named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
#SYR_SIGHTS
Photo platform initiative at scenic park locations encouraging public engagement and social media sharing to highlight seasonal changes in nature.
Guardian Award
Annual award recognizing individuals or organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment and leadership in preserving and promoting Syracuse's parks and green spaces.
James Pass Arboretum Restoration
Effort to restore and accredit the historic arboretum as an educational and ecological sanctuary, including infrastructure improvements and community engagement.
Neighborhood Greening Grants
Grants of up to $2,000 awarded to community-based groups for small-scale park improvement projects, supporting stewardship and neighborhood vitality.
Onondaga Greenhouse Revitalization
Project to renovate and reopen the historic Onondaga Greenhouse for public use, focusing on community access and horticultural programming.
Syracuse Swims On
Partnership campaign to raise funds and keep city pools open after budget cuts; raised $104,000 in 2021 through community donations.
Syrathon
Series of eight road races held in city parks that promote physical activity, community involvement, and park appreciation; participants earn medals by completing cumulative race miles.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 4 activities
- Funding park improvement projects and community initiativesRaises and distributes funds to support park improvements, including capital projects such as pool maintenance, dog park development, basketball court renovations, and skate park construction, with over $100,000 raised for community park initiatives and $171,000 funded to programs and projects in city parks since 2023.
- Operating and managing designated parks and facilitiesDirectly manages specific parks including Barry Park and the James Pass Arboretum, providing recreational amenities and maintaining the arboretum as a Level 1 accredited site.
- Providing administrative and fiscal support to neighborhood greenspace groupsOffers fiscal sponsorship and administrative assistance to community groups organizing around local parks and green spaces to build organizational capacity.
- Stewardship and improvement of Syracuse parks and natural habitatsProtects, restores, and improves Syracuse parks, public lands, and natural habitats through a public-private partnership with the City of Syracuse, including general clean-up, invasive species clearing, flower planting, tree planting, and playground mulching with engineered wood fiber.
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Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
- Awarding Greening Grants to community organizationsFunds community-based park and recreation projects through competitive Greening Grants of up to $2,000, supporting stewardship, outreach, and capacity-building activities for neighborhood groups.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Community engagement through events and programmingHosts special events including annual golf tournaments, family picnics with live music, summer Bonus Fun Runs, musical events, and the Syrathon Series—a footrace tour connecting eight road races across city neighborhoods—to promote year-round physical activity and community engagement.
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Skatepark Development and Youth Skate Programs 1 activity
- Developing and supporting youth skate programs and facilitiesTransforms underused spaces into community-designed skate hubs, including planning cement features and halfpipes, installing exhibition ramps, and developing after-school and summer programs offering free access to donated skateboards and supervised instruction.
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Professional Excellence Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognizing community park stewards through the Guardian AwardAnnually honors individuals with exceptional commitment to parks and green spaces via the Guardian Award, including a commemorative plaque and press release.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Installing public engagement installations in parksInstalls #SYR_SIGHTS platforms at scenic lookout points in city parks to encourage public interaction with nature through photography and social media sharing.
- Producing educational and community-focused mediaProduces a seasonal digital magazine highlighting Syracuse's parks, nature, history, and community stories to foster public connection and awareness.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$126K
Contributions & grants$123K98%
Program service revenue$3K2%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$99K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$30K
Grants paid out$14K
balance sheet
Total assets$106K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$105K
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +56.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 5
- Christopher Wiles — Trustee
- Demarace Moore — Trustee
- Heather McClelland — Executive Director
- Liam Kirst — Trustee
- Paul Pflanz — Trustee
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Barry Park Association Partner — Collaborates on fundraising efforts to improve the playground at Barry Park.
- Central New York Community Foundation Partner — Cooperates with SPC in administering the Neighborhood Greening Grants Program.
- City of Syracuse Partner — Collaborating with the City of Syracuse to transform unused tennis courts at Kirk Park into a community skate hub.
- City of Syracuse Partner — Partnered with the Syracuse Parks Conservancy on the Syracuse Swims On campaign to keep public pools open.
- City of Syracuse Partner — Partnership to manage and enhance parks and public lands.
- City of Syracuse Partner — Public-private partnership to manage and enhance parks and public lands.
- Everson Museum Partner — Reusing the ramp from the Everson Museum’s “Dead End” exhibition in the Kirk Park DIY skate park.
- Jim & Juli Boeheim Foundation Partner — Donated $35,000 to the SPC to fund the renovation of the Westmoreland Park basketball courts.
- Lowe’s Partner — Donated 1,580 flower bulbs for the Elmwood Bulb Blitz project in partnership with the Syracuse Parks Conservancy.
- SUNY-ESF Partner — Collaborated with the State College of Forestry, now SUNY-ESF, in the original design of the arboretum as an outdoor museum of trees and woody plants.
- Syracuse City Parks and Recreation Department Partner — Formal partner in managing and improving city parks through a Memorandum of Understanding.
- Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs Partner — Collaborates with the Syracuse Parks Conservancy through joint initiatives and programming.
- Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation, and Youth Programs Partner — Cooperates with SPC in administering the Neighborhood Greening Grants Program.
- Syracuse Parks and Recreation Partner — Co-organizes the Syrathon Series and collaborates on race coordination and community outreach.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Led Stewardship with Institutional Supportmethodology: community_led_stewardshipBy supporting community-led park improvement projects through grant prioritization and by managing administrative and fiscal responsibilities, the organization enables local residents to lead stewardship efforts, increasing local ownership, engagement, and sustainable park maintenance because resident-driven initiatives are more closely aligned with community needs and values.
- Public-Private Partnership for Park Managementmethodology: public_private_partnershipBy operating through a formal public-private partnership with the City of Syracuse, the organization leverages municipal resources and authority to enhance and sustainably manage public parks, achieving greater impact than either sector could alone because shared governance enables coordinated investment and long-term planning.
- Recreation and Storytelling as Engagement Toolsmethodology: place_based_engagementBy integrating recreation, storytelling, and community events with park programming, the organization fosters emotional and cultural connections to green spaces, increasing public engagement and support because experiential and narrative-based activities build identity and belonging around local parks.