed on Facebook from December 9^th through December 18^th, 2024, for public voting.  To vote for a photograph simply “Like” the photograph on Facebook.  The five photographs with the most votes will be displayed at Town Hall and on the Town’s website (www.CliftonPark.org) and will move onto the final round of voting.

The final round of voting will take place at Winterfest. The top five photographs will be printed and displayed on Saturday, February 1^st, 2025. Visitors to Winterfest will be able to cast their vote in person for the overall winner.

A grand prize will be awarded as well as prizes for the top five photographs.

The Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve Photo Contest was created to highlight and showcase the beauty and character and historic significance of the Preserve.

The Preserve encompasses over 600 acres of historically and ecologically significant land adjacent to the Mohawk River, within the Vischer Ferry Historic District. The Preserve has three areas of interest: a wetland ecosystem, the remains of the Erie Canal, and the site of the town's first Settlement. The Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve is open to all for study, recreation and enjoyment of its natural beauty. Miles of trails are used for hiking, bike riding and cross-country skiing. The Preserve has been recognized as an Audubon site for bird watching and is designated a Bird Conservation Area by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. Hiking along the old Erie Canal towpath is a popular activity for historians and nature lovers, featuring the historic remains of Clute's Dry Dock and Lock 19.

Contest rules are available at Clifton Park Town Hall in the Office of Parks and Recreation, online at www.CliftonPark.org and on the Parks and Recreation Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CiftonParkParksandRecreation).

The Town of Clifton Park has announced its second photo contest spotlighting the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve. Entries will be accepted electronically between June 1^st and September1^st, 2025, by the Office of Parks and Recreation at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

All are invited to submit their best photographs taken at the Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve. This year’s contest will highlight the historic aspect of the preserve in conjunction with the 200^th anniversary of the Erie Canal. Photographers will be organized into three divisions: Junior, Amateur, and Professional

There will be a two-round public voting process.  In round one photographs will be displayed on Facebook from September 5th through September 12th, for public voting.  To vote for a photograph simply “Like” the photograph on Facebook.  The two photographs with the most votes from each division will be displayed at Amity Reformed Church October 11^th and 12^th for the second round of voting, in person during the Vischer Ferry Canal Fest.

A grand prize will be awarded as well as prizes for the top two photographs in each division.

The Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve Photo Contest was created to highlight and showcase the beauty, character and historic significance of the Preserve.

The Preserve encompasses over 600 acres of historically and ecologically significant land adjacent to the Mohawk River, within the Vischer Ferry Historic District. The Preserve has three areas of interest: a wetland ecosystem, the remains of the Erie Canal, and the site of the town's first Settlement. The Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve is open to all for study, recreation and enjoyment of its natural beauty. Hiking along the old Erie Canal towpath is a popular activity for historians and nature lovers, featuring the historic remains of Clute's Dry Dock and Lock 19.

"We are building upon last year's successful photo contest, which served to showcase our beautiful Vischer Ferry Preserve. What is new this year is that we are adding a theme to the contest. This year's theme will be history, to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the Eerie Canal's- a waterway which helped to shape our nation. The preserve is rich with historic sites from the old canal still intact. We plan to have a new theme for each contest going forward. We are also dividing the photographers into three categories so that younger contestants, amateur photographers, and professionals all have a chance to proceed to the second round and win a prize," said Councilwoman Reid.

pdf 2025 Photo Contest Official Rules(513 KB)

The Town of Clifton Park is hosting a series of monthly hikes through its many nature preserves and parks. These hikes will be an opportunity for the public to join Clifton Park officials, employees and volunteers on a casual, but informative, hike. These hikes will allow residents the opportunity to gain a renewed appreciation for the many open spaces, trails and parks that Clifton Park has to offer. We will strive to make these hikes informative and educational while also soliciting feedback on potential improvements to each individual area.

Clifton Park has preserved over two thousand acres of open space since the inception of an Open Space Plan in the early 2000s and these scheduled hikes will be an offering to explore one of our many natural gems for the first time or to return with a group and enjoy conversation and camaraderie with other residents.

Deputy Supervisor Anthony Morelli who is also the Town Board liaison for the Town’s Open Space, Trails, and Riverfront Committee commented “Clifton Park has hundreds of acres of wonderful wildlife preserves, parks and open spaces open to the public year-round. Each offers its own unique characteristics, and we strive to make improvements each year with the help of employees, dedicated volunteers and various community, scouting and youth groups. The hope is that through these scheduled outings we will increase awareness, enjoyment, and education for our residents and visitors. Through these hikes, residents will be able to observe wildlife, and varieties of plants and trees while also learning about the historical significance of each site.”

