By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

While the coronavirus pandemic has forced the Lysander spray park to remain closed this year, the controversial facility is still making a splash in the parks and rec world.

The spray park has received the Exceptional Park Design Award from both the Central New York Recreation and Parks Society and the New York State Recreation and Parks Society. Megan Ball, director of recreation for the town of DeWitt and past president of the Central New York Recreation and Parks Society, presented the awards to Recreation Supervisor Tony Burkinshaw and Town Engineer Al Yager at the Oct. 1 Lysander Town Board meeting.

The spray park received the CNYRPS Exceptional Park Design Award for 2019, and CNYRPS submitted the park’s design to the NYSRPS for consideration for the state’s 2020 Exceptional Park Design Award. Burkinshaw said he received word of the awards a few weeks ago.

“It’s definitely a feather in our cap,” Burkinshaw told the Messenger. “It made the long road definitely worth it and hopefully next year … we can open back up.”

Deputy Supervisor Bob Geraci, who retired in 2009 as Onondaga County parks commissioner, said the awards show Lysander’s spray park is “tops in the state.”

“As a former parks guy, this award getting this award from the Central New York Recreation and Parks Society is prestigious enough, but getting it from New York State is a top-shelf thing,” Geraci said.. “You’re competing with folks from way out on Long Island, New York City, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, Watertown, Binghamton and smaller communities as well. It’s a rigorous process.”

Geraci and Burkinshaw also commended the spray park committee, a group of parents and community members who held fundraisers and rallied for the splash pad’s construction for nearly three years.

“Hats off to everybody in the back of the room too for making this possible. This was such a community effort,” Geraci said.

“I couldn’t have done it without you guys — a long three years, a long road,” Burkinshaw said. “You guys have always been behind the scenes but this award is going to hang up in the office and I’ll think of you guys every time I see it.”

Councilor Peter Moore also recognized two past elected officials — former Supervisor Joe Saraceni and former Councilor Bob Ellis — for their involvement in the project.

“Former board members Bob Ellis and Joe Saraceni put their heart and soul into that project because they believe in the project and they love their community,” Moore said.

Supervisor Bob Wicks said he appreciated the recognition for the town and its employees.

“It’s always nice to have recognition, and the fact that our employees got that recognition I know that they appreciate it and I appreciate it as well,” he said.

Town board sets budget work sessions

Also at the Oct. 1 meeting, the Lysander Town Board scheduled work sessions for the 2021 budget, which Town Clerk Dina Falcone delivered to the board.

Wicks encouraged residents to attend or watch the work sessions so they can give feedback at the public hearing.

“I would encourage everybody if you can’t attend to at least watch it on PAC-B,” he said.

Wicks said federal, state and county budget woes wrought by the pandemic would “trickle down” to towns, forcing local municipalities to make cuts.

“This is going to be an ugly year. There’s just not a lot of money there,” he said.

The work session schedule is as follows:

• Highway: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, Town Hall Auditorium

• Town Clerk/Parks and Recreation: 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, Town Hall Auditorium

• Engineer/Codes/Assessor: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, Large Group Room

The town asks attendees to practice social distancing. The work sessions will be recorded by PAC-B and will be posted to townoflysander.org and vimeo.com/pacbtv/.