This simple open space at 5 Line Drive in Porter Corners fits an interesting niche in the TOG, serving as a hotspot for baseball leagues throughout the region, and also serving as a popular dog recreation spot. The park sits on 31.25 acres, backing up to our Town Highway Garage and is cut right into a giant hill of pristine Greenfield territory.
Three large ball fields host teams from our Recreation T-ball to the adult Roy Hobbs League. It is a popular baseball league spot every weekend (and some week nights) throughout the summer and can attract up to 300 fans at a time on the busiest days. Our Greenfield Lions Club is often on hand to serve concessions on busy weekends.
Porter Corners Dog Park occupies the front corner of the park in the space of a former ballfield, with dugouts for shade and water jugs for the pooches. Toys are sprinkled about for the dogs. The park’s popularity has grown over the years to the point where, in early 2023, we started a park registration process and began at times manning the park with staff to protect its visitors. The park has a resident-run Facebook page called “Porter Corners Dog Park Community,” with 848 members and monitored by two long-time supporters of the park, Anthony Two Hawks Charoensook and Roger VanDusen. Melony Bedford, a member of Greenfield’s Dog Control team, is often onsite making sure the park is safe and grounds are well maintained.
Since registration started, more than 100 people have signed up to use the park. Residents may join by licensing their dog at the Town Clerk’s office and completing a waiver with rules. Nonresidents need to show proof their dog has been licensed at their hometown municipality, complete the waiver and pay a $20 fee for the year. This park is open dawn to dusk. Dog owners are encouraged to carry their leash and keep registration papers and proof of rabies vaccination in their vehicles while using the park. All dogs outside the dog park enclosure must remain leashed at all times.
“People are so appreciative of this park,” said Bedford. “Bob from the TOG Buildings & Maintenance Team does an excellent job keeping the park beautiful. It is a peaceful place where people and their pets gather to play, take a walk and even a swim in the creek.”
Bedford said while regulars frequent the park in the mornings, the busiest time is from 5-8 p.m. Most guests are from Greenfield and Corinth, she said.
The park also features a short, 1/4 mile walking trail that meanders through the woods and along a creek. It’s perfect for giving the dogs a drink, or taking your toddlers to play. It’s a quiet and beautiful path well worth checking out! The park also holds some swings for the little ones.
“We are pleased to offer baseball players from around the region, this quiet, off the beaten path space to play ball, while offering our residents an open space that is dog-friendly,” said Town Supervisor Kevin Veitch.
Details about renting the fields can be found on the town website, www.greenfieldny.org, but to register call the Town Clerk at 518-893-7432, ext. 301, email her at kdowen@greenfieldny.org or stop by and visit her in person. In general the fields are available in 3 hour increments and the costs are $20 for nonprofits, $30 for businesses and $40 for nonresidents. Walk on play is only welcome when the fields are not lined for upcoming games.
Want to know a bit of the park’s history?
According to our Town Historian Duane Cornell, this spot was used for the town to get gravel and sand for Highway Department use, until we began using a pit on Lake Desolation Road. The Department of Environmental Conservation required us to develop a plan for the land’s use and the idea was born to use the land for baseball fields. In the mid 80s, work began to build the building onsite and the first field. The first games were played in the spring of 1989. In the following years, the Greenfield Lions Club raised money to build more fields.
