Recreational Attractions/Activities
Park Facilities
 Neahwa
Park – The City’s largest and most active park is located within easy
walking distance of Downtown Oneonta. Neahwa Park has a plethora of diverse
facilities for recreational enthusiasts of all types and plays host to a
multitude of various community events. At the heart of Neahwa Park is historic
Damaschke Field, home to Minor League Baseball’s
Oneonta Tigers. Newly renovated, Damaschke Field is also utilized by local
schools and baseball camps and is available for reserved usage by contacting the
City’s
Recreation Department. Neahwa Park’s other facilities include a lighted
softball facility, Dewar swimming pool, a skateboard park, tennis and basketball
courts, a sand volleyball court, picnic pavilions (reservations recommended),
numerous multi-purpose fields, playground structures, and the picturesque Hodges
Pond.
Wilber Park – Oneonta’s second major
park is more passive then Neahwa Park. Located in Oneonta’s Center City, Wilber
Park’s upper level can be accessed via Center Street and has a large picnic
pavilion, basketball court, a playground area and hosts the beautiful Applebaugh Gardens. The lower level is accessed via Spruce Street and includes
a small picnic pavilion, Briggs Swimming Pool, the George Waddington Tennis
Courts, handball courts, and two softball fields. Intermingled throughout
Wilber Park’s 56 acres are a host of quiet walking and biking trails.
Catella Park – Adjacent to Neahwa
Park, Catella Park is home to multi-purpose fields used for baseball, softball,
and soccer.
 Swart-Wilcox Historic Park and Susquehanna
River Park – Swart-Wilcox Park is located in the City’s 6th Ward
and is home to a baseball and soccer field as well as the
Swart-Wilcox House, Oneonta’s oldest structure. The City’s Community Garden
plots are located at the Susquehanna River Park along with additional soccer
fields, and the start of
The Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway.
Huntington Park – Owned and
maintained by the
Huntington Memorial Library, this small park is located on the grounds of
the library and is a perfect place to sit and enjoy a good book.
Maple Street and Curtis Parks –
Small, passive neighborhood parks located in Oneonta’s residential areas.
City Administered Recreational Programs
 The
City of Oneonta Recreation Department offers a wide range of programs for
adults and children alike. The City’s youth programs focus heavily on teaching
teamwork, sportsmanship, and fundamentals to children 5-15 years old, providing
a strong foundation for future coaches to build upon. Popular city youth
programs include; Rotary Tee-Ball, Kiwanis Baseball and Softball, Pony League
Baseball, Red Cross Swim Lessons, Tennis Lessons, and a drop-in playgrounds
program. All of these programs run during the summer months and are free to all
participants.
For adult recreation enthusiasts the City
hosts City League Softball from late May through August. Games are held in
Neahwa Park. In the fall and winter months the action heats up at the Asa C.
Allison Municipal Building on the corner of Academy and Fairview Streets with
Men’s and Women’s Volleyball and Dodgeball Leagues. The City also offers a
summer concert series, tennis tournaments, community gardens, and public ice
skating programs that can be enjoyed by recreators of all ages in our City’s
parks.
Privately Administered Recreational Programs
Many private organizations also utilize
Oneonta’s abundant parklands for a wide variety of leagues and events. For the
kids there is the Oneonta Youth Soccer Association,
Oneonta Soccer Club, Greater Oneonta “Pee-Wee” Football, the
Oneonta Little League, and a number of annual youth clinics for various
sports. Adults can get out and run around playing Summer Basketball, Sunday
Morning Softball, or
Adult Soccer. Two of Neahwa Park’s biggest annual events are Central New
York Radio Group’s “Hometown 4th of July Celebration”, and the annual
“Pit Run” road race.
Outside of the parks Oneonta’s Boy Scout
and Girl Scout organizations are active and boast membership in the thousands.
The
Oneonta Family YMCA offers numerous recreational programs and activities.
Their facility, located on Ford Avenue, includes an indoor swimming pool,
gymnastics center, and modern nautilus equipment. The newly renovated
Oneonta
Boys and Girls Club, on River Street, has been providing services to Oneonta’s
youth since 1947. The club is open from September to June for boys and girls
ages 6-15. Also, The Oneonta Community Alliance for Youth (OCAY) administers The
Oneonta Teen Center in the Asa C. Allison Municipal Building. The teen center
offers classes in the arts such as photography, fashion, creative writing and
also hosts live music events regularly.
For contact information regarding any of
these organizations you may visit or call the City Recreation Department.
Other Fun Stuff
Most major national organizations and clubs
have branches in the Oneonta area, providing our community with a wide range of
valued service and entertainment. The area also boasts fantastic facilities for
golfers, bowlers, tennis players and is a magnet for fish and game
enthusiasts.
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