The
Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs is the
sole local government agency charged specifically with providing
recreation for city residents. Approximately 1,000 acres of parks,
playgrounds and open spaces are included under the Department’s
stewardship.
Our
mission is to cultivate and sustain leisure programming while providing
attractive parks that will enrich the quality of life, for all residents and visitors, as well as preserve it for future generations.
The
Syracuse Parks Department is responsible for coordinating,
administering, and staffing a variety of recreational, support, and
special events programs. These goals are accomplished through Special
Events, Senior Programs, Aquatics, Adult Programs, Ice Rinks, Golf,
Youth Programs, Forestry and Grounds Divisions. The Department also has
an Office of Graphics and an Office of Planning and Development that
serve the public through capital improvements, community programs and
the creation of signage and graphics for the parks.
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Media Contact Information:
Questions regarding the Syracuse Parks & Recreation should be directed to:
Photo/Video Policy:
During
your use or visit to any City park, open space or facility located
throughout the City of Syracuse, you may be photographed, videotaped, or
filmed by the Department of Parks or any other party given explicit
authorization by the Department of Parks to take photos, videotape, or
film in these areas. Your attendance, admission, or use of any or all
City parks, open space or facility located throughout the City of
Syracuse operates as express consent for the use, reproduction, or
publication of these images by the City of Syracuse. Any commercial
photography or filming is strictly prohibited without express
authorization of the Department of Parks.
ADULT ATHLETICS
The
Adult Athletic Division coordinates the schedules and games for
basketball, softball, broomball, volleyball and lacrosse leagues, which
combined have more than 10,000 participants.
AQUATICS
The Aquatics programs operate out of three indoor pools (Huntington, Southwest, & Valley) all year round. During the summer months eight pools are open; these include:
Burnet, Kirk, Lincoln, McKinley, Onondaga, Schiller, Thornden and Wilson.
Open swim and lap hours are available at these pools. A variety of
programs are offered throughout the year including: learn-to-swim,adult and children classes, water exercise, lifeguard and water safety courses. The pools are also used by swim teams for City and County meets.
ICE RINKS
The Ice Rink Division oversees and maintains winter ice rinks at Sunnycrest, Meachem and Clinton Square.
These facilities offer public skating, league and club skating and
lessons. Meachem and Sunnycrest Rinks, both of which are enclosed rinks,
are open November 1 to March 30. Clinton Square, which is an outdoor
rink is open mid-November to mid-Mach, weather permitting. All rinks
have warming room facilities and offer skate rentals. The rinks are
staffed by city employees and offer a variety of learn-to-skate
programs.
FORESTRY
The
Forestry Division is responsible for maintaining approximately 35,000
street trees on 450 miles of city streets and for park trees throughout
the parks system. This Division provides a continuous program of tree
planting, trimming and removal of City street trees in order to maintain
a healthy and abundant tree population. Routine trimming and removals
are done year round, and tree planting is done during the spring and
fall.
GOLF COURSE
Two City Parks, Burnet and Sunnycrest,
have nine-hole par 3 courses, open from May 1st to October 15th. The
Courses are the only two golf courses located within the City of
Syracuse and are each located within 5 minutes of downtown Syracuse. The
courses easily see 30,000 rounds of play each season and offer not only
open play, but league play as well, including both Senior and Junior
Leagues. In addition, the courses attract many local schools and youth
organizations whose children receive golf instruction. These courses
also support several city-wide Junior and Senior golf tournaments. There
is a fee charged for the use of the courses. Season passes and daily
admission are available to everyone regardless of age or experience.
GREENHOUSE
The
City’s Greenhouse operates under the Parks Ground Division. There is a
staff of (3) gardeners and a supervisor. They are responsible for
approximately 125 planting sites located throughout the City. These
sites vary and include traffic islands, park and neighborhood entrance
signs, and planting barrels. Every year the greenhouse is responsible
for planting approximately 50,000 summer annuals; 15,000 spring bulbs;
300 perennials; and 25 Foliage plants are purchased yearly to be used
for various events. The staff is responsible for growing a majority of
the annual flowers from seed and for the watering and weeding of the
planting sites. The greenhouse also supplies neighborhood groups with
flowers to plant in park locations.
GROUNDS DIVISION
The
Grounds Division of the Parks department is responsible for overall
maintenance and ‘clean' up’ of the city’s parks. This division deploys
“roving” crews to parks in the different quadrants of the city on a
daily basis; garbage cans are emptied, leaves are picked up, and snow is
plowed. Scheduled lawn mowing is completed by contract services, which
is overseen by this division. A few of the larger parks like Thornden,
Burnet, and Onondaga have staff that focus on the maintenance of that
park. These divisions also supports other divisions like Special Events
for set up and break down. For more specialized repairs to park
facilities the Parks Department relies on the DPW Skilled Trades
(carpenters, plumbers, electricians and roofers).
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
The
Office of Planning Development is responsible for developing and
updating yearly, the Parks Department’s 5-year Capital Improvement
Program. This office works with other departments to coordinate and
oversee capital improvements construction projects throughout the parks
system. This office is also responsible for the storage, updating, and
archiving of project files, drawings, and site plans of park properties.
SENIOR RECREATION
Through
its Senior Centers, the Department offers a host of recreational
fitness and advocacy programs and a wide variety of activities for the
community’s senior population, including speakers, day trips, Bingo,
exercise programs, various health screening programs, holiday parties,
legal services, and daily lunches.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The
Special Events Division of Syracuse Parks is responsible for all
aspects of scheduling, permitting and coordination of a variety of
activities and events that occur throughout the year. This Division
relies on other City Departments like DPW for support during these
various events for skilled trades work and street cleaning. Events are
open to public and free.
YOUTH RECREATION
The
Youth Recreation Division provides a wide range of “drop in” and
registration-based recreational and educational opportunities open to all city
youth through its operation of neighborhood community centers, school-based recreation sites, and numerous summer recreation
programs. Year-Round and Summertime youth recreation programs target
boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 15, residing in neighborhoods
surrounding the Community Centers and Summer Recreation sites. All
“drop-in” programs are free of charge to city residents and may include a
variety of structured activities, along with periods of supervised free
play. Registration-based programs may require a modest fee and include
such opportunities as summer sport and experiential learning camps, basketball leagues, sport clinics, and swim lessons.