Syracuse parks commissioner outlines staffing changes, capital projects and plan for municipal dog shelter

Saisha Berg, commissioner of Syracuse City’s Department of Parks and Recreation, told councilors the department’s proposed budget holds a small net increase in permanent staff while shifting job classifications and committing capital dollars to planning and construction for several park projects, including a municipal dog shelter.

The presentation focused on personnel, vacancies and a mix of capital and grant-funded projects that city staff said aim to expand pool and playground capacity, improve accessibility, and address long‑standing shelter shortcomings. Berg opened by thanking staff and community partners and then walked through staffing changes and program highlights.

Berg said the department is proposing a limited number of new roles and some reclassifications: a landscape architect is being upgraded to a landscape architect II, an administrative aide position is being replaced by an administrative assistant, and the only wholly new permanent position listed is a GIS specialist to oversee Cityworks. "I also want to thank our seniors, our youth that use our rec centers and our programming, our contracted instructors," Berg said, noting several vacancies the department is working to fill.

Councilors and staff listed roughly 11 non‑seasonal vacancies across administration, grounds and recreation (Assistant Supervisor of Parks Ground Maintenance, Trails Coordinator, Storekeeper, program director, recreation activity specialist, senior recreation leader, therapeutic recreation specialist and recreation supervisor among them). Berg…