Recreation and Region
Recreation
There are four public parks located within the Village of Phoenix: Henley Park, Lock Island, Memorial Park, and Community Park (Map 6). The Department of Public Works mows and maintains each of these facilities. The local garden club helps to maintain the flower gardens located within the parks.
Henley Park, adjacent to Lock 1 on the Oswego River, is primarily used by boaters and residents that have an interest in the boating community. The park is less than 1 acre in size and is owned by the Village of Phoenix. There are picnic facilities and a business directory within the park area. In the summer, the Bridge House Brats welcome boaters to Phoenix and serve them food and refreshments from local restaurants.
Located further inland, Phoenix Memorial Park and Community Park provide Village residents and visitors to the area with an opportunity to engage in more active recreational pursuits including team sports such as baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, and tennis. Phoenix Memorial Park is 12 acres in size and owned by the Village. Community Park, owned and maintained by the Town of Schroeppel, encompasses over 30 acres of land within the town. The Town of Schroeppel Department of Community Services sponsors summer recreation programs at Memorial Park and Community Park.
Regional Context
Throughout the region, there are numerous events that celebrate the canal system, Upstate New York, and the history and heritage of Oswego County. The Village of Phoenix should coordinate festivals, concerts, and other community activities with regional events, such as Canal Days, Oswego Harborfest, local summer concert series, and fishing tournaments, which take place throughout the canal corridor (Baldwinsville, Oswego, Cicero, Clay, etc) and adjacent counties. By doing so, more people are likely to visit the Village of Phoenix and take part in the celebration. In addition, boaters and canal enthusiasts are more likely to extend their trip, should a variety of festivals and events be taking place in close proximity to each other. Increasing tourism by coordinating events and promoting the region will directly benefit the Village of Phoenix, local businesses, and other canal communities. Residents will also benefit by increased opportunities for recreation, socialization, and appreciation for the waterfront district.
This Strategic Plan for the Canal Waterfront District in the Village of Phoenix will help elected officials and members of the community develop an approach to publicizing community events that can easily be incorporated into regional marketing and tourism campaigns. Coordinating and marketing regional events can be accomplished with the help of several state and local promotion and tourism groups. Oswego County has dedicated staff and a website that promotes tourism and recreation within the county. The website includes a variety of information on recreational opportunities, in addition to an electronic calendar that lists events and festivals. The New York State Canal Corporation also has a website that lists community events taking place in the 234 canal communities throughout the State. The Canal Corporation, in conjunction with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation also organizes several events throughout the year that are held concurrently across the canal communities. The Village of Phoenix should utilize the marketing and promotion services available from these various local and state agencies to improve attendance at community events, increase participation of residents and tourists, build partnerships with local business owners especially those along the waterfront, and enhance the quality of life in the area.