Onondaga County Parks

What Onondaga County Parks does

Onondaga County Parks is the parks and recreation department of Onondaga County Government in New York, operating a public park system across Central New York. The department manages 15 major parks, nature centers, and recreational facilities including Beaver Lake Nature Center, Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, Highland Forest, Onondaga Lake Park, Oneida Shores Park, Jamesville Beach Park, Pratt's Falls Park, Spafford Forest, Otisco Lake Park, Edgecliff Park/Trail, Lock 51 Park, Hopkins Road Softball Park, NBT Bank Stadium, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and Cemeteries & Memorials. The system supports 40+ activity categories ranging from archery and hiking to canoeing, disc golf, nature programs, wellness programs, swimming, and cross-country skiing. The Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview functions as a commercial concert venue within the parks system, hosting major touring artists.

Name

Onondaga County Parks

Legal name

Onondaga County Parks

Website

https://onondagacountyparks.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Onondaga County Parks is the parks and recreation department of Onondaga County, New York, managing 15 parks, nature centers, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and the Empower FCU Amphitheater, serving Central New York residents with outdoor recreation, nature education, events, and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Parks & Recreation Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), National/State Park Campgrounds & Public Campgrounds (THAMAJAI)

Keywords

• Public parks management
• Recreational facilities
• Nature education programs
• Event venue rentals
• Community recreation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Liverpool

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Park Admission Fees: Onondaga County Parks charges vehicle admission fees at most parks. Standard park admission is $5 per vehicle. This provides revenue for park maintenance and operations.
2. Facility and Venue Rentals: The parks system rents out facilities including Arrowhead Lodge at Oneida Shores Park and Camp Brockway at Pratt's Falls for picnics, weddings, and events. Additional rental facilities include pavilions, shelters, and campgrounds.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Onondaga County Parks hosts concerts and large events at the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview featuring major artists (Phish, Tim McGraw, Pitbull, etc.) with ticket sales generating revenue through venue partnerships.
4. Event Admission and Activity Fees: Special events charge admission fees including the Golden Harvest Festival ($5/adult, $1/child), various outdoor activities (kayak tours at $18-$20), and nature programs with registration fees.
5. Concessions and Vendor Fees: Parks generate revenue from food vendors at events, concessions at the amphitheater, and vendor fees at festivals like the Golden Harvest Festival and CNY Pagan Pride Day.
6. Program Registrations: Nature programs, educational classes, wellness programs, youth camps, and group tours generate registration fees from participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Onondaga County Parks operates a regional network of 15 public parks and recreational facilities across Onondaga County, New York, providing outdoor recreation access, nature education, sports and wellness programming, and event venue rentals. The system includes major attractions such as Beaver Lake Nature Center, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Highland Forest, Onondaga Lake Park, Oneida Shores Park, Pratt's Falls Park, NBT Bank Stadium, and the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview, supporting more than 40 activity types and 100+ community events annually.

Product overview

Onondaga County Parks is a public parks and recreation system operated by Onondaga County, New York. The organization manages a portfolio of parks, nature centers, recreational facilities, and activity programs. The core offering consists of park lands and facilities including Beaver Lake Nature Center, Highland Forest, Onondaga Lake Park, NBT Bank Stadium, and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Facility rentals for events are available through Arrowhead Lodge and Camp Brockway. The parks system offers diverse activity programs including athletics, camping, nature education, and water sports. An online events calendar system provides information about concerts at the Empower FCU Amphitheater, fitness programs, nature walks, and community events throughout the park system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Onondaga County Parks: County parks and recreation department operating multiple parks and facilities including nature centers, beaches, forests, and athletic facilities.

