PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SYRACUSE
Parks and open space help define the character of the City and give it a unique range of assets within the county and region. Syracuse has approximately 172 municipally owned and maintained parks, fields, inactive cemeteries, medians/traffic islands (most of which are landscaped and contribute to neighborhood greenspace), and natural areas (click here for definitions). Since Syracuse has about 32% of the County’s population and 61% of the County’s municipal parks, the City is comparatively rich in parks and open space. This abundance of open space is even more apparent in the variety of parks and open space available in the City. These facilities include forested areas, harbors, pools, ball fields, tennis and basketball courts, ice skating rinks, golf courses, picnic areas, playgrounds, monuments, trails and public gathering places.

The parks and open space give structure to the City by introducing complementary green and open spaces into the residential and commercial fabric of the City and by helping to unify and even providing identity to neighborhoods within the City. The existence of an extensive parks and open space system provides city residents access to the natural environment, including opportunities for walking and active/passive recreation. The system also protects unique sites for their natural functions and for public use. With the benefits of the parks and open space come significant stewardship responsibilities and costs. The large number of facilities scattered throughout the City require maintenance, security and capital expenditures as well as incurring program, special event and staffing costs.

DOWNTOWN PARKS (TNT Area 1):The size of each of the downtown parks varies, and the service radius generally includes the central business district. These areas contain passive recreational, civic, cultural, and historic elements. Downtown Parks in the City of Syracuse include: Armory Square, Billings Park, Bruce Park, City Place, Clinton Square, Fayette Firefighter’s Memorial Park, Forman Park, Franklin Square Park, Genesee-Townsend Plaza, Hanover Square, Lincoln Plaza, Warren & Fayette Park, Perseverance Park, Pitts Park, Plum Street Circle, Columbus/St. Mary’s Circle, and Vanderbilt Square.

WESTSIDE PARKS (TNT Area 2) The Westside of the City of Syracuse is blessed with an abundance of open and green spaces: Burnet Park, Frazer Park, Lewis Park, Leavenworth Park, Onondaga-Geddes Playground, Porter Playscape, Skiddy (West End) Park, Ward Bakery Playscape, White Oaks Park, Faldo Park and Stone Throwers Park

SOUTHSIDE PARKS (TNT Area 3):The Southside is home to three of Syracuse’s most spacious parks. Onondaga Park (Onondaga Park Lower)which includes Hiawatha Lake, Kirk Park and Elmwood Park are all favorite recreation spots for neighborhood residents. The southside also includes: Baker Playground,Grace & Messina Playscape, Castle and State Playground (Libba Cotten Project), McKinley Park, Wadsworth Park, Wilson Park, Roeseler Park, and Spirit of Jubilee.

VALLEY PARKS (TNT Area 4): Clark Fields, Heath (Conifer) Park, Meachem Field/Valley Pool, and the Rand Tract (Webster Pond)

EASTSIDE PARKS (TNT Area 5): Barry Park, Comfort Tyler Park, Homer Wheaton Park, Loguen Park, Ormand Spencer Park, Thornden Park, Westminster Park, and Westmoreland Park

EASTWOOD PARKS (TNT Area 6):Eastwood, dubbed the Village within the City is home to Cummings Field, Eastwood Heights Park, Norwood Park, Sheridan Park, Sherman Field, and Sunnycrest Park

NORTHSIDE PARKS (TNT Area 7):Clinton Playlot, Highland Park, McChesney Park, Union Park, Rose Hill Cemetary, Schiller Park, and Washington Square Park

PARK ASSOCIATIONS:
Citywide volunteer park associations assist in the general care and maintenance of neighborhood parks and other open spaces in the City of Syracuse. The mission of Park Associations is to protect and enhance City neighborhood parks and open spaces through ongoing volunteer support and special events, and to educate the residents of Syracuse about the importance of parks and open spaces.

Park Associations

• Elmwood Park Neighbors Association
• Eastwood Parks Association
• Friends of Schiller Park
  
• Meachem Area Park Association - M.A.P.A. (Meachem Park, Heath Park, Webster Pond, & Rand Tract)
  
• Onondaga Park Association
  
• Sunnycrest Park Association
  
• Thornden Park Association

Groups Associated w/ Parks

Syracuse Parks Conservancy Click here to download a Parks Conservancy Brochure