Ballston Spa trustees approve $260,500 grant application to renovate Kelly Park playground

The Ballston Spa Village Board of Trustees approved a $260,500 New York Plays grant application — including a 20% village match of $52,100 — to renovate the existing playground at Kelly Park and authorized the mayor to execute related paperwork.

The decision followed public comment and a brief staff presentation. Resident Marilyn Stevenson asked why the vote was scheduled at a special meeting rather than a regular trustees meeting and whether the project will include handicap-accessible equipment, a publicly posted long-term plan for Kelly Park, and details about who will perform construction work. "I just wondered if the trustees could discuss why this vote was scheduled this morning versus at the recent trustees meeting," Stevenson said, adding questions about accessibility and a long-term vision for the park.

Kaitlin, who spoke for village staff during the meeting, said the grant application focuses specifically on playground funding and that Studio A — the landscape architect used previously for Wall Park — is working with the village on a longer-term plan. "More accessible playground equipment is absolutely something that we want to do," Kaitlin said, and she said the village plans to add four ADA-compliant parking spaces near the pavilion and relocate the dog park to improve access. Kaitlin also noted the grant application deadline was the same day and that interim playground equipment would be provided later in the season by the town of Milton.

Before the board voted, a trustee read a resolution classifying the project as a SEQR Type II action under 6 NYCRR 617.5(c)(2), stating that replacement or rehabilitation "in kind" on the same site does not require further environmental review. The resolution directed the mayor and village clerk to file the resolution and provide required copies to the state offices named in the grant process.

Trustees moved and seconded the resolutions and carried the SEQR classification and the grant application authorization. During the vote on the grant application one trustee said, "I opposed," but the motion carried.

The board also approved a separate motion to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) from AED Superstore for $1,845.99 for the Ballston Spa pool to meet New York State regulatory requirements. That motion was moved, discussed briefly, and carried.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 8:10 a.m. and the board adjourned after the vote. The mayor was authorized to execute any documents necessary to complete the grant application process; the grant application was noted as due the same day.