Click here to see a slideshow of Sunnycrest Park in Summer.

Summer is as active a time in the park as winter. The park boasts:

• Shaded walking paths and numerous old staircases

• The Mariani Peace Garden and the McDermott Garden

• Athletic Fields and Courts

Sunnycrest Park has 1 lighted softball diamond and 1 lighted baseball diamond. There is a football stadium and an Olympic running track.
Sunnycrest Park has 3 tennis courts, 2 full-court and 2 half-court basketball courts.

• Playground

A modern recreation building and playground consisting of swings, slides, seesaws, and climbing bars.

• Golf Course

Sunnycrest Golf Course is a nine-hole, par-3 course, open daily from 7 AM to dusk, May 1 to October 15, weather permitting.

For more information, including golf fees and descriptions of holes, see the Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs website.

Take a walk through Sunnycrest Park (slide show)

As we moved into July, the Community Foundation once again generously recognized our efforts to improve the park and awarded us two grants. These grants allowed us to expmnd the native trees and shrubs in the Mariani Peace Garden and the McDermott Peace Garden. Karen Missell, Lisa McDermott and 50 students from the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) got together to do the planting. We are pleased to report they did a great job and the beauty of both gardens was enhanced.

During the summer months, the staff and clients from ARC came to Sunnycrest to water the gardens and tend the trails. SPA members Karen Missell, Lisa McDermott, Mike Behnke, Mike Egan, Kathy Kennedy, John Mariani and others also pitched in to keep the park looking beautiful. By the way, if you are interested in lending a helping hand (and we always need one) please join us at the Mariani Peace Garden at the end of the 200 Block of Clifton Place on Saturday morning at 10:00AM. We get together most Saturdays and of course you can help keep our park clean on your own.

Besides helping to plant, the students from ESF also helped in our annual August clean-up. This is the fourth year in a row that these wonderful students have helped us. Thank you. Also during August, we held our annual Police vs. Firefighters softball game at Skiddy Park. The event was well attended. All the kids got free t-shirts and crazy balloon creations. In case you are wondering, the Police team won. But as either team will tell you, they were playing for the sake of the kids – who are always a winner in all our hearts. And there was music in the air. Timeline put on a free concert at Sheridan Park that was enjoyed by all present.
The mood in September turned much more solemn as we remembered those that lost their lives on 9/11. A ceremony was held in the firehouse due to heavy rains. Pastor Bill gave a moving blessing. Many others spoke to remember and honor our fallen heroes.

The very next day, we held our annual Lunch with a Special Bunch. It was our vet’s picnic. We spent time with our brave veterans. It is always an inspiration to listen to them.

We continued to plant. To date, approximately 70 varieties of native plants have gone into the ground with another 29 more to come. There were other park improvements besides planting. Lowes dropped off a much appreciated donation of pavers for Sheridan Park. These will be used to encircle the new flag poles; one for an American flag and one each for the Police and Firefighters flags. When it is all done, it will make for a very impressive monument. It will be a place where not only the residents of Syracuse can visit and take pride in but also a destination for people visiting our city.

Finally in September the long anticipated statue was unveiled in the Mariani Peace Garden. If you haven’t seen it already, put this on your “To Do” list. It is a magnificent piece of art and further enhances the beauty of the garden. Our special thanks to Professor Ron DeRutte from Syracuse University for this creation. We also wish to thank Senator John DeFrancisco and City Parks Commissioner Pat Driscoll for their role in making this happen.