PARKS PERSPECTIVES January-February 2012 — Issue #3 Let Parks and Recreation help with some of your new year‟s resolutions With the new year comes renewed promises of getting fit, exercising more and eating better. The Syracuse Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs can help with some of these resolutions with a variety of activities, facilities and fitness programs, whether you prefer working out by yourself, with your family or with a group. SENIOR ACTIVITIES For those 55 years of age or more, the Magnarelli Center at McChesney Park on the city’s northside has something every weekday, from basketball to yoga. Even pickleball! There is walking every weekday morning; weight training on Monday and Wednesday mornings; yoga on Tuesday and Thurs- day mornings; strength resistance and training on Tuesday mornings; body toning on Thursday mornings; basketball on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons; badminton on Tuesday after- noons; ping pong on Wednesdays; volleyball on Monday afternoons and Fri- day mornings; and pickleball on Thursday and Friday afternoons. (Information forms must be filled out at the Center and updated annually in April.) But what is pickleball, you may ask? According to the U.S. A. Pickleball Association, it is the fastest growing sport in North America. It is played on a court with a net that is 34 inches at the center with solid wood or com- posite paddles and a wiffle ball and its rules are very similar to badminton. It was developed in the mid-1960s by Joel Pritchard and some friends, and it was named for Pritchard’s dog, Pickles, who kept running off with the ball . Top photo: Volleyball at the Magnarelli Community Center at McChes- ney Park; bottom photo: pickleball at the Center CONTENTS The Cecile Center in the Valley section of the city has a variety of senior fitness programs, FOCUS ON FITNESS covering a range of abilities. Senior Programs — page 1 On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, there is a series of strength training, with weights and Creekwalk, Pools — page 4 balance on Mondays; an aerobics to music class and then a weights session on Wednesdays, and Fitness for Kids & Families — page 5 chair exercises and weights on Fridays. Healthy Cooking Recipe — page 5 On Tuesdays, there are two simple chair exercise segments, and a line dance class on Tuesdays Employee Spotlight — page 2 from 9 to 11 a.m., with all kinds of music featured. Volunteer Spotlight — page 3 Park Posts — page 3 (more on page 4) Roundball Recap — page 6 Skiddy Park Update — page 6 PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE BEGINNING ANY EXERCISE REGIMEN. www.syracuse.ny.us/parks 412 Spencer St., Syracuse, NY 13204 — (315) 473-4330 Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor Baye Muhammad, Commissioner John D. Walsh, Deputy Commissioner Plants are not the only things that have John pointed out trays and trays of seeds JOHN BIALY grown in the city’s Greenhouse on Onondaga lined up in the growing area of the Green- Avenue, adjacent to Lower Onondaga Park. house. Underneath the trays are heating sheets that provide a more consistent tem- So has gardener John Bialy. perature to promote growing. The crew hand waters all the plants, which, John ex- John started full-time with the Parks Dept. in plained, allows them more control, since the plants all differ in how much water they need. the Greenhouse in 1978, but he worked for seven summers prior, and he says that he’d been going there since he was about seven or John had training in computer technology, eight years old — spending time with his but he admits that he found that to be little uncle, Ben Kuppel, who had overseen the uninteresting. Yet, he applied his technologi- greenhouse operations for decades. cal know-how to his work at the Green- house, creating various databases on soil Today, John and the rest of the crew spend mixtures; watering patterns; and growing their spring, summer and fall months planting conditions for certain plants, in order to determine which species and varieties fared and tending to tens of thousands of flowers and shrubs in nearly every pocket of the city better than others. – the beds and planters downtown and in city Over the years, John has seen the demand parks and traffic medians, for example. for plants and flowers throughout the city John estimated that they put out an estimated grow, but so have the partnerships, he said. 80,000 plants by July 4th in about 400 areas Gardener John Bialy waters plants in the and planter pots. He is pleased to see that more and more neighborhood associations are helping in the Greenhouse. There is approximately plantings, which cultivates a greater interest 15,000 to 16,000 square feet of usable But that doesn't mean