Mayor Walsh Announces Elmwood Park Sediment Removal Project

Published on May 29, 2025

City of Syracuse Mayor Walsh announced that sediment removal will begin in Elmwood Park, 600 Craddock Street, 13207, starting on June 2, 2025. The goal of the project is to return the brook to its state prior to the impact of flooding from Tropical Storm Fred in August 2021. Restoration efforts include sediment removal, repair of the channel walls, and the restoration of park turf. 

Key Project Details: 

• Dates of Work: June 2025 to October 2025 
• Park Location Impacted: From Wellesley Rd. to the Weir Rack (dam) next to the baseball field. 
• Impact: The park will be closed to the public for the duration of construction.
• Purpose: To restore the Brook channel to pre-disaster condition returning the water flow and volume and direction to its intended design.
• What to expect: Noise during construction hours. Construction vehicles will create moderate congestion on Glenwood Avenue. 

“We are committed to improving the environmental health of Furnace Brook," said Mayor Walsh. "This dredging project is crucial for restoring the natural flow of the brook to maintain its beauty and ecological significance in Elmwood Park. We appreciate everyone's patience as the work begins." 

Furnace Brook, a stream originating in Onondaga Hill, flows through Elmwood Park's cascading waterfalls before joining Onondaga Creek. Annually restocked with trout by Onondaga County Parks' Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, construction is limited to May-October to protect spawning. After severe tropical storm damage to both the Brook and Elmwood Park, restoration work is now underway through grants from FEMA and NYS Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. For more information about the project visit goto.syr.gov/2025-Elmwood-Project.