City of Syracuse

Announcements & News

Reinstallations will occur on phased-in basis to monitor usage and COVID-19 conditions

Reinstallation of the basketball rims at city parks started. The rims were taken down in Syracuse and other communities last year to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

Rims will be installed on a phased-in basis over the course of three weeks. The approach will allow us to monitor usage and local, state and federal health requirements and to adjust the reinstallation schedule if necessary.

The planned schedule is:

Week of March 29

• Burnet Park - installed

• Kirk Park - installed

• McChesney Park - installed

• Thornden Park - installed

Week of April 5

• Barker Square Playlot - installed

• Barry Park - installed

• Clinton Playlot - installed

• Eastwood Heights - installed

• Lewis Park - installed

• Lincoln Park - installed

• Onondaga Park - installed

• Roesler Park - installed

• Schiller Park - installed

• Skiddy Park - installed

• Sunnycrest Park - installed

• Washington Square Park - installed

Week of April 12

• Comfort Tyler Park - installed

• Dr. Weeks School

• Home Wheaton Park - installed

• Libba Cotten Grove Park - installed

• McKinley Park

• Ormand Spencer Park

• Spirit of Jubilee Park

• Van Duyn School

• Westmoreland Park

• Wilson Park - installed

Health and safety guidelines will be posted at each court. Consistent with requirements in local youth sports activities, face coverings must be worn at all times and social distancing must be observed on and around courts. All court users and park visitors are requested to follow guidelines.

Pre-registration for all sessions are required with COVID-19 protocols.

Capacity is six (6) lap swimmers per session. Advanced registration is required. Residents can register for one session per day.

Lap swim sessions are available Monday, Wednesday and Friday for one hour.
Session times are:
• 6:30 a.m.
• 8 a.m.
• 9:30 a.m.

• 12:00 p.m.

• 1:30 p.m.
• 3 p.m.
• 4:30 p.m.

Online reservations can be made here one-week in advance. Reservations will close 24-hours prior to each session. Admission is $3 for adults 16-64 and free for 65 and older. Existing coupon book tickets will be honored. Refunds will only be offered if sessions are cancelled by the department after registration opens, minus the 2.75% transaction fee. Residents are encouraged to set up an account here before registration opens. Walk-up admissions will not be allowed.

The following health and safety precautions will be taken:
• Arrive 5 minutes before their session to check-in. Temperature checks will be performed on all patrons.
• Masks must be worn in the building at all times when not in water. Social distances must be maintained at all times.
• Locker rooms will be available but patrons are encouraged to arrive dressed to swim. Lockers will not be available.
• Staff will clean building areas throughout the hour-long sessions and will conduct a deeper cleaning at the end of the day.

Below is the most up-to-date information about facility updates, program updates and cancellations. We will continue to update this list and additional details as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Main Office: Closed to the public. Please call 315.473.4330 between the hours of 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday or email adownes@syrgov.net for questions. For tree emergencies that occur outside of the listed hours, please call Central Dispatch at 315.448.8361.

Adult Leagues: Cancelled until further notice.

Community Centers: Closed until further notice for programming. Click on “Programs” above for information on Virtual programming for youth and families!

Golf Course:

Burnet: Closed for the season.
Sunnycrest: Closed for the season.

Ice Rinks:

Clinton Square: Closed for the season.
Meachem: Public skate is limited availability per skate session by reservation only. Click "Programs" above to make a reservation. Permits available for 10-hour minimum rental. For more information email Joe Burns at jburns@syrgov.net or Trevor Wallace at twallace@syrgov.net
Sunnycrest: Closed until further notice

Pools: Valley Pool is open for lap swim with COVID-19 restrictions in place. Advanced registration is required and opens one-week prior at 8 a.m. Click here for session information. Southwest Pool will remain closed until further notice.

Permits: For more information CLICK HERE.

City Park Permits for small private gatherings for 200 people or fewer are being processed. Social distancing and adhering to public health guidelines is required. Limited permits will be issued at this time (no electricity, trash pick-up, picnic tables, sanitizing/clean-up or restrooms). To request a permit please email bfarmer@syrgov.net or mnesci@syrgov.net.
Athletic Permits are now being processed provided they are in accordance with the current guidelines mandated by New York State, Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse. Failure to comply with the current guidelines will result in the denial or revocation of a permit. Please email Twallace@syrgov.net for more information.

Senior Centers (Cecile & Magnarelli): Closed until further notice with the exception of Walking Sessions for City residents, 55 and older at Magnarelli. Advanced registration required. Walk-ups are not allowed. To register for a walking session click here.

GUESS WHAT’S COMING TO ONONDAGA/GEDDES PLAYLOT - A natural playspace!

This summer, the outdated and aging equipment will be removed and replaced with natural material that will blend elements of nature, fitness and CREATIVE PLAY. We are so excited.

Our forestry crew has been stock piling recycled wood collected from job sites that will be used in the design.

Special thanks to the talented DPW Intern, Josh Wilcox for developing the preliminary design and taking the lead on the project with Brian Messé from our planning and development division.

The preliminary designs can be viewed HERE.

Two virtual Q&A sessions on this project will be Thursday, April 22, 2021: 12-1 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. A FB event with meeting links with be available soon. We hope you will join us!

If you would like to receive email updates about this project email Brain Messé at bmesse@syrgov.net or private message us your email.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced the City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs and PEACE, Inc. will begin distributing nutritious meals to seniors at the Bob Cecile Community Center located at 174 W. Seneca Tpke., beginning Monday, Mar. 15.

