Onondaga Park

Onondaga Park is a beautiful, turn-​of-​the-​century secret.
Cut straight from a late 1800s landscape, Onondaga Park boasts a classic appeal. This local treasure is hidden away in the Historic Strathmore Neighborhood, with large, Victorian-​era homes overlook the south-​end of the park. It’s there that tiny Hiawatha Lake quietly reminds us of how early 1900s Syracusans beat the heat of abbreviated summers (before Carrier). On the opposite side of the adjacent bath house, its modern, chlorinated successor serves as one of the few downtown pools.
The park has many picturesque features, making it a favorite for photographers and romantics. For instance, there’s a grand gazebo that sits 30 feet off-​shore, reachable only by a small catwalk. Nearby, an arched, stone bridge takes pedestrians over a corner of the pond. Overlooking it all is a grassy knoll, shaded by old oak trees and dotted with picnic tables.
There’s a playground for kids, and courts for basket-​ballers. For me, I love the occasional lakeside picnic lunch. It’s surprisingly quiet in the park.
Whether you’re looking to step back in time, and or step away for minute, Onondaga Park is a great place to do it.