Quality Of Life

The Mohawk Valley, in particular, Montgomery County, offers a whole host of amenities that surround the quality of life for its residents. Top rated educational institutions are located in and around the county and state-of-the-art hospital facilities are in our own backyard. If it is recreation that you crave, look no more. There are outdoor activities such as golfing and boating in the summer and skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. Hiking, fishing and biking are also but a few of the activities available. Are history and the arts more your cup of tea? Montgomery County is rich with history, and cultural enrichment can be obtained from any number of museums, libraries and historic buildings and sites. (visit the Photo Tour for a preview). Montgomery County is uniquely situated in the middle of New York State. Whether your destination is Niagara Falls, Toronto or Montreal, Saratoga Raceway, the Pepsi Arena in Albany or the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, everything is just hours away.

Below are just a few of the many wonderful attributes you will experience when you visit or live in Montgomery County.

Education

Primary and Secondary - Montgomery County's primary and secondary education system has gained national attention after several of its school systems received National School of Excellence Awards. There are five (5) school districts, Greater Amsterdam School District, being one of them, within the County and rural areas are served by an additional eleven (11) school districts supplying both primary and secondary education opportunities.

Post Secondary and Graduate - Montgomery County is served by Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Union College with Schenectady County Community College in Schenectady County and Skidmore College in Saratoga County. In addition, there are 13 other college and universities in the Capital Region, offering students and residents an unlimited choice of educational and career opportunities. Ten are located in nearby Albany County including the SUNY Albany; Albany Medical College; Albany Law School and Albany College of Pharmacy, both part of Union College; Siena College; and the College of Saint Rose. Other colleges and universities within the six-county Metropolitan Statistical Area are Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Sage and Hudson Valley Community College in Rensselaer County.

Hospitals

St. Mary's Hospital, founded in 1903 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, is the largest acute care hospital in the region. The hospital cares for over 130,000 patients each year. St. Mary's range of services is designed to fulfill the total health care needs of the community, while being the lowest cost provider.

More than a hospital, St. Mary's has become a health care system with three primary centers and additional sites in the planning stages. St. Mary's was the first hospital in the region to develop community primary care centers. These centers, with doctor's office settings, including the provision of specialty medical services and laboratory services as well as occupational health services.

Amsterdam Memorial Hospital, incorporated in 1888, is a medical health complex that provides outpatient, ambulatory care and acute inpatient medical, surgical and long term health-care services to over 100,000 patients each year. The Amsterdam Memorial Hospital medical complex is one of the region's largest employers, employing over 560 nurses, therapists, technicians and support professionals.

Recreation

There are many facets to the Quality of Life in Montgomery County that can be found at a variety of websites. The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Exit 27, the County of Montgomery, New York Traveler's Leatherstocking Area, RoundtheBend's Central Leatherstocking Region, The Recorder, and CRISNY (for the Capital-Saratoga District) are just a few. Please visit these sites to get an idea of what we are all about.

Riverlink Park/Erie Canal

NYS Canal Corporation

To address the issue of quality of life of today's society, Amsterdam aggressively started a water front development program along the shores of the Mohawk River/Erie Canal in 1990. The community, realizing it had an untapped natural resource began with local volunteers and help from the Department of State Coastal Resource Department to design its shore line. In 1998 the first water front park was opened on the south shore of the Mohawk River/Erie Canal called Port Jackson Park. It includes a public boat launch, a gazebo over looking the river, four covered bocce courts and is one block from a restaurant/deli and the canal bike path. The boat launch has seen an increase in use since opening as people discovered the natural beauty of the canal system through the Mohawk Valley. This area has long been noted for both bass and walleye fishing and the new boat launch has afforded residents and tourists the opportunity to have easy boat access for fishing and recreational boating.

On the north shore of the Mohawk River/Erie Canal, a large municipal park (Riverlink Park) directly accessible to Amsterdam's downtown and several historic sites and museum, is open to the public. The park includes six hundred feet of public dockage, a large playground area overlooking the plaza area which includes a raised "bandstand" for open air concerts and community events. A pavilion with a restaurant that has a large open-aired deck for dining overlooking the park and river, along with public bathrooms, showers and a coin operated laundry for transient boaters are included in the park. Also included is a skating rink for rollerblading in the summer and ice skating in the winter. Montgomery County's stretch of the river is rich in history and natural beauty. Several locks lie within this stretch including one at Guy Park Manor (home of Sir William Johnson of the Revolution era) at Lock 11, Tribes Hill and an original Erie Canal aqueduct at Lock 12 (Schoharie Crossing). Visible from the canal system within Montgomery County is The Noses - a natural break in the Appalachian Mountain chain were the river flows through deemed by many as the most scenic section of any canal in the world.

For information and a schedule of events for Riverlink Park, contact the City of Amsterdam Department of Community and Economic Development at (518) 843—5190

Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course

Our municipal golf course is one of the finest in New York State. Designed by renowned golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, this par 71, 6,400 yard course is challenging to the good golfers and fun for the average player. Our newly refurbished clubhouse has an outside dining area and banquet facility that seats 200. Cart rentals are available through our pro shop. Daily greens fees and seasonal memberships are available for individuals and family.

Amsterdam Muni is located on Van Dyke Avenue in the City of Amsterdam Course Professional: Joe Morendo - (518) 842-4265

Antlers Country Club

The Antler's Country Club is the area's only private 18-hole golf course and country club. The club's membership fees are modest and includes the best in amenities including: Olympic-size swimming pool and tennis courts, modern clubhouse, bar, restaurant and banquet facilities and golf cart storage. The course offers a challenging round of golf on its' par 71, 6,700 yard layout. Starting in Spring 2000, the ACC will allow weekday morning tee times to the public. As always with membership, no tee times are needed.

The Antler's Country Club is located on Route 5 in Tribes Hill. Club Professional: Kevin Canale — (518) 829—7817

Canajoharie Country Club

The Canajoharie Country Club first opened its fairways to the public in 1937 on a course designed by Scott and John North. With the increase of golfing interest, the course was expanded to 18 holes in 1991. It offers a challenge to the advanced golfer (blue tee yardage – 6146) and yet is manageable to the beginner (white tee yardage – 5854). The course is filled with rolling hills, lush greens and beautiful valley scenery.

The CCC is a full-service country club open to the public. Restaurant and banquet facilities are available. Course amenities include driving range, full practice area and Pro Shop. Affordable seasonal membership rates are available for singles or families and daily tee times are open.

The Canajoharie Country Club is located off Route 163 in the Town of Canajoharie. Club Professional: Mark Lane — (518) 673—3929