Council approves park donations, e-gaming program and lifeguard residency waiver requests

Commissioner Saisha Byrd, the city's Commissioner of Parks, presented several park-related items to the Syracuse City Common Council, including acceptance of a temporary half-pipe donation for skateboard use, a contract with a vendor to run an instructional e-gaming program at Wilson and Southwest recreation centers, a proposed amendment to Ordinance 96 to add a waiver of residency for lifeguards, and annual appropriations to the Syracuse Parks Conservancy.

Byrd described the donated structure as a half-pipe intended for short-term, temporary placement in parks such as Kirk Park so young people can “explore” skateboarding. The council did not record extended debate about liability or placement in the transcript; Byrd said she had shared photos with council members.

The council also reviewed Item 11, an agreement with Elite Gaming to provide instructional e-gaming programming at Wilson and Southwest recreation centers. A councilor noted logistics were in place and mentioned that a ribbon-cutting would be scheduled.

On lifeguards, Byrd said Syracuse currently operates Southwest and Clary Valley pools and is struggling to open Huntington Pool for lack of staff. She asked the council to amend the waiver-of-residency provision in Ordinance 96 — historically used during summer months — to apply during the school year as well, to expand the lifeguard applicant pool and encourage more city youth and parents to become lifeguards.

Byrd asked the council to appropriate $25,000 for the Syracuse Parks Conservancy to support parks; she said the conservancy has received the same amount the previous two years. The item was described as annual support for parks programming and maintenance.

The transcript records questions from councilors but no final recorded roll-call votes on these items in the public portion of the meeting.