Nonprofit seeks opinions on what should be done with Onondaga Lake

By Sarah Hall

Editor

A local nonprofit wants to know what you see for the future of Onondaga Lake.

F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse, a civic group that has been conducting research on the lake and the surrounding community for nearly 20 years, is developing a survey to determine how Onondaga County residents would like to see the lake used in the future. According to F.O.C.U.S. communications director Dee Klees, the survey’s results will be used to help create a report with recommendations on use of the lake that will ultimately be submitted to County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

F.O.C.U.S. kicked off its research with a “snapshot survey” Saturday, July 16, at the Onondaga Cup and Lakefest event, asking attendees what they’d like to see at the lake.

“The snapshot survey is a way to build awareness and interest in participating in the full survey that will inform a report on how the people of Central New York want to see the waters of Onondaga Lake used in the future,” Klees said. “It’s also a way to gather ideas that may not have been considered in preparation for that survey.”The snapshot survey revealed the lake’s importance to the community.

“We learned that the public has a huge desire to be on or near the lake,” said F.O.C.U.S. Executive Director Charlotte “Chuckie” Holstein. “The many family groups that visited the F.O.C.U.S. booth expressed how happy they felt to be able to be close up to the water. And, as one person said to me, ‘It doesn’t smell anymore.’ We learned that we need to learn even more in order to make an honest and full report to the community and community leaders.”

Klees said many of those who responded to the snapshot survey expressed an interest in swimming in the lake. Others had more imaginative ideas.

“Children came up with some of the most creative ideas,” she said. “One wants a parade of floats on the water like the Macy’s Christmas parade. Another would like to see penguins in the lake. Others expressed a desire for events on the lake.”

From the snapshot survey, F.O.C.U.S. will develop a more in-depth set of questions that will be made available to the community some time this fall.

“The survey will include photos and ideas gathered at the Onondaga Cup event, along with the analyzed data from key stakeholder interviews, surveys, focus groups and an advisory group,” Klees said.

Anyone interested in taking the survey can learn more and register at the website onondagalakesurvey.org to be notified when the online survey goes live. That link also goes to the focussyracuse.org site where you can learn more about F.O.C.U.S. While no deadline is available yet,

Klees said participants will likely have “months [rather] than days” to complete the survey.
Klees and Holstein emphasized that this survey is a local effort, developed by people who understand the troubled history of the lake as well as its importance to the Central New York community.

“[This is] local research by local citizens for local consumption,” said Holstein.