Clifton Park Residents Give New Sports Complex the Boot

The new $4 million dollar sports fields that were proposed to be built next door to the Eagle Crest Golf won't happen. After months of back and forth between the owners, the Clifton Park Town Planning Board, and residents, it looks as if it will not be built. Well, not in that location anyway.

What Was Being Proposed in that Area?

Paul Rogan who used to own the Sportsplex of Halfmoon is proposing a smaller complex on Route 146A in Clifton Park. The new facility would be different than the other facility. It would only be a 45,800 square-foot sports complex and would take up about 8 acres. He wants to build, in his words, a much-needed turf soccer field that would be enclosed for the winter and used for youth sports like soccer, flag football, lacrosse, and other sports according to the Daily Gazette.

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Clifton Park Residents Called a Foul on the Plans

Back in February, at the previous planning board meeting, Rogan claimed that the traffic and the number of people going in and out of the facility would be minimal and similar to the footgolf business that existed in that area. Some homeowners said that's just not true. The footgolf didn't attract a lot of participants and it didn't run late into the night. Another resident said the new complex would be a dramatic change. Others say that the area in the western part of town is known as "Forever Green". This means the environmental lands are protected from development. They also believe it may reduce property values in that area.

What Happened at The Latest Meeting?

Rogan resubmitted plans and hoped that residents would change their minds. They did not. At Monday night's meeting, the Town of Clifton Park Planning Board unanimously rejected the request to change the planned development district zoning to build at the site next to Eagle Crest Golf Course. The Town Supervisor agreed that the area needs an indoor/outdoor facility but said that the location wasn't a good fit according to the Albany Business Review.

Rogan claims that there was overwhelming support on a survey they conducted with 400 residents. He said 97% were in favor of the facility.

What Happens Now?

Rogan isn't sure where he goes from here. He has, however, heard from residents in other communities that are interested in the project. He said:

I'm more than willing to help any municipality or private group that would want to do it.

Abandoned Hoffman's Playland! Once Beloved Place Now Heartwrenching View

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

Hoffman's Playland was an amusement park in Latham from 1952 until 2014. Even though many of the rides were relocated to Huck Finn's Playland in Albany, Hoffman's holds a soft spot in many Capital Region families' hearts. Take a look at the now-abandoned Hoffman's Playland.

See LEGOLAND New York's New Water Playground

LEGOLAND New York has quickly become one of the state's most popular attractions since it opened last year. Now, they are adding to the family fun with a new water playground that will open in the summer of 2022. The playground will be one of several new attractions opening in the new season, and it will be a part of the Lego City section of the park. Take a tour of the playground in the renderings below.