Thorndon Park volunteers propose 1-mile mulched loop; board notes accessibility and coordination with Parks Department

Representatives of the Thornton Park Association presented a proposal to create looping walking trails in Thorndon Park at the Syracuse Landmark Preservation Board meeting on June 26. The board voiced support for the concept while noting accessibility limits and the need to coordinate with the Parks Department.

The presenter, speaking on behalf of the Thornton Park Association and city stakeholders, described a two-phase plan. Phase 1 is a roughly 1-mile loop shown as the purple route; where permanent hard surfaces exist the plan proposes reusing those paths, and where no path exists the plan calls for four-foot-wide, four-inch-deep mulched trails. The association emphasized the project would be volunteer-built and initially unmarked to allow “desire paths” to form naturally.

The presenter said the plan seeks to link historic features of the park and to reuse existing material where possible. “One of the things that also the board should be aware of is that the parks department is planning on replacing the pool... that will be a major construction project that will need to be flexible with the path around that area,” the presenter said. Board members asked whether tree or shrub removal would be required and were told no trees would be removed and only some undergrowth would be cleared to preserve canopy.

Board members and the presenter noted the trails would not be wheelchair accessible and that any benches or more permanent fixtures would require coordination with the Parks Department and further review. The board did not take formal action; the presentation served as a discussion and informational item to provide feedback to the association and staff.