Onondaga County Parks

Adopt a Park

Support your Onondaga County Parks... Consider adopting and providing ongoing TLC for special sections of parks, trails, and gardens and/or dedicating your group to an intensive half-day cleanup of buildings and grounds at one of your favorite parks. Below is a list of parks, potential projects and ideas, some current partners and contact information. Groups and individuals are encouraged. The possibilities are endless... new ideas are always welcome!

Onondaga Lake Park

Possible Projects:

  • Salt Museum grounds
  • Marina grounds
  • Wegmans Good Dog Park grounds
  • A mile of trail of the East Shore Recreation Trail
  • Shoreline Walking Trail
  • West Shore Trail

Current Partners:

  • Gravina Nursery – Salt Museum Tram Stop Circle
  • Onondaga Community College Recreation Dept. – Willow Bay Tram Stop Circle
  • CNY Nursery & Landscape Association – Maintains a landscape bed at the Parkway entrance to the park

Contact: Dale Grinolds, Park Superintendent (315) 453-6712 • dgrinolds@ongov.net

Oneida Shores

Possible Projects:

  • Arrowhead Lodge grounds
  • Seasonal landscaping at Arrowhead Lodge
  • Spring Clean-up at the Beach

Contact: Gary Lopez, Park Superintendent (315) 676-7366 • glopez@ongov.net

Beaver Lake Nature Center

Possible Projects:

  • Pumpkin Carvers (end of October)
  • Trail upkeep

Contact: Meg Valovage, Volunteer Coordinator (315) 638-2519 • megvalovage@hotmail.com

Rosamond Gifford Zoo

Possible Projects:

  • Painting throughout the zoo
  • Trail upkeep
  • Many other volunteer projects available, click here to learn more.

Current Program:

  • Adopt an Animal

Contact: Ellen Vaughn, Volunteer Coordinator (315) 435-8511x111 • evaughn@rosamondgiffordzoo.org

Carpenters Brook Fish Hatchery / Cemeteries / Jordan Level / Otisco Lake Park

Possible Projects:

  • Fish Stocking (Spring)
  • Placing flags on headstones on Veterans Day
  • Adjusting grave markers
  • Spring clean-up
  • Brush clean-up
  • Staining/painting

Current Partners (Jordan Level):

  • Wheeler’s Farm & Home
  • Elbridge True Value
  • Jordan Conservation Club

Contact: Bill Lansley, Parks Commissioner (315) 451-7275

Highland Forest

Possible Projects:

  • Trail Cleanup
  • Painting the east side of Saw Mill Building
  • Shelter maintenance on trails

Contact: Brian Kelley, Park Superintendent (315) 683-5550 • bkelley@ongov.net

During your visit to Onondaga County Parks, you may be photographed, videotaped, or filmed by Onondaga County Parks or authorized parties. Your attendance/admission serves as permission for use of these images by Onondaga County Parks. Commercial photography or filming is prohibited without permission of Onondaga County Parks.