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 of the New York Collegiate Baseball League's Oneonta Outlaws.  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 6^th 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 4^th 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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