Thornden Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Thornden Park
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Stylized map of Thornden Park
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Ostrom Ave. Madison St. Beech St. Bristol Pl. Greenwood Pl. Clarendon St. Syracuse, NY |
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| Area | 76 acres (31 ha) |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architect | William Harradance; et al. |
| MPS | Historic Designed Landscapes of Syracuse MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001490 |
| Added to NRHP | December 29, 1994 |
Thornden Park is a large park in Syracuse, New York. It covers about 76 acres, making it the second biggest park in the city. The city bought the land in 1921. Since then, it has become a popular spot for weddings and outdoor fun.
The park is located near the University and University Hill areas. In 1994, Thornden Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical landscape.
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Park History
Thornden Park started as a farm owned by Zebulon Ostrom. Around 1850, a rich salt miner named James P. Haskins bought the land. In 1921, the city purchased it. This was part of a national idea called the City Beautiful movement. This movement aimed to make cities more beautiful with parks and green spaces.
After buying the land, the city added fun things like ballfields and a swimming pool. In the 1960s, the park faced challenges. There were not enough funds to keep it clean. But people in the neighborhood stepped up to help. They worked together to keep the park looking good.
The 1970s brought a tree disease called Dutch elm disease. This disease sadly killed about 600 elm trees in the park. Maple trees were planted to replace them. In 1983, the Thornden Park Association was created. This group helps to protect, improve, and bring new life to the park.
E. M. Mills Rose Garden
One of the most loved spots in Thornden Park is the E. M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden. It was officially opened in 1924. This garden covers about 2 acres. You can find it at the southwest entrance of the park, right across from Syracuse University.
Since 1970, the Syracuse Rose Society has helped take care of the garden. They work with the City of Syracuse Parks Department. Today, the garden has 368 different kinds of roses. That's about 3,850 rose plants in total! All these roses surround a central gazebo, which is a perfect spot for photos.
The Amphitheater Stage
Thornden Park has a large outdoor theater called an amphitheater. It was first named Sylvn Theatre. This theater was built in 1933. It was part of a special government program called the Works Project Administration (WPA). This program helped people find jobs during tough economic times.
The opening day in 1933 was rained out. But the next opening event was a huge success, with 10,000 people attending! The amphitheater is designed to hold 6,000 people. It has curved seating areas and an open lawn in the middle.
Today, the Syracuse Opera performs a free show here every year in August. Also, since 2003, the Syracuse Shakespeare Festival puts on free "Shakespeare-in-the-Park" plays. These shows happen during the first two weekends of June.
What Can You Do at Thornden Park?
Thornden Park offers many fun activities for visitors. Here are some of the things you can enjoy:
- A large public swimming pool (50 meters long)
- One multi-purpose sports field for games
- Five tennis courts for playing tennis
- Three basketball courts for hoops
- A playground for younger kids
- A fitness trail for walking or running
- The beautiful E.M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden
- The outdoor amphitheater for shows
- A peaceful Lily Pond
Cool Murals
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Carriage House
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Trout Pond
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Mills Rose Garden
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Stewart Stand Pipe
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Amphitheater
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Davis Mansion
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Ice Skating
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Main Entrance
On the outside of the pool building, you can see cool murals. These paintings show different parts of Thornden Park's history and its features. They are a fun way to learn about the park!
