Lew Benton Advocates Repairing the Degrading Veterans Walk In Congress Park

Lew’s First Email To Saratoga Springs Public Works Commissioner BK Keramati

From: Lew Benton <l>
Date: Wed, May 20, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Subject: Congress Park Veterans Walk Condition
To: BK Keramati <>
CC: John Safford <>, JoAnne Kiernan <>, Tim Coll <>, Jessica Troisi <>, Matthew Veitch <>

Commissioner,

This year, as last and with Memorial Day around the corner, I ask PW to repoint the granite curbing flanking the Veterans Walk in Congress Park. Bricks should be power washed.

The attached photos taken today clearly show the Walk’s state of disrepair.

Last year I made the same suggestion to the then commissioner. Regrettably it was ignored. In the interim the Walk’s condition has further deteriorated. 

Ultimately all bricks should be removed, thoroughly cleaned and relaid on an appropriate level base allowing good drainage. Engraved bricks no longer legible should be replaced.

I am confident that many who are named on the Walk, their families and others would gladly help underwrite the improvements.

Hundreds of the community members names and service dates are inscribed on the Walk.  Some  attest to the multi-generational service of Saratoga families and to those KIA.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Lew Benton

Lew’s Second Email

To:BK Keramati

From: Lew Benton

Commissioner,

Several days ago I sent via email photographs of the deteriorated condition of the Veterans Walk.

Perhaps you did not receive my note. So here again are some recent photos.  I hope they will encourage PW to initiate the necessary improvements: i.e., granite curbing repointing, brick cleaning and leveling, replacement of worn bricks and those with illegible names.

I noted in my original email that the same request had been made last year prior to Memorial 

Day but no action was taken. I trust you agree that the current condition is untenable and an affront to those whose service is memorialized there. 

Thank you.

L. Benton

Lew’s Third Email

Commissioner (BK),

Thank you for your response to my recent emails detailing the deteriorating condition of the Veterans Walk in Congress Park.

I appreciate your comments regarding budget constraints. It’s a never-ending battle.  And I am well aware that the current City budget, as those of the last three or four years, is likely to be in deficit.  In fact, the Council should have been well aware that the 2026 budget advanced by Finance was seriously out of balance.

However, as I mentioned in my initial note, I see no reason why the repointing of the granite curbs lining the walk and  removing, cleaning and relaying the bricks could not be done by force account or city labor. While labor intensive, I doubt that there would be any material costs.

I note that the 2026 Park and Casio Operating Budget includes $370.009 for labor, $15,000

for “Other Supplies,” $8,500 for “Landscaping” and $5,000 for “Professional Services.” Is there nothing to be found in these lines and other PW operating lines that could be transferred to the 

Veterans Walk budget account?

And regrettably the Veterans Walk operating line has been zeroed out.  That is all the more disturbing because the Walk’s current advanced stage of deterioration has been well known for some time. 

In my nearly 40 years experience in local, county and state  government and eight years on the City Council, I know even in the leanest of times there is $ to be found to address such needs. This is particularly true if the need is real, low cost, and the proposed improvement would remove, as in this case, a rather ugly blemish and a potential trip hazard. Of course not to finally act degrades the service of those whose names are inscribed in the Walk and mirrors the neglect of other Park amenities such as the Reservoir.

Finally, and as I mentioned in my initial email, I’m sure that private donations earmarked exclusively for Walk restoration would be made available if requested. And I am certain that some veterans and others would be willing to solicit same.

Lew Benton

7110 PARK & CASINO

A3537111 51900 LABORER 297,177.02 382,900.00 393,484.81 319,346.85 393,484.81 328,715.00 ________

A3537111 51960 OVERTIME 24,709.26 12,000.00 22,148.26 24,137.92 12,803.13 15,000.00 ________

A3537111 58030 SS CITY PO 23,873.23 30,209.85 30,209.85 25,734.42 30,209.85 26,294.20 ________

TOTAL PARK & CASINO 345,759.51 425,109.85 445,842.92 369,219.19 436,497.79 370,009.20 ________

7110 PARK & CASINO

A3537114 54110 OFFICE SUP 296.55 200.00 200.00 200.00 200.00 .00 ________

A3537114 54140 JANIT SUPP 6,910.18 4,500.00 6,195.25 6,195.25 4,500.00 4,500.00 ________

A3537114 54160 UNIFORMS 3,978.25 4,800.00 4,400.00 5,211.42 5,211.47 6,000.00 ________

A3537114 54180 OTHER SUPP 30,297.00 18,000.00 21,148.00 21,147.74 19,500.00 15,000.00 ________

A3537114 54320 TOOLS 198.98 150.00 150.00 28.49 150.00 .00 ________

A3537114 54330 REP MAN EQ 6,196.00 5,000.00 1,988.27 1,984.30 2,500.00 3,000.00 ________

A3537114 54510 REP MAN VE 2,000.00 1,250.00 1,250.00 1,245.76 1,250.00 2,000.00 ________

A3537114 54610 REP MAN BU 25,731.39 24,000.00 25,058.48 25,585.50 24,527.02 24,000.00 ________

A3537114 54650 UTILITIES 57,760.36 60,000.00 67,900.00 67,859.48 60,000.00 65,000.00 ________

A3537114 54670 PHONES 1,300.00 1,300.00 1,635.75 1,167.90 1,450.00 1,300.00 ________

A3537114 54680 LANDSCAPIN 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 10,000.00 8,500.00 ________

A3537114 54720 PROF SER 4,832.56 5,000.00 7,805.50 14,216.43 11,410.93 5,000.00 ________

TOTAL PARK & CASINO 149,501.27 134,200.00 147,731.25 154,842.27 140,699.42 134,300.00 ________