For more information contact Town Deputy Supervisor Anthony Morelli at (518) 371-6651.

The Town of Clifton Park will be opening the Town pools beginning on Memorial Day weekend and the popular Learn to Swim program will return with two sessions of classes.

Registration is open. The schedule for each pool will be the following:

1. Country Knolls- May 25th - August 17th

2. Barney Road Pool- May 25th - August 17th

3. Locust Lane Pool – June 26th - August 17th

The August 17th closing date is tentative, based on staffing levels. If the Town has enough lifeguards employed to keep pools open later than August 18th, we will adjust to the available staffing levels and continue to operate the pools for Clifton Park families past August 17th.

Historically our lifeguard staff has always been high school and college age individuals. State guidelines require that there be a specific number of lifeguards over the age of 18 on staff for a municipal pool to be open to the public. In today’s world these young adults have many opportunities for internships and other exploratory career programs that may shorten the number of years they remain working at the pools. Losing experienced guards has always been a challenge but now occurs more often. We also lose lifeguards in August to high school and college sports along with other school activities. We are proud of our lifeguards and the personal and professional opportunities they choose to pursue. Supervisor Barrett and Saratoga County initiated a new County-wide program a few years ago to offer free lifeguarding classes in an effort to rebuild our shrinking ranks of lifeguards as we exited the Covid Pandemic. Clifton Park and many interested new lifeguards have benefitted from the program. The minimum age to work as a lifeguard is 15. As an additional recruitment idea, we would like to encourage all adults who are certified lifeguards and interested in working at the pools in late August to contact our Parks and Recreation Director Mike Woerner at 518.371.6651.

We will have three very qualified, fantastic pool managers in 2025 of varying levels of experience. We are very fortunate to have managers who have worked at the pools as lifeguards, head lifeguards and are now able to balance their career pursuits while serving as managers. In 2025, we welcome Isabel Adams as the new manager at Barney, replacing a long-time and important member of our team, Bruce Sutphin. We thank Bruce for his many years of dedication and leadership to ensuring the people who visited the pools had a fun and safe experience.

The Town will also offer our popular Learn to Swim program again in 2025. Registration is open. The number of children who can register for the program will depend on the number of lifeguards available to teach the classes. The lessons will be conducted at the Country Knolls Pool and the schedule will be the following:

1. Session 1 – July 8th - July 19th

2. Session 2 – July 22nd - August 2nd

For more details about the pools and Learn to Swim, to purchase a membership, or to register for Lean To Swim please visit https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/cliftonpark

For more information about applying to be a lifeguard and/or Learn to Swim instructor, please contact Mike Woerner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Clifton Park to Open Pools Beginning May 26^th, 2024
Learn to Swim classes offered in July

The Town of Clifton Park will be opening the Town pools beginning on Memorial Day weekend and the popular Learn to Swim program will return with two sessions of classes.

Registration is open.  The schedule for each pool will be the following:

1. Country Knolls- May 26^th- August 18^th
2. Barney Road Pool- May 26^th- August 18^th
3. Locust Lane Pool – June 26^th- August 18^th

The August 18^th closing date is tentative, based on staffing levels.  If the Town has enough lifeguards employed to keep pools open later than August 18^th, we will adjust to the available staffing levels and continue to operate the pools for Clifton Park families past August 18^th. 

The Town will also offer our popular Learn to Swim program again in 2024.  Registration will open on June 3^rd.  The number of children who can register for the program will depend on the number of lifeguards available to teach the classes. The lessons will be conducted at the Country Knolls Pool and the schedule will be the following:

1. Session 1 – July 8^th- July 19^th
2. Session 2 – July 22^nd- August 2^nd

For more details about the pools and to purchase a membership please see https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/cliftonpark

For more details and to register for Learn to Swim please see https://parksrec.egov.basgov.com/cliftonpark

For more information about applying to be a lifeguard and/or Learn to Swim instructor, please contact Supervisor Barrett at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Town of Clifton Park’s three municipal pools, Barney Road, Country Knolls and Locust Lane will have staggered closing schedules to extend the pool season as much as possible. The Locust Lane Pool will close on Sunday, August 18^th, Barney Road Pool will close on Friday, August 23^rd and the Country Knolls Pool will remain open through Sunday, August 25^th.  The original closure date for this year was tentatively set for August 18, 2024. Staffing for all three pools will allow the Town to extend the season for an additional week.

