PARKS PERSPECTIVES The “Improvements” Issue The City's Parks & Recreation Division is constantly working to improve our park system, including the addition of amenities at each park, upgrades to existing facilities, or the development of programs and events in our parks. Take a look inside to see what we have been up to... City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs 412 Spencer Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 (315) 473-4330 STEPHANIE A. MINER, MAYOR BAYE MUHAMMAD, COMMISSIONER JOHN D. WALSH, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER UPCOMING EVENTS: Feb. 14—24 - SYRACUSE WINTERFEST: Various locations throughout Syracuse www.syracusewinterfest.com Feb. 16 - CHILI BOWL FESTIVAL: 12Noon to 3PM at the Thornden Park Field House hosted by the Thornden Park Association March 2 - TIPP HILL SHAMROCK RUN: Starts and ends at Burnet Park www.tipphill.us March 9 - ST. PATRICK’s PARADE - Downtown Syracuse, the parade will step off at 12Noon www.syracusestpatricksparade.org Mayor Stephanie A. Miner, the Parks and Recreation Department, state representatives and dif- ferent neighborhood advocacy groups have been busy celebrating the completion of a number of projects all over the city, including the long-awaited opening of the Onondaga Park Firebarn, the dedication of the statue commemorating folk musician Libba Cotten at the Grove that bears her name on the south side, the collaborative installation of new playground equipment in Un- ion Park on the city’s north side, the unveiling of a new brick wall at Webster Pond in the Valley section of the city, new lockers at Valley Pool and improvements at Martineau Park in East- wood. ONONDAGA PARK FIREBARN The Onondaga Park Firebarn, an icon almost as synony- mous with the Park as the white gazebo in Hiawatha Lake, was reopened in October, following years of plan- ning and months of renovation work. Originally opened in 1913 as the Elmwood Firebarn, the structure had horse-drawn firefighting equipment. The facility was taken out of use in 1973, as part of a re- configuration of the Syracuse Fire Department. Its Craftsman style was designed to complement the neighbor- hood houses, and much of that style has been retained in the renovation. “I am excited to open this newly renovated city facility and bring it back to life for the Strathmore community,” said Mayor Miner at the opening reception held on Oct. 11. “Bringing this historic building back to life is an accomplishment I am proud of. I thank our Parks and Recreation staff under the leadership of Commis- Mayor Miner, left, accepts a check from Onondaga sioner Muhammad and our dedicated partners in the community Park Association President Catherine Margery; below: who were able to make this happen.” neighbors gather in the main lobby at the opening reception. Also at this reception, representatives from the Onondaga Park Association, which was active in spearheading the pro- ject, presented Mayor Miner and Parks Commissioner Baye Muhammad with a check for $25,000 as a gift towards sup- plying the facility with equipment. The newly renovated facility will house additional offices of the Department of Parks and Recreation and regularly host meetings of the Greater Strathmore Neighborhood Associa- tion and the Onondaga Park Association. The State Universi- ty of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry has developed a graduate re- search center which will be run out of the facility. IMPROVEMENTS AT WEBSTER POND The popular Webster Pond, in the city’s Valley section, has a new retaining wall, built to pre- serve water quality in the park’s well known pond and improved sidewalks for visitors. The renovations were made possible by three grants provided by Assemblyman William Mag- narelli (D-Syracuse). Two grants, one for $10,000 and one for $15,000, were received from the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Another grant for $20,000 was received from the New York Depart- ment of State. The retaining wall and rain garden were constructed to manage runoff from Valley Drive from entering the Webster Pond, and two sidewalks were constructed. FIFTEEN MORE INDUCTED INTO THE NORTH HIGH HALL OF FAME Fifteen alumni were inducted into the North High Hall of Fame at the Magnarelli Center at McChesney Park this past fall. They were cho- sen for their accomplishments in athletics; business; community ser- vice; education; government service; science; volunteerism; and vis- ual, performing arts, and journalism are: Dr. Anthony T. Frascati, Mayor Stephanie A, Miner, fourth from left, joins some of the North High alumni ’13 - Science; Esther Foley , ’26-Journalism; Margaret Long Arnold , who have been inducted into the Hall of ’30-Education ; William C. Rapp, ‘35-Business; Anthony Crème, Fame. ’39— Education and Athletics; Diogene “Dodge” Monteleone, ’46- Athletics and Business; Anthony Tex Simone ’46 -Athletics and Business; Joe Carfagno, ‘51— Visual Performing Arts; O. Mark De