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The Parks and Trails Advisory Board serves in an advisory capacity to the Village Board of Trustees and works to support healthy lifestyles, recreation, mobility, and community well-being through thoughtful planning and investment in parks, trails, sidewalks, bicycling, and public infrastructure. Through collaboration with residents, recreational users, wellness advocates, businesses, and community partners, the Board helps guide initiatives related to recreation, transportation, accessibility, Complete Streets planning, and healthy infrastructure improvements throughout the Village. The Board also serves as a liaison between the community and Village government while advocating for the implementation of adopted plans and policies that improve quality of life, public health, and safe access for all users.
Village Advisory Board: Parks & Trails Advisory Board
Mission
The mission of the Parks and Trails Advisory Board is to promote healthy lifestyles through healthy infrastructure. “Healthy infrastructure” is defined as the connection between facilities for walking, bicycling, recreation, and physical fitness as an integrated part of transportation, recreation, community quality of life, and economic vitality.
The Board operates in an advisory capacity to the Village Board of Trustees and works to support policies, planning efforts, and implementation strategies related to parks, recreation, trails, mobility, accessibility, and transportation infrastructure.
Duties & Responsibilities
The Parks and Trails Advisory Board is responsible for:
- Advising the Village Board of Trustees on recreation and transportation-related matters
- Promoting and supporting healthy lifestyles through recreation and mobility infrastructure
- Reviewing and making recommendations related to parks, recreation, leisure, and transportation budgeting
- Assisting in the planning of recreation and transportation initiatives
- Encouraging cooperation between public and private partners
- Developing recommendations that integrate pedestrian and bicycle travel into Complete Streets planning
- Recommending healthy infrastructure improvements throughout the Village
- Advocating for implementation of adopted plans and policies related to healthy infrastructure
Members
The Parks and Trails Advisory Board consists of up to nine voting members appointed by the Village Board of Trustees, along with one ex-officio Village Board liaison. Members serve staggered two-year terms without compensation.
Appointments are made with the goal of representing a broad range of recreation, wellness, accessibility, transportation, and outdoor interests as well as diversity with respect to age, ability, race, and gender.
The bylaws identify ideal membership representation including:
- Active pedestrians
- Active cyclists
- Wellness representatives
- Accessibility advocates
- Representatives of recreational activities or related businesses
Current Members
| Stacey Annis | 5/31/26 |
| Jimmy Cunningham | 5/31/26 |
| Steve Langdon | 5/31/26 |
| Colleen O'Neill | 5/31/26 |
| Peter Waldt | 5/31/28 |
| Allison Brunner | 5/31/28 |
| Mary Thill | 5/31/28 |
| Doug Haney | 5/31/28 |
| Julianne Stemp | 5/31/28 |
Ex-Officio Member
Village Trustee Sean Ryan
Staff Liaison
Parks Manager
Meetings
The Downtown Advisory Board meets monthly, with regular meetings held:
Thirday Wednesday at 6 PM
Village Board Room
39 Main Street
Saranac Lake, NY 12983
All meetings are open to the public in accordance with New York State Open Meetings Law unless otherwise noticed. Public notice of meetings is posted at least 24 hours in advance.
Board members may attend meetings remotely by telephone or video conferencing.
Bylaws
The Parks and Trails Advisory Board has adopted bylaws governing:
- Membership and appointments
- Officer roles and responsibilities
- Quorum and voting procedures
- Attendance requirements
- Meeting procedures
- Conflict of interest policies
- Public participation procedures
- Subcommittee structure
- Adoption and amendment procedures
[Parks and Trails Advisory Board Bylaws]
Contact Information
Village of Saranac Lake
39 Main Street
Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Phone: (518) 891-4150
Email: [email protected]
Join or Participate
Public participation and community engagement are important components of the Parks and Trails Advisory Board’s work. Residents, recreational users, cyclists, pedestrians, accessibility advocates, businesses, and community members are encouraged to attend meetings, provide input, and participate in shaping the future of parks, trails, recreation, mobility, and healthy infrastructure throughout the Village.