the crew is dormant space in the facility, including the growing during the winter months. and pride in the green spaces areas and helps to stem vandalism. area and the Atrium. DIANE HUNT reciprocated. Diane has worked at all the department’s centers, and during that time, with her calming and nurturing demeanor and On a weekday afternoon, at the Westmore- big smile, she has developed relationships land Center on the city’s east side, at least a dozen youngsters are there, playing with the with many of the young people. recreation aides and one another, watching television, and painting pictures. Some of the older kids will return with gifts on Mother’s Day or during the Christmas In the middle of it all is Diane Hunt, director season, and she admits that she is finding of the center, situated on Westmoreland herself tending to the youngsters of kids who Avenue, at Erie Boulevard East. She is well- had been at the centers a generation ago. suited for the job of working with young When not at the center or taking children on people, since she’s the oldest of seven, and a field trip, Diane can also be found working has raised three sons and is grandmother to at various special events during the year, and seven. has become a ―regular‖ at the Festival of Lights’ North Pole, in charge of the holiday treats. I love the kids, she says. Top right: Diane poses with some of the It’s a statement that has formed the founda- tion of her 20-year career with the Parks youngsters at the Westmoreland Center, from Department. left, Iyana Phillip, Ajerei Diaz, and Jakia How- ard. Bottom right: Diane and Joelle Dough- erty work at the recent Festival of Lights event And it’s apparent that her love for the kids is at Burnet Park. Neighborhood Tree Plantings A Success This year the Parks Department oversaw three container trees were planted by Onondaga large tree planting projects all supported Community College students in celebration of through Onondaga County’s Save The Rain OCCs 50th year in existence. Program – a federally mandated effort to limit stormwater pollution to Onondaga Lake At Union and Demong Parks and Schiller Park, and its tributaries using green infrastructure 104 bare-root trees were planted by over 80 (in this case trees). volunteers, including two busloads of ESF stu- dents, a caravan of students from SUNY Mor- Over 70 trees were planted in the Skunk City risville and the Onondaga Earth Corps. There Neighborhood this spring and fall after a long are no better labor force for tree planting and disruptive sewer separation project dug up than these groups! every road and sidewalk on Hartson, Herri- Andrew Maxwell, Katelyn Wright and Greg Michel, man, Hoefler, and Lydell Streets. Residents The Parks Department would like to especially (all from the Department of Planning and Sustain- had an opportunity to pick from a choice of thank Cornell Cooperative Extension for their ability) demonstrate their commitment to sustain- species. work in planning and training volunteers and ability by planting a tree at Schiller Park.. City – county arborist Steve Harris (in the red vest) over- to the Schiller Park Association for refresh- sees the crew. In the Court Woodlawn Neighborhood, 59 ments. PARKS POSTS SOME “COOL” EVENTS AT a..m. to 1:30 p.m., admission is $1.50 or $2.50 York, such as the Festival of Lights at Burnet admission with a skate rental. Excludes Park, the Breakfast with Santa, and a holiday WINTERFEST — Downtown Syracuse will school vacations. party at the Westmoreland Center. Special be the center of Syracuse Winterfest from thanks to: Price Chopper, Friehofer’s, C&S Feb. 15 through Feb. 26. Check out this Companies, Byrne Dairy, Deli-Boy, Ancient year’s ice creation at Clinton Square. For all THEME NIGHTS — Coming soon — the Theme Nights at Clinton Square Ice Rink on Order of Hibernians, Pensabene’s Casa the updated info on Winterfest events — the Grande, Keller Williams Realty, Sue Brewer, cook-offs, mix-offs, ice sculptures and more, various Saturday evenings, with special admis- sion prices. Stay tuned for more info. Daniel Case, Nikki Cawley, Richie Collins, check out syracusewinterfest.com. Joelle Dougherty, Britney Farmer, Jenna BATTER‟S UP — Softball registration for Godlewski, Kathleen Gratien, Diane Hunt,, Barb Kempf, Mike & Chris O’Brien, Brendan WHAT‟S COOKING AT THORNDEN? returning teams will be at Meachem Rink on Sammon, Dan Macko, Seamus Barry and Matt Members of the Thornden Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Returning and/or new teams can Koziol. Park Association will be cook- ing up some fun and tasty chili register on March 24th from 10 recipes at the Park’s Fieldhouse a.m. to 12 noon at Meachem Rink. Registration fee is $375, and includes a $110- AWARDS — The Parks Dept.