Products and services

• Onondaga County Parks System A network of 15 public parks and recreational facilities operated by Onondaga County, New York, providing outdoor spaces, nature preserves, beaches, forests, sports fields, and historic sites across Central New York for general public use.
• Beaver Lake Nature Center A nature preserve featuring wetlands, hiking trails, boardwalks, and environmental education programs including canoeing, birding, and nature photography, operating as a membership-based facility.
• Rosamond Gifford Zoo A zoological park featuring diverse animal exhibits and conservation education programs, hosting recurring events such as Brew at the Zoo, Asian Elephant Extravaganza, and Yoga with the Penguins/Elephants.
• Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview An outdoor concert venue operating within the parks system, hosting major musical performances and entertainment events with artists such as Phish, Tim McGraw, Pitbull, and Jason Aldean.
• Facility Rentals - Arrowhead Lodge, Camp Brockway, and Pavilions Event venue rental services including Arrowhead Lodge at Oneida Shores Park, Camp Brockway at Pratt's Falls, and picnic shelters for weddings, corporate events, picnics, and group gatherings.
• Nature Programs and Activity Programs Fee-based recreational programs including archery, athletic fields, camping, canoeing/kayaking, cross-country skiing, disc golf, fishing, hiking, nature programs, pickleball, swimming, volleyball, wellness programs, and seasonal activities, with member and non-member pricing tiers at Beaver Lake Nature Center.
• Events Calendar System Online event calendar and registration system providing information and ticketing access for park events, concerts, fitness programs, nature walks, festivals, and community activities across the parks system.
• NBT Bank Stadium A sports stadium venue hosting baseball games and community athletic events within the parks system.
• Highland Forest A forested park offering outdoor recreational activities including camping, hiking, and nature exploration.
• Onondaga Lake Park A lakefront park featuring walking trails, the Willow Bay area, Long Branch Park, and the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center, hosting community events such as the Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival.
• Pratt's Falls Park A park featuring waterfalls, hiking trails, and outdoor recreational activities, with Camp Brockway serving youth groups.
• Oneida Shores Park A park offering lakefront access, boat launches, Arrowhead Lodge event rentals, and outdoor recreational facilities.
• Jamesville Beach Park A beach park offering swimming, picnicking, and waterfront recreational activities.
• Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery A fish hatchery and educational facility offering trout stocking programs and public education about aquatic life.
• Spafford Forest A forested preserve offering hiking and nature exploration opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1,000,000 in grants awarded since 2002 through Arc Race fundraising supporting people with developmental disabilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Oswego HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOswego Health sponsored Free Canoe Day at Beaver Lake Nature Center, waiving canoe rental fees for the end-of-summer event. Park admission still applied. Sponsorship supports community health and outdoor recreation access.
• ALS AssociationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerALS Association hosts the annual Walk to Defeat ALS at Long Branch Park. The 2026 event aims to raise $275,000 with $81,836 already raised. Partnership provides venue and supports ALS research and local patient services.
• CNY Perinatal and Infant Bereavement ResourcesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCNY Perinatal and Infant Bereavement Resources hosts the Walk to Remember at Willow Bay on the first Sunday of October, supporting pregnancy and infant loss awareness month.
• Spina Bifida Association of New York StateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpina Bifida Association of New York State holds Walk-N-Roll events at Willow Bay to raise funds for spina bifida awareness and support programs.
• Arc of Onondaga FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArc of Onondaga Foundation hosts the 32nd Annual Arc Race at Long Branch Park, supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Has given over $1,000,000 in grants since 2002.
• National Celiac AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational Celiac Association hosts Celiac Through Changing Times walk/run at Willow Bay, advocating for individuals with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivities.
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCMTA hosts Walk 4 CMT at Willow Bay, raising awareness for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and supporting nationwide efforts for CMT research and patient support.
• Upstate Medical UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUpstate Medical University healthcare providers lead the Walk with a Doc program at Onondaga Lake Park, providing health education and promoting physical activity.
• Friends of the Rosamond Gifford ZoocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFriends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo presents Brew at the Zoo (30th anniversary 2026) and other fundraising events supporting the zoo's conservation mission.
• Kelleigh's CauseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKelleigh's Cause organizes the Chocolate Challenge charity race at Long Branch Park, supporting Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM) and rare disease research.
• Central New York Orienteering ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCentral New York Orienteering Club hosts Orienteering Open House at Pratt's Falls Park, providing outdoor education and navigation skill-building.
• Apraxia KidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerApraxia Kids hosts the Syracuse Walk for Apraxia at Willow Bay, supporting children with apraxia of speech through awareness and research fundraising.
• American Indian Law AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAmerican Indian Law Alliance organizes the 11th Annual Haudenosaunee Wooden Stick Festival at Onondaga Lake Park, celebrating Indigenous lacrosse culture and the origins of the game at Onondaga Lake.
• Church of the GreenwoodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch of the Greenwood hosts CNY Pagan Pride Day at Long Branch Park, one of the largest pagan festivals in the Northeast with 90+ vendors, food donations to Food Bank of CNY, and 1,632+ attendees.
• Tompkins Community BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTompkins Community Bank sponsors the Rosamond Cup golf tournament at Tuscarora Golf Club, supporting the Rosamond Gifford Zoo's mission of saving species and conservation education.
• Syracuse Chargers Track ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSyracuse Chargers Track Club hosts free Thursday Night Fun Run at Onondaga Lake Park, promoting community fitness and running.
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDEC hosts Learn to Fish events at Onondaga Lake, providing fishing instruction, equipment, and bait for beginners at the Onondaga Lake Visitors Center.
• Empower FCU Amphitheater at LakeviewcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmpower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview (490 Restoration Way, Syracuse) hosts major concerts featuring artists like Phish, Tim McGraw, Pitbull, and Jason Aldean. Venue operates within the parks system for entertainment events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo): Major zoological operator running multiple NYC-area zoos and conservation programs. Comparable as a broad zoo incumbent with similar mission (conservation, education, fundraising events like Brew at the Zoo) operating at substantially larger scale.
• New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: State-level public parks operator managing 250+ parks and historic sites across New York. Comparable as a broader public-sector parks incumbent with overlapping activities (camping, beaches, trails, events) and significantly larger scale.
• Audubon Society of New York State: Statewide nature-education and conservation organization operating sanctuaries and nature programs. Comparable as a nature-education provider with overlapping programming in birding, nature walks, and environmental education.

