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Onondaga County Adds Newest Park on Otisco Lake Onondaga County Adds Newest Park on Otisco Lake

By Toluwalase Famuyide

FAMUYIDE: ALONG THE STUNNING VIEW OF OTISCO LAKE COMES A BRAND NEW PARK FOR RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL NEW YORK. IN AN EFFORT TO GIVE NATURE-GOERS MORE ACCESS TO WHAT ONONDAGA COUNTY HAS TO OFFER…

COUNTY EXECUTIVE RYAN MCMAHON SAYS THE ADDITION OF THE PARK HELPS BRING OUT MORE DIVERSE GROUPS WHO MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE.

McMAHON: “IT’S A SPECIAL PLACE AND NOT EVERYBODY GETS TO GO, ESPECIALLY IN OUR SOUTHERN AND WESTERN TOWNS. THEY’RE NOT AS DENSELY POPULATED, THERE NOT AS DEVELOPED, AND THAT’S A GOOD THING; MORE PEOPLE SHOULD COME OUT AND ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER HERE”

FAMUYIDE: THE NEW OTISCO LAKE PARK FEATURES A SMALL BRIDGE AND A TRAIL TO THE WATERFRONT… AS WELL AS A SMALL PARKING LOT FOR VISITORS.

FAMUYIDE: NOW THIS IS ONONDAGA COUNTY’S FIRST PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IN THE FINGER LAKES AND THE ONONDAGA PARKS COMMISSIONER SAYS THEY’RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH ANY PART OF THIS NATURE SO PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND ENJOY”

KELLEY: “WE ARE EXCITED TO ACQUIRE THIS PROPERTY JUST FOR THOSE REASONS.FOLKS CAN COME OUT… GO FOR A WALK, GO FOR A HIKE, ENJOY NATURE. SO IT’S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A GETAWAY… QUALITY OF LIFE IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US… “)

FAMUYIDE: AND RESIDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY CAN BE HAPPY WITH THE EXPANSION AND WITH MCMAHON… MCMAHON SAYS HE AND THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE HAVE DONE MORE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO EXPAND WATERFRONT ACCESS IN THE PARK SYSTEM… THEN WE’VE SEEN IN THE PAST 50.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Onondaga County officially unveiled the latest addition to its park system Tuesday morning in the town of Otisco.

The new park, which is centered at giving visitors a chance to admire the nature on display, is located at the end of Otisco Lake on Otisco Valley Road.

The county partnered with the Finger Lakes Land Trust and the Department of Environmental Conservation to acquire the land from its previous owner. Onondaga County executive Ryan McMahon has made it clear that minimal changes will take place in order to preserve the park as a natural setting. 

McMahon also stressed that the introduction of the park in Otisco should give people a reason to come outside and enjoy what Onondaga County has on display.

park
Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon and other officials unveil the county’s newest park.
© 2022 James Kattato

“It’s a special place, not everyone gets to go (enjoy nature) especially in our southern and western towns,” McMahon said. “More people should come out and enjoy what we have to offer here”

The new park also has lake officials from Otisco excited for what’s in store. Tim Creamer, Otisco Lake Preservation Association president, believes this new park is a foundation for generations to come.

“We’re hoping that this gets seen and used and people continue to appreciate what we have in Central New York as far as the beautiful finger lakes.”

This is the first piece of real estate that Onondaga County has purchased in the Finger Lakes.

 

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