By 2016, Onondaga Lake may become a day-trip destination rather than a landmark acknowledged only for its pollution.

Honeywell International Inc. announced a preliminary plan to create a public park and nature preserve on the southwestern shore of the lake, according to an Oct. 21 article in The Post-Standard. Honeywell officially released a concept design at a F.O.C.U.S. Greater Syracuse meeting Oct. 21. Charlotte Holstein, executive director of F.O.C.U.S., said she was in attendance when the design was released and discussed and that the initiative is very exciting.

‘This is just the beginning,’ Holstein said. ‘It’s a clean lake with wonderful recreational plans for all citizens.’

Holstein said a survey was done a few years ago among high school students to see what they thought was the most important issue in Syracuse. She said she was surprised to see cleaning up and restoring the lake as the No. 1 pick.

Frank Moses, director of the Montezuma Audubon Center, was also at the meeting. Although the nature preserve aspect is not set in stone, he was glad to see that Honeywell’s plan was looking for a good balance between a high-quality habitat and a place for people to enjoy, he said.

‘Individuals from all perspectives are getting involved,’ Moses said. ‘It’s very inclusive.’

Another possible aspect of the plan is a path that connects all the way around the lake.

Holstein said the county is beginning to converse with citizens about what they want to see happen to the lake. Holstein said many citizens are interested in connecting the areas around the lake and mentioned that some people have brought up wanting to restore the old amusement parks as well.

Moses said the current plan is a good example of mixed use that is not detrimental to the wildlife that lives in or around the lake.

There are many birds that live around the lake, including bald eagles, loons, golden eyes and green herons, Moses said. In the winter, bald eagles are attracted to a part of the lake that doesn’t freeze because of the warmer water discharge from metro.

‘Currently, there is a nesting pair of bald eagles at the Seneca River outlet,’ Moses said. Honeywell will seek additional output regarding the aspects of the plan before actually proposing it in 2014. The current rendering is not final, but it is a mix of the suggestions Honeywell has heard from the community, according to the article.

Holstein said the citizens are going to be interested in this concept because Onondaga Lake is so close to the community.

Said Holstein: ‘It’s in our own backyard.’

kmrich01@syr.edu

Published on November 2, 2011 at 12:00 pm