Michele, ’51— Business and Community Service; Dr. Mary Giambat- tista Ampola, ’52—Science; Dr. Rosemary Giambattista Agonito, ’55— Education and Community Service; Daniel C. Rizzo, ’59 — Government Service and Education; Gerald Santy, ‘59- Education and Performing Arts; Edward Kochian , ’62 - Government Service; and Joseph F. Riccelli , ’63-64 - Busi- ness and Athletics. Mayor Miner, second from right and Commissioner Muhammad, third from the right, join members of the Libba Cotten committee to unveil the statute of the legendary songwriter. The statue is located at Libba Cotten Grove, at Castle and South State Streets. Front row: Jen Owens, Community Foundation; Sen. John DeFrancisco; sculptor Sharon BuMann, and Francis Parks, far right, who was in- strumental in having the monument commissioned. In the second row, from left, are Jesse Dowdell of the Southwest Community Center; Peter Englot of Syracuse University, and former commissioner Otis Jennings. LIBBA COTTEN STATUE UNVEILED Members of the community joined with Mayor Stephanie Miner, Sen. John DeFrancisco, and Parks Commissioner Baye Muhammad in early October to unveil a monument dedicat- ed to Elizabeth “Libba” Cotten, the Grammy-Award winning folk musician who spent her later years in Syracuse. The statue is the collaborative effort, involving assistance and funding from Sen. DeFrancis- co, Assemblyman William Magnarelli, the Community Foundation, Syracuse University and SU’s Hendricks Chapel. “Libba Cotten’s life and work serve as an example to all of us. Her talent is remarkable and she reminds each of us that our people are our greatest treasure,” said Mayor Miner. Elizabeth Cotten, known as “Libba,” was born in North Carolina in the 1890s to a family of sharecroppers. She learned at an early age to play guitar and banjo and began writing her own songs. After marrying, she worked as a domestic in several households and as a shop clerk. Eventually employed by the Seeger family, she was encouraged to record her own music and eventually began producing albums in her 60s. In 1984, she was awarded a Grammy for “Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording” for her album Elizabeth Cotten Live. She was also awarded a National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Libba Cotten Grove was dedicated in 1983. She passed away in Syracuse in 1987. Lower Union Park, along North Salina Street, boasts some new vibrantly -colored playground equipment. Construction was overseen by the Syracuse-based company Hayner Hoyt, and sev- eral community groups were involved in fund- raising and installation efforts. Special recogni- tion to Northside Up, the Syracuse Parks Con- servancy and Maureen Dore for their work in bringing this new feature for the families on the Northside to enjoy. Valley Pool saw some updates recently. While work was done on the pool itself and the me- chanical system several years ago, this latest phase included a renovation of the locker rooms, staff locker rooms, and the staff office area. Showing off some of the improvements at Valley Pool are, top left, Deputy Commissioner John Walsh, Glen Lewis and Carpen- ter Buerin Oates. In the bottom photo Commissoner Baye Mu- hammad and Buerin Oates. Martineau Park Updates Even small projects can pack a big “WOW,” as the neighbors around Mar- tineau Park in Eastwood have learned. Supervised by Annalise Bucci, who heads up the Eastwood Neighborhood Association Green committee, members of the group spent two days improving the garden, putting in stone work, plant- ing hundreds of tulips bulbs and adding a bird house. The committee extends their thanks to Greg Zook, who donated his time and bricks for the project; Commissioner Muhammad; Joe Beamish, grounds maintenance supervisor for the Parks Dept., and Councilor Nader Maroun. We will be hosting Lunch With the Easter Bunny, with the help of the Valley Men’s Club, on March 23 from 12 PM—2PM at the Valley American Legion. While the event is free, tickets will be required. Please check or the city's Facebook page www.syracuse.ny.us/parks for more details and information on how to get tickets. This event replaces the annual Easter Egg Hunt, and chil- dren will be able to enjoy more time with the Bunny. GLEN LEWIS AND HIS TEAM STEER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS This particular issue of Parks Perspectives focuses on improve- ments made to various facilities throughout the parks system over the past few months. Steering the progress of these projects for the Parks Department is the team from the Planning and Development Office, headed by Glen Lewis. Recent staff additions to that division include Yasmin Guevera, who works on green infrastructure, and Josh Zappola, a research associate assisting in data management. Glen has been working for the city nearly 25 years, and took Glen Lewis, standing in the foreground, over the supervisory role for Planning and Development about reviews plans with Josh Zappola and Yasmin 10 years ago.