The pools are open seven days a week from 12pm to 8pm.  Seasonal membership includes unlimited visits to all three facilities throughout the season and the option to purchase guest passes for friends and family.  Half price memberships are currently available for the end of the season and can be purchased at www.CliftonPark.org.

The 2024 pools season began on Memorial Day Weekend with Country Knolls and Barney Road pools being the first to open on May 26^th.  All three were open for residents to enjoy beginning June 26^th.  The Town also hosted another successful Learn To Swim program, offering two sessions at the Country Knolls Pool.

Supervisor Barrett would like to thank the dedicated lifeguards, water safety instructors and pool managers, as well as the Buildings and Grounds staff for another successful summer season.

“Our aggressive lifeguard recruitment efforts, free lifeguard training courses in partnership with Saratoga County and the commitment of our pool staff has gradually increased our staffing levels and service capabilities, since the Covid Pandemic said Town Supervisor Phil Barrett.  All Learn to Swim registrants were accepted, people will be able to visit the pools later into the Summer this year and the return of open swim for day campers are positive developments for the 2024 pool season.”

The Town of Clifton Park will be changing its website domain name in 2025.  In December of 2024 Governor Hochul signed a bill introduced by Senator James Skoufis (D, Orange County) requiring all municipalities with a population greater than one thousand five hundred residents maintain an official website with a “.gov” domain name that is accessible to the public by the end of the year. The goal of this bill is to provide the public accessible basic information, financial reports, meeting and election notices, meeting agendas and minutes, and up to date versions of local codes and laws. The Town of Clifton Park has been providing all this information and more to the public for many years on its current website, CliftonPark.org. This change will only affect the domain name for the town’s website.  The website will still look the same and will continue to provide residents with up-to-date information about what is happening in town.

Although this mandate is not required until December 2025 the Town will be making this transition sooner than later due to the implementation of a new communication platform that will be rolled out in late spring of 2025 which will also include the use of the Town’s domain name. This new program which is designed to help local government entities connect with residents will be an additional source of information for our residents to gain more detailed information about the projects, programs and events that are happening around Town. More information about this program will be made available as the program is implemented.

At this time the Town has applied for a .gov domain name. Once it has been approved, we will announce it.  With this change email addresses for all town staff and elected officials will also be changing to match the new domain name. The Town of Clifton Park will continue to update residents and the general public about this transition as it moves forward.

The Transfer Station will be open extra hours on Sunday, April 27th and Sunday, May 4th from 10am-4pm for spring lawn debris drop off only. Lawn debris can be dropped off to the Transfer Station at any time during regular business hours.

This service is for Clifton Park residents only. Please bring proof of residency when dropping off.

To find out more about the Transfer Station including Regular Business Hours please go to Transfer Station - Town of Clifton Park Official Website.

The Transfer Station will be open on the following four Sundays (October 20th, October 27th, November 3rd, November 10th) for Fall Clean-Up between 10am-4pm. 

This service is available free of charge to all Town residents, no permit is required.

Please have your Drivers License ready to shown to the attendant.

UPCOMING ROAD CLOSURE OF RIVERVIEW ROAD
Two Culverts Being Replaced on Riverview Road, Between Sugar Hill Road and Sambrook Edge

Clifton Park, NY -- Clifton Park Highway Superintendent Dahn Bull has announced an upcoming Road Closure for a road construction project taking place on October 16, 2024. This project will be the replacement of a culvert 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. 

UPCOMING ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON MAXWELL ROAD
Milling and Paving Operations on August 27^th and 28^th, 2024

Clifton Park, NY -- Clifton Park Highway Superintendent Dahn Bull has announced a road reconstruction project of Maxwell Road in the Exit 9 Commerce Area to take place between August 27^th and 28^th, 2024. This project will be the milling and paving of a very busy road, Maxwell Road, and work will be weather permitting.

During construction, the road will remain open to public traffic. Clifton Park Highway Department Flaggers will be on site to manage traffic control. While the roads will remain open during construction, there is the potential for delays, and temporary closures. Motorists are advised to use caution in these areas as crews work to restore these roads. Delays may occur, so motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes in these areas.

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.