Regional players

• Constellation Brands - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC): Upstate New York outdoor amphitheater hosting major concert tours. Comparable as a regional outdoor concert venue operator competing for the same touring artist economics and audience in the Central/Northern NY region.
• Saratoga Performing Arts Center: Upstate New York amphitheater hosting concerts and residencies. Comparable as a regional amphitheater peer competing for similar touring acts and seasonal audiences in the broader Upstate NY market.
• Ithaca Area Parks and Recreation: Regional parks system in the Finger Lakes region offering trails, gorges, and recreation programming. Comparable as a regional Upstate NY parks operator with similar activity mix and seasonal visitor demand patterns.

Direct peers

• City of Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs: Municipal parks and recreation department operating parks, pools, and community programs within the City of Syracuse. Directly comparable as a local-government peer operating in the same metropolitan market with overlapping programmatic mission.
• Seneca Park Zoo Society: Mid-sized regional zoo in Rochester, NY offering animal exhibits, education, and member-based programming. Comparable as a regional zoo peer with similar event programming (fundraising events, member structures) and visitor profile.
• Monroe County Parks Department: County-operated parks system in the Rochester, NY region managing beaches, golf courses, sports complexes, and event venues. Highly comparable as a peer county parks operator with overlapping facility types and event programming.
• Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry: County-level public parks system operating multiple parks, beaches, and recreation facilities in Western New York. Directly comparable as a same-state county parks department with a similar operating model, revenue mix, and governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/onondagacoparks
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/OnondagaCountyParks
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Onondaga-County-Parks/174484464835
• Instagraminstagram.com/onondagacountyparks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/onondaga-county-parks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Onondaga County Parks