“Although our community centers are not yet back open, working with PEACE, Inc. to offer this meal opportunity is another positive step towards reconnecting with our seniors,” said Parks Commissioner Julie LaFave. “Their well-being is always at the forefront of our minds and we look forward to seeing them all soon.”

The program will be offered as a curbside pick-up service to those with a meal reservation. Cars will enter the Bob Cecile Community Center parking lot from W. Seneca Turnpike and proceed to the back of the building. A staff member will be waiting at the back door to deliver meals to car windows. Cars can then exit on to Midland Avenue. The program will also serve pre-registered individuals who do not arrive in a vehicle.

To reserve a meal for Monday, Mar. 15, seniors can call the Parks Main Office at 315-473-4330 before Wednesday, Mar. 10. To reserve a meal for any day after Mar. 15, seniors can call the Bob Cecile Community Center, Monday through Friday, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Meals will be available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The pre-made meals menu will be a combination of frozen and fresh meals, and will feature grilled entrees, fresh fruit, vegetables and 1% milk. A copy of the monthly menu can be found on PEACE, Inc.'s website at https://www.peace-caa.org/programs-services/seniors-services/senior-nutrition/seniorlunches/.

To be eligible, recipients must be 60 years of age or older with a few exceptions; spouses of recipients or a person with a disability living with a recipient are also eligible.

A suggested contribution of $3.50 per meal to PEACE, Inc. will be accepted. No recipient will be turned away due to an inability to contribute.

In addition to the meal program with PEACE, Inc., the Parks department continues to offer a morning indoor walking program for seniors at the Magnarelli Community Center. City residents 55 years and older can pre-register for one-hour walking sessions, offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. To register, visit syracuse.recdesk.com or call 315-473-2675 during program hours.

Meachem Ice Rink will begin offering public ice skating on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020.

Ice rink capacity will be limited based on current local and state guidance. As of Wednesday, Nov. 25, rink occupancy will not exceed nine (9) skaters at a time. Advanced registration is required and admission payment for each skater will be required through syracuse.recdesk.com by credit card only.

Reservations will open Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 8 a.m. and will open one week in advance at 8 a.m. prior to each reservation. All youth ages 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Skating sessions will be available in 75 minute increments, starting at:

·       10 a.m. (55 and older only)
·       11:30 a.m.
·       1 p.m.

The facility will close between sessions for cleaning and sanitation. Meachem public skate hours will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday - Friday until the end of the year. New hours will be posted for the 2021 dates.

Skate admission fees are: $5.00 for adults; $3.00 for youth (ages 12 and under) and seniors (55+). Skate rental will be $5.00 per person. Cash and credit card will be accepted. A 2.75%, non-refundable transaction fee will be applied to all credit card transactions. Visa, Mastercard and Discover will be accepted.

All social distancing guidelines mandated by City of Syracuse, Onondaga County and New York State must be followed. Masks must be worn at all times and gloves or mittens must be worn on the ice.

Building access will be limited to changing in and out of skates only. Concessions will not be sold.

Promotions or group discounts will not be available during the 2020-21 skate season. Coupons will not be accepted.

For more information visit Syracuse.recdesk.com or contact Joe Burns at jburns@syrgov.net.

Pre-registration for all sessions will be required and COVID-19 rules will be in effect

Syracuse, N.Y. – The City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs will offer opportunities for City residents, ages 55 and older, to walk or run laps at the Magnarelli Community Center gymnasium, located at 2308 Grant Boulevard, beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19.

“We understand the importance of physical activity and how the lack of it can impact an individual’s overall well-being. We have been working hard to comply with all current local and state guidance while balancing the safety of our employees and community to creatively deliver recreational opportunities to our residents,” said Parks Commissioner Julie LaFave. “The walking sessions at Magnarelli Community Center are just another example of us trying to adapt to our current situation. If the demand for more indoor walking is there, we will gladly add additional sessions.”

Capacity will be limited based on current local and state guidance. As of Wednesday, Nov. 25, building occupancy will not exceed eight (8) walkers at a time. Advanced registration is required. Residents can register for one session per day.

Walking sessions will be available Tuesday through Thursday for one hour, including arrival and departure. To start, session times will be offered at the following times:

8:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.

Online reservations can be made at Syracuse.recdesk.com starting Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8 a.m. and will open one week in advance. Residents are encouraged to set up an account prior to registering. Walk-up admissions will not be allowed.

The following health and safety precautions will be taken:

Residents who are not feeling well are asked to stay home.
Masks must be worn in the building at all times.
Temperatures will be taken for each patron prior to entry.
Walkers must remain six feet apart from other walkers unless they reside in the same household.
Locker rooms will remain closed. Center users should come ready to walk and leave once they are done or when the session is over. Additional programs and activities will not be available.
Exercise rooms will remain closed.
Staff will clean building areas throughout the hour-long sessions and will conduct a deeper cleaning in the 30-minute window between sessions, when the building is completely emptied out.

For more information, call the City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs at 315-473-4330.

To Create A New Account click HERE. To make changes to your account please call our Main Office at 315.473.4330.

VISA, MASTERCARD and DISCOVER will be accepted. Be advised there will be a 2.75%, non-refundable, transaction fee applied to each credit card transaction (subject to change).

Department Refund Policy:
All program and reservation refunds are required to be submitted in writing 30 days from the start of the program or rental for a full refund, less the $5.00 processing fee, with the exception of aquatics programs. Aquatics programs must be submitted ten (10) days for a full refund, less the $5.00 processing fee. Please be advised that credit card transaction fees will not be refunded in any case. All refunds will be paid by check and take 2-4 weeks to process.

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