A stuck truck (say that 5 times fast) and new field house construction.
Daily Dispatch: Inside look at Northshire's post-flood reopening.
Welcome to the Daily Dispatch, EOD email from the editors of Saratoga Dispatch.
Today’s headlines:
No more catching kids looking longingly through the glass of the (temporarily) shuttered bookstore — we got an inside peek at Northshire’s long-awaited, post-flood reopening. Hurrah. And WAMC warms our hearts with its newest commitment to local journalism.
Scroll down to find these stories and more.
But first, the afternoon’s top stories…
A stuck truck is a sight to see in this N. B’Way neighborhood
By Steve Thurston
A tractor trailer found itself jammed in the north Broadway neighborhood Wednesday July 30.
As the truck headed west on 1st Street and attempted to turn north onto Catherine Street, it couldn’t clear the turn and instead became wedged in the intersection. It remained there for a couple of hours as a crew from TowAway LLC attempted to extricate the truck.
Although the truck blocked that intersection completely, it had little affect on traffic as there are other routes through the neighborhood. Still, it caused some distress for at least one local person.
Britt Miller sat on his porch in front of the truck and wondered about the power line that ran from a nearby pole over the top of the trailer to the next-door-neighbor’s house. The cab of the truck, too, was lodged in the trees.
“I saw the tree was damaged and was like, ‘Here we go,”’ he said of the crab apple tree that appeared to have lost at least one branch.
The tree has significance to him and his wife. Miller said his mother-in-law planted the trees about 40 years ago.
“I don't understand why they didn't bring [the truck] right down [U.S. Route] 50,” he said. “This makes no sense.”
Miller was perplexed because he said that he and his wife have seen this before, and wondered why the city does not put up a “no trucks” sign out near Broadway, about two blocks away.
Field house construction underway
Construction is underway on the Veterans Memorial Field House project on the Veterans Memorial Field property. The project includes renovations to the existing building and the construction of a new field house with a concession stand and bathrooms to accommodate the destination playground, splash pad, and large tournaments hosted primarily by Saratoga Miss Softball, a press release from the Department of Public Works said.
“This project started under my friend and former DPW Commissioner Anthony ‘Skip’ Scirocco and has been many years in the making,” said DPW Commissioner Charles “Chuck” Marshall. “I want to thank members of the City Council who have supported this project through the years and the staff who have diligently worked to see it through.”
Scirocco first proposed the project as part of the City’s capital budget in 2021, as a partnership with Saratoga Miss Softball, to create a new field house that would accommodate growing tournaments and an expanding girls’ softball program. DPW hired CHA Consulting to design a world-class field house and provide a master plan for the City owned Veterans Memorial Park.
“The Saratoga Miss and Saratoga Thunder softball community is thrilled to see this project under way,” Alison Gilcreast said in a statement. She is the president of Saratoga Miss Softball.
Amy Smith, chair of the Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission called the project a “huge win” for the park and the softball community.
Construction and engineering ran just under $1.5 million from the City’s capital budget. Anticipated completion in December 2025.
