• Apply for one of the following Exemptions: Disability & Limited Income, Clergy, Non Profit Organizations (Parts 1&2), Senior Citizens & Limited Income. Firefighters and Ambulance Workers and Agriculture.
• Please call or email us for more information on qualifications.
  • Call Us
  • Email
• Renew an Exemption
  • Click Here to view all PDF files of Exemption Renewals
• View my Tax Bill
  • Click Here to View Your Tax Bill

Phone Number

315.469-3144

Location

5020 Ball Road
Syracuse, NY
13215

Get Directions

 Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 4:30 pm

MISSION STATEMENT

The Town of Onondaga Parks & Recreation Department will be responsible for providing quality facilities, grounds, programs, and leisure services to all residents of the Town of Onondaga.  We will strive to provide the highest quality programs and facilities through strong, imaginative, and caring leadership.

Parks and Recreation Director
Charry Lawson

About Our Parks

The Town of Onondaga Parks & Recreation Department has four town parks totaling over 50 acres of developed parkland.  These parks are located within special park districts supported by taxes collected from within each district.   Parks are officially open from May 1-October 31, 9:00 AM - dusk.  Permits for use of the parks, including a pavilion and/or shelter areas, and field or court use, are issued through the Parks & Recreation Office.

Town residents can reserve a pavilion beginning April 1. Non-residents can apply beginning May 1.  

Groups/organizations need to be located within the Town of Onondaga to be given resident status. A group member that is a resident does not count.  

All permits require a fee and security deposit. Fees depend on residency, group size, and desired use.  

Although all parks have restrooms, they are only open when there is a permit, or when we have a scheduled program held at that site. Otherwise, the bathrooms will be locked.  

You may call the office to inquire for availability, however, actual reservations can be made only when accompanied by a completed form of payment or online at our website: https://parks.townofonondaga.gov

Park Policies

• SMOKING PROHIBITED
• ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PROHIBITED
• NO GLASS BOTTLES/CONTAINERS
• ALL PERMIT TRASH IS TO BE CARRIED OUT
• NO PETS ALLOWED
• PERMITS DO NOT GIVE YOU EXCLUSIVE PARK RIGHTS
• LOUD MUSIC AND SPEAKERS PROHIBITED
• ADDITIONAL RULES LISTED ON PERMIT APPLICATION

Click here for more information on the Senior Center

Frequently Asked Questions:

Meet your Town Board! From left, Town Councilors Kathy Fedrizzi and Ellen Magnarelli Terrien, Town Supervisor John Mahar, and Town Councilors Lisa Goodwin and John Wheatley

The Town Board is responsible for:

• Developing and adopting ordinances and local laws affecting the public health, safety and welfare; and enforcement of the same
• Overseeing all Town Departments including Assessor, Building & Codes, Parks & Recreation and the Senior Center
• Developing, reviewing and adopting the Town budget and administration of Town assets and properties
• Appointing officers, commissions, boards and other personnel necessary to administer the Town's affairs
• Reviewing and approving bids for town services, materials and equipment
• Authorizing expenditures for specific projects
• Contracting with fire and emergency services
• Communicating with Town residents as to Town operations and responding to resident input

The Town is composed of the Town Supervisor and four Town Councilors. All positions are elected, part-time positions.

The Supervisor serves a two-year term and the Councilors serve  four-year terms.

A majority of the Board members must be present in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of each Board member is recorded in the official minutes of the meetings. An affirmative vote of a majority of all members of the Board is required for the adoption of any action, motion or legislation.

All Town Board meetings are open to the public.

Janet Hillery, Town Clerk

Theresa Allen, Deputy Clerk

Rosemary Riley, Clerical Assistant

We are the one-stop location for a variety of services to make residents' lives simpler.

In addition to these resident services, the Town Clerk is the Recording Secretary for the Town. As such, she authors Minute Books, which are the official record of the activities of Town government. The resulting volumes are retained permanently for legal and historic purposes. The Town Clerk is the custodian of all Town records, responsible for active files, storage and disposition of inactive records as well as careful maintenance of archived materials.

We look forward to seeing and hearing from you!

Welcome to the Town of Onondaga!

Established in 1798, our town encompasses 65-square-miles of residential, business, agricultural and urban areas with a population of 23,000+. It includes Cedarvale, Howlett Hill, Navarino, Nedrow, Onondaga Hill, Sentinel Heights, South Onondaga, Southwood, Split Rock and Taunton.

Our Parks & Recreation Department maintains playgrounds, ball fields, pickleball and tennis courts, and picnic areas and hosts a wide selection of recreational programs for children and adults year-round as well as as a variety of summer camps and field trips for kids. Likewise, our Senior Center gives older residents opportunities to participate in ongoing wellness, nutrition and leisure programs and activities. Residents enjoy discounted fees for most Parks & Rec and Senior Center programs. 

Town Hall is home to Justice Court and the offices of our Supervisor, Assessor, Tax Receiver, Codes Enforcement and Town Clerk through which you can access a host of services. We also share building space with the Town Historical Society and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office South Station.

Our Highway Department keeps 100+ miles of roads paved and plowed year-round and manages an annual junk pickup and ongoing seasonal brush cleanup. And our seven outstanding volunteer fire departments help keep residents safe in case of medical and fire emergencies.

As always, please reach out to us if you have questions about life in our amazing town!

 Very truly yours,

John P. Mahar, Town Supervisor

Important Town Reports:

September 2025 Moody's Rating and Report: September 2025 Moodys Report.pdf