Could Saratoga National Historical Park get a new name?
SARATOGA, N.Y. (WNYT)- The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution requesting Congress and the National Park Service to rename Saratoga National Historical Park to the Saratoga National Battlefield Park.
However, that request is irrelevant, according to park Interpretation Program Manager and Public Information Officer, Garrett Cloer.
“Saratoga National Historical Park has played no role in this request and does not have the legal authority to do so,” he said. “Name changes are solely the role of Congress and parks do not have the ability to request name changes.”
This means the Board of Supervisors also lacks the ability to request a name change.
The park commemorates the Battles of Saratoga, which were pivotal in securing American independence during the Revolutionary War.
The park was originally named Saratoga Battlefield Park. When it became a national park in 1938, the word battlefield was dropped.
The request was made as Saratoga County commemorates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga.