Old Saratoga on the Hudson is a community based intermunicipal effort to develop a “Park” that connects a remarkable concentration of historical, scenic, natural, and recreational resources. The Hudson River is the connecting link among these resources in eastern Saratoga County and western Washington County. The geographic area that makes up Old Saratoga on the Hudson takes in some of the most beautiful, geologically important, and historically significant landscapes in our region. Old Saratoga on the Hudson is a natural complement to Saratoga P.L.A.N.’s mission of protecting our region’s scenic, natural, agricultural, and recreational resources.

In November 2003, with a grant from the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency, Saratoga P.L.A.N. hired a Program Manager to work with the six municipalities and multiple public and private sector partners involved in this effort to ensure the project’s success. For more information on any of these projects or the Old Saratoga on the Hudson initiative, contact Kate Maynard, AICP at kate@saratogaplan.org.

Old Saratoga On The Hudson Current Initiatives

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) Master Plan for Old Saratoga area

A master plan is currently underway that will create a regional vision and implementation strategy for Old Saratoga on the Hudson. Initiatives will be identified and prioritized at the local and regional level through this process. The process feaures active involvement and participation on the part of the towns of Noethumberland, Saratoga, Easton, and Greenwich, and the villages of Schuylerville and Victory. (Click here to see fact sheet).

Of high importance is the need to build on previous planning and current initiatives while providing a comprehensive “blueprint” that can guide economic sustainability, protect the rich heritage found in the region, create a regional tourism marketing strategy, and continue revitalization efforts of the villages of Schuylerville and Victory while protecting farmland, open space and majestic scenic landscape.

American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP)

In September 2005, Saratoga PLAN was notified of a successful application to the ABPP program of the National Park Service to inventory of historically and viewshed significant sites around the Saratoga National Historical Park, and create a preservation plan that will provide the basis for protecting our regional and national heritage. It is anticipated that the effort will serve as the foundation of conservation and preservation activities for PLAN, local municipalities, and other partners in this historically rich and beautiful part of Saratoga County.

The Old Saratoga region surrounding the national park is unique in that the cultural landscape has not seen major changes from the days of battle in the 18th century. This is extremely rare within the context of other national parks across the nation. National parks such as Gettysburg suffer from visible encroachment of development and changes in land use from historically significant periods.

Champlain Canal Towpath Enhancement- EPF grant

Saratoga PLAN applied for and successfully received a $60,000 Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant on behalf of the Town of Saratoga for enhancements to a 1.5 mile portion of the Champlain Canal Trail. Much of the trail is the old towpath that links major destinations of the Old Saratoga region- (going north) the Phillip Schuyler House, Schuylerville’s business district, continuing on to Lock 5 Island. Enhancements anticipated to be made include trail excavation and resurfacing, creation of rest areas, and introduction of kiosks, landscaping and other pedestrian amenities along the trail. This exciting project will greatly enhance the pedestrian and bicyclist connection, for both local residents and visitors to the region.

PLAN will continue to administer the grant and work with the Town of Saratoga to complete the extensive renovation of the trail. Many partners will be necessary to ensure the completion of the trail- we seek to work with Old Saratoga partners such as the Village of Schuylerville, citizen groups, and residents to enhance a valuable amenity for the Old Saratoga communities.

Old Saratoga on the Hudson:

• Celebrates and restores the area’s waterfront heritage
• Fosters sustainable economic development
• Connects the community’s past with its future
• Works to protect the area’s rural and scenic landscape
• Promotes well planned, proportioned, high quality tourism development

The Vision of Old Saratoga on the Hudson is to unite the communities along both sides of the Hudson River in the historic region known as “Old Saratoga” in one revolutionary, regional effort to protect the area’s extraordinary beauty, history, and heritage while enhancing the quality of life and economic stability of the people who live here today and for those who will follow.

Old Saratoga on the Hudson Partners

Saratoga P.L.A.N.
Town of Saratoga
Village of Schuylerville
Village of Victory
Town of Northumberland
Town of Greenwich
Town of Easton
Saratoga National Historical Park
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce
Greenwich Area Chamber of Commerce

Old Saratoga on the Hudson Brochure is available in PDF format in the Resources section of our website.