Isaac Winters, 14, son of Dave and Chris Winters, enjoyed the cooler temperatures at Syracuse’s skate park Monday, July 13, by doing tricks on his scooter. The parks department recently spruced up the skate park with new railing and enclosures. Photos by Sarah Wright.

By Sarah Wright
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Parks and Recreation board members were apprised on the status of various park department projects during their regular meeting Monday, July 13.

Abigail Fawley, 5, gets air on her scooter while visiting the skate park with her father, Jared.

New rails and enclosures have been installed at the skate park. Superintendent Chad Jonsson stated the enclosures, in addition to looking nice, should cut down on noise from the park while also helping keep debris out from under the equipment.

The Veteran’s Memorial dam project is moving forward quickly, with Jonsson stating it is about two and a half weeks ahead of schedule.

“There has been some damage in the park,” Jonsson said. “Sidewalk that will need to be replaced. A whole lot of topsoil and seed will need to be done.”

Fencing has been temporarily removed on the downside of the dam, which will be reinstalled. Similar black fencing will be added to the south side of the park and on top of the dam, replacing the previously used chain-link fencing.

Beautification efforts are underway at Hoy’s Beach, though the extreme heat has hindered plantings. Additionally, the designers for the new Henry Ward Park playground were met with and are working on updated designs.

A concern in regard to the county’s Beacon GIS website and its plotting of Lakeside Park was brought before the park board by resident Michael Brower, who stated a residential fence had been placed within the park’s northeast corner as shown by the Beacon website. This fence sections off some beach front property.

“I agree that’s where (the line) was originally,” Park board advisor Donna Workman, who is one of the homeowners within the questioned area, said. “We purchased that from the town of Syracuse.” She noted the sale happened many years ago.

“There’s been no taxes ever paid on it,” Brower said. “This is what I suggested to Henry DeJulia years ago: The town needs to approach the county surveyor to see what’s actually happened. If you have a deed, it is not registered correctly. The easiest way to tell if something is public right a way or public park is to go on Beacon and click on report. It will tell you the taxes and the tax history. If it belongs to a private person, there are taxes paid.”

Jonsson will speak with county surveyor Mike Kissinger about the matter.

In other park news:

• The Lakeside Park’s barricades worked well the Fourth of July, and there were no incidents.

• The proposed 2021 park department budget was approved by board members, with board member Mary Hursh dissenting in regard to the addition of merit-based pay raises since the town is already implementing a 2% wage increase.

• The board approved a new printer/copier contract with Advanced Imaging Solutions Inc.

• Planned park programs include Geohunt, which wraps up Aug. 10; town wide garage sales, July 30-Aug. 1; Syracuse Kid Olympics, Aug. 22; and Princess Party is Sept. 19. Syracuse Artisans & Farmers Market also continues every Saturday until Sept. 12.

Next park board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10.