Commissioner suggests an advisory vote on orchard

By Kara Chalmers

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Nick Seroff proposed taking an advisory vote of Saratogans concerning the use of the Heritage Orchard for other recreational purposes and, if so, how much. This would give the commission the best possible data on how citizens really feel about uses for the orchard.

At the April 3 commission meeting, Seroff said that such a vote on the November presidential election ballot would be a great opportunity to measure the will of the citizens. The election is projected to have a large turnout.

Seroff, who was appointed to the commission in December, had suggested the Heritage Orchard as a possible site for play fields in 1998 as a resident. He has three sons, ages 5, 10 and 13, who play basketball and soccer in the city.

Seroff said that people have brought their ideas for using the orchard to the commission's attention, and they will continue to do so. The commission needs to find out the percentage of residents who would oppose using even a small part of the orchard.

"I think a lot of things are going to keep coming up and we don't know what we should and shouldn't do," Seroff said.

Seroff's idea comes on the heels of a major City Council decision to explore replanning and rebuilding the entire Civic Center complex, located next to the Heritage Orchard. On March 21, council members listened to an architecture firm's presentation for a $7.5 million community and senior center. They said it was a great start, but only a start, and cited the growing youth population and diminishing space in the city as two reasons for the council to look at a bigger picture.

When the orchard was suggested for play fields in 1998, the idea never got off the ground. And when councilman Nick Streit suggested in February building an indoor gym for the city on a portion of the orchard, the Heritage Preservation Commission was not supportive. A subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Commission may reexamine Streit's gym idea when they decide on possible locations for sports and recreation in the city.

"I want to correctly ascertain not just the vocal people, I want hard data as to what the majority of citizens want done with it," Seroff said of the orchard.

Seroff says that every time the commission discusses a proposed use for the orchard, such as Streit's gym suggestion, there is always a cloud of ambiguity over the discussion. The commissioners don't know how many people would actually object to the various proposals.

According to Streit, there are people in the community who support the concept of a community gym, whether it is part of a new community center or in the orchard. In addition, some people see the need for more sports fields and playgrounds and would like to bulldoze the whole area. Streit suggests that if elected city officials and commissioners don't take definitive action soon, future governments, at the request of residents, will have no choice but to develop the orchard.

"It's time for the City Council to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to the orchard," he said in an interview.

Streit said he believes importance of the orchard's maintenance and the replanting of the trees needs to be raised. The historic nature of the orchard also needs to be explained to residents in order to insure its preservation.

Commissioner Sandra Dodge said at the April 3 meeting that nothing should be done to the orchard and there should not be an advisory vote. She said she was worried that a vote would be a call to action to only those voters who want change.

Commission chairwoman Judy Alberts directed Seroff to estimate the cost and deadline for an advisory vote, and to return with suggested wording. Even if the commission decides to support an advisory vote, the council would make the final decision on the vote and its wording.

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