Brighton, Syracuse facts for kids

Southside (also called Brighton) is one of the 26 official neighborhoods in Syracuse, New York. It's a busy and important part of the city.

Two main roads, South Salina Street and Midland Avenue, run through the neighborhood from north to south. South Salina Street is special because a part of it, called the South Salina Street Historic District, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it has important historical buildings and places.

Onondaga Creek flows along the western side of Southside, and Interstate 81 borders the eastern side.

Southside is home to several schools, including McKinley–Brighton Elementary School, Danforth Middle School, and the William R. Beard School. Older students attend Corcoran High School, which is located in the nearby Strathmore neighborhood. For outdoor fun, there are parks like the large 33-acre Kirk Park (right next to Onondaga Park) and McKinley Park.

Keeping Our Water Clean

Southside is home to an important facility called the Midland Avenue Regional Treatment Facility. This plant helps clean the water in the area.

In 1999, Onondaga County decided to build this facility. It was part of a plan to make sure less dirty water, or wastewater, flowed into Onondaga Lake. Construction started in 2005, and the plant has been working since 2010. It plays a big role in keeping our environment healthy!

A Look Back in Time

The area we know as Southside today includes a former village called Danforth. This village was its own town from 1874 to 1887. After that, it became part of the city of Syracuse. The village was named after Asa Danforth, an early settler in Onondaga County.

It's important to remember that the Onondaga people are the original native people of this land. They have lived here for a very long time.

The South Salina Street Historic District, which we mentioned earlier, was officially recognized for its historical importance in 1986.