MaltaMama - Family Fun Things to Do | Malta, NY, Saratoga County

The Burgess-Kimball Memorial Park is located in Milton on Rowland Street just south of Geyser Road and across from an HSBC bank.  This park is a nice alternative to Kelley Park in Ballston Spa and the Malta parks (Shenentaha or Malta Community).  On the weekday that we visited it was not particularly busy.  There's a nice playground for bigger kids that is quite high.  Can be fun for the little one's too, but you have to watch them carefully.  There's a small playground structure (bottom picture) but that will get old pretty quickly.  Visibility is nice at the BK Memorial Park and it is fenced in so the kids can't stray too far.  There are two swing sets with infant swings, handicapped swings, and traditional.  Unique features: a sandbox, seesaw's (sp?), a shaky bus (top photo) and some different slides.  BK also has basketball courts, tennis, baseball, two pavilions, bathrooms, a Coke vending machine, and plenty of parking.  We had a great visit with no injuries, tears, and only one time-out for throwing wood chips.  I'd call that a success! 

The park's pavilions are also available to hold an outdoor gathering.  Click here for reservation information and an application.  For more information contact the Town Clerk at 885-9220 ext. 110.

On the corner of Beekman Street and Division Street in Saratoga is a large plot of land known perhaps only to me as the Beekman Street Playground or BSP.  My apologies if a proper name exists for this parcel.  The BSP is a giant fenced-in (no joke, only one tiny entrance in) park complex with lots of amenities.  Despite two rather disappointing playground structures, BSP offers tennis courts, baseball fields, basketball courts, a cool sandbox, bathrooms, picnic tables and benches.  I mentioned the playground part being a little dreary compared to some of the better parks around, but BSP is still a fun and perhaps different stomping ground.  But wait, there's more!  BSP gets 100x's better after Memorial Day weekend when the giant splash fountain springs forth!  A large cement circle that sprays water on sweaty kids and pregnant moms... does it get any better? 

We visited BSP in the early evening and caught some of a little league baseball game which Robby loved.  Unfortunately his baseball dreams landed him in a few 'time-outs' when he decided to pitch green beans across the kitchen.  I can't wait to hit this park again when the weather is consistently above freezing, or June. 

The Malta Community Park (creative name, huh?) is a park/playground on Plains Road in Malta.  You drive on Plains Road if you're going through Luther Forest off of Route 9.  This park offers quite a bit; tennis courts, basketball, volleyball, fields, wooded walking trails, bathrooms (hooray), two pavillions, ample parking, and a nicely wooded but rather small playground.  This is a great park to hit on a hot or humid day because it is very shady.   

Need to find it?  If you get off of Exit 12, head east on Route 67 and go straight.  You will intersect Route 9 and pass Stewarts on your left and keep going straight.  You'll be dizzy going through I think five traffic circles, but you will eventually spot the Malta Community Park on your left as you drive through Luther Forest heading toward Saratoga Lake.  If you hit the lake, you missed the park!

Did you know you can rent out the pavillions?  If you need a venue for a party this summer or fall, consider renting out one of the Malta-area pavillions.  It does cost money and you'd have to carry-in/carry-out everything, but it may be a nice alternative to your house or apartment.  Here's a link to the application.     

I'm not sure how you would have missed Congress Park if you've ever as much as driven through downtown Saratoga, but I still felt compelled to write about it for my P&P series. 
Congress Park is always an interesting experience.  Whether you're admiring (or being attacked by) the ducks, picnicking next to stoners, listening to music from Saratoga's finest roster of street musicians, or riding the carousel, Congress Park has a little something for everyone! 

I love having a park like this in the middle of downtown Saratoga because it's fun to grab food or ice cream and head to the park for some people-watching on a nice day.  Congress Park also has a slew of activities in the summer like craft fairs, shows, live music, etc.  I will definitely post about those events in the future.  The carousel opens on May 9th, Mother's Day.  I don't know about you, but I can think of a few better things to do than ride the carousel on Mother's Day!  Alas, Congress Park is almost unavoidable if you're in Saratoga, but it is also a good time.  No playgrounds or bathrooms, but ducks, fountains, ponds, fields and frisbees (and if you're lucky, live music). 

Playgrounds are great, but sometimes it's nice to get out and just enjoy nature.  A great spot for this is the Town of Malta Ecological Park.  It's located on Malta Ave about two miles off of Route 9 heading toward downtown B Spa.  The only trick is that coming from Route 9, the Malta Ave bridge over the Northway is closed so you'd have to detour via East High Street (off of Route 9 by Ripe Tomato) and then right onto VanAernem Road, then your next left onto Malta Ave.  email me if you need specifics! colleen@maltamama.com

The Malta Eco Park has a couple miles of wooded trails with a few bridges and a little pond.  There's a big field you'll walk to which would be great for a picnic lunch.  Along the trails are nice descriptive nature signs to add an eductional element.  Stroller mama's, it's best to use a jogger or all-terain here because the trails aren't paved.  I've done a carrier with Robby in the past but this year we just walked it.  All in all it may not be the most exciting place, but it's yet another local stomping ground for the family.  Enjoy nature in Malta!  Oh yeah, no bathrooms here :-)

I've mentioned Shenentaha Creek Park before but I wanted to do a proper profile for my Parks & Playgrounds series.  I really like this park because it has a lot of amenities.  In addition to a pretty cool playground, you'll find tennis courts, basketball courts, two large pavillions, open fields, a fantastic paved bike path, some unpaved hiking trails and bathrooms to boot!  There's always ample parking and while the joint does get busy, it never seems unbearably so.   

Where the heck is this place?  It's located on Eastline Road in Malta.  Oh that didn't help you?  Here are some directions: From the Northway (I-87): Take Exit 12 and proceed West on Route 67.  At first stop light (Stewarts will be kiddie corner) turn left onto Eastline Rd.  Park will be on the left hand side, less than 1/2 mile.

A good plan of action:  Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in one of the shady pavillions.  If you're feeling extra ambitious, you can even walk to Stewarts for some ice cream via the bike path.  I think you'll really like this park!  

Kelley Park playground, called 'Kids' Creekside Village' in Ballston Spa is a mecca for the playground enthusiast.  This huge playground was completed in 2008, replacing a very old (and probably dangerous) wooden playground.  The cool thing about it is that it was built by community donations led by a group of volunteers Friends and Neighbors of Ballston Spa or (FANS). 

The playground has some standard fare, twirling slides, swings and climbing contraptions, but it has some very unique things too, like giant xylophones with big mallets for kids to play, a large sandbox, and a special area for just for toddlers.  It's located on the Kaydeross River but the actual playground is fenced in.  There's a skate park and some hiking trails as well as a big field.  Picnic tables are usually available for lunch or a snack.

The playground is across the river from the Ballston Spa Town Pool...if you know where that is!  The address is 39 Ralph Street, 12020.  Best bet is to MapQuest the directions.  It's not necessarily hard to find, but directions would vary depending on what way you're coming from.  This place gets busy on the weekends or school breaks, but is big enough to accommodate quite a few crazy kids.  Go early in the day (before 11am) or dinner time to beat the crowds.