Thornden Park is a park in Syracuse, New York, United States, which is the second largest in the city after Burnet Park. It was purchased by the city in 1921 and has become a favorite wedding location in the Syracuse park system. It is located in Westcott, and borders the University and University Hill neighborhoods. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994

History

Thornden Park began as a farm owned by Zebulon Ostrom, who sold it to a wealthy salt miner James P. Haskins around 1850. In 1921 the city purchased the land as part of the nationwide City Beautiful movement and added recreational features such as the ballfields and swimming pool. Currently, the garden hosts 368 different varieties of roses (3850 plants in all) that surround a central gazebo.

thumb|left|Thornden Park amphitheater

Amphitheater

Originally named Sylvn Theatre, Thornden Park's amphitheater was built in 1933. The opening day ceremony was rained out but the subsequent opening was attended by 10,000 people. It is built to seat 6,000 people in its concentric rings and open lawn in the middle of the amphitheater. The Syracuse Opera puts on a free show the first Sunday in August each year. Since 2003, the Syracuse Shakespeare Festival has presented its free, Shakespeare-in-the-Park program, currently the first two weekends of June.

Features

thumb|right|Public swimming pool

thumb|right|Lily Pond in June

  • Public swimming pool (50 m)
  • One multi-purpose sports field
  • Five tennis courts
  • Three basketball courts
  • Playground
  • Fitness trail
  • E.M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden
  • Outdoor amphitheater
  • Lily pond

Murals

<gallery widths="180px" heights="120px">

Image:Thornden-Park-mural01-2018.jpg|Carriage House

Image:Thornden-Park-mural02-2018.jpg|Trout Pond

Image:Thornden-Park-mural03-2018.jpg|Mills Rose Garden

Image:Thornden-Park-mural04-2018.jpg|Stewart Stand Pipe

Image:Thornden-Park-mural06-2018.jpg|Amphitheater

Image:Thornden-Park-mural07-2018.jpg|Davis Mansion

Image:Thornden-Park-mural08-2018.jpg|Ice Skating

Image:Thornden-Park-mural09-2018.jpg|Main Entrance

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<small>(Depictions of the history and selected features of Thornden Park, on the exterior of the pool building.)</small>

References

  • "Thornden Park", City of Syracuse Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Youth Programs
  • Thornden Park Association
  • Syracuse Rose Society
  • Syracuse Then and Now (n.d.)