The cost of the 8.7 acres of property is $260,000, located at 544 Burdeck St., and will be retained by the county as parkland, with the little league leasing the property and will have the responsibility of construction of fields and buildings, according to information from the county. Introduced by Legislature Judith Dagostino, D-Rotterdam, the purchase of the land will create a new tax base, have key road implications, the intersection at Burdeck and Thompson will be fixed by the developer with no cost to the county and will create new green space within the community.
"Its a long project but its a good use," said Dagostino. "It gives the little league a permanent home."
Local residents of the town of Rotterdam, including Democratic Town Supervisor Frank Del Gallo, came out in support of the legislation, with Del Gallo volunteering the use of his own heavy machinery in the development of the park. Legislators Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam, and Holly Vellano, C-Rotterdam, supported the addition of the new home for the Rotterdam Little League and the purchase of the property in Rotterdam.
"“While the times have certainly changed some things have
stayed the same. Little league baseball is one of them. As a sport little league baseball really helps the children that take part grow and learn to be a part of something larger”, said Santabarbara in a statement.
The Rotterdam Little League needs a new location as the owner of the current site plans to develop the property into a 248 unit apartment complex, according to information from the county. The purchase of the property also comes at a significant decrease in cost from the owner, with the appraised value at $600,000. The difference in value will be donated to the county by the current owner.
“I am pleased that the County Legislature is able to step forward and use this funding to secure a new home for the Rotterdam Little League,” said Dagostino in a March 10 release. “Hundreds of Rotterdam youth will benefit every year from this investment in our future.”
