Clifton Common fields, courts to be fixed up

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tatiana Zarnowski

Dry, weedy soccer fields and deteriorating basketball courts at Clifton Common are set to get a facelift before play starts this summer.

Work will begin as soon as the weather allows on installing irrigation sprinklers on the soccer fields and resurfacing the outdoor basketball courts, Clifton Park town officials said. Adjustable hoops will also be added to the courts to accommodate younger players.

Officials hope the improvements will be done in late spring, though how quickly they are finished depends on the weather.

The Town Board on Monday approved spending $125,000 to replace 33 existing sprinklers at the soccer fields, as well as water lines, and install a new control system to turn the sprinklers on and off automatically. The old system had become unreliable, and a portable irrigation system didn’t work well enough in last summer’s dry spell.

On top of that, a weed infestation has spread over several of the fields, officials said.

“Upgrading the sprinkler system ensures we can adequately care for the fields and improve the playing surface,” town Supervisor Phil Barrett said in a statement. “Thousands of kids and adults use the facility in a given year, and this is an important investment for Clifton Park families.”

The Town Board also expects to approve $110,000 in basketball court repairs at a meeting in the near future.

The project includes resurfacing 30,000 square feet of courts at the Common and installing eight adjustable hoops, which will allow the town to meet the growing demand for youth basketball teams. The Common currently has two adjustable hoops.

Local sports groups weighed in with the town about what improvements were needed, including the Clifton Park Soccer League and Shenendehowa varsity basketball coach Tony Dzikas.