Slated to be a landfill, it's now forever wild
By Laura Hand
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Webster's Pond, off Valley Drive in Syracuse, was a trash-filled lot, being considered for a landfill when the Angler's Association of Onondaga leased it, long term, in 1960. The City of Syracuse owns the pond, and the Anglers own some of the surrounding land. City Parks cuts grass and plows snow, the Anglers maintain the benches and watch over the ducks, geese and swan that call this home--not to mention the many mammals, frogs and turtles that live in this 'forever wild' piece of the city.
Chad Norton, who's vice president of the Association, is also the on-site manager: he's there every day except Christmas, and says it's the best job in the world. The Anglers are the oldest continuously active sportsmen's club in New York, founded in 1890 to protect Oneida Lake from pollution and exploitation of its fish. The club paid for game wardens for several years, until the State DEC took over the policing of the waters.
Anglers have also paid for stocking fish and pheasant in the area: this year they stocked Webster Pond with 12-hundred trout from the county's hatchery at Carpenter's Brook, as they've expanded their in-pond fishing program. Children have been welcome to fish on Saturday mornings since 1980, and this year there's a Sunday morning program for Seniors. It costs $10 for the season, says Norton, though participants have to buy their own fishing license.
Another expansion this year: the group decided to stay open year-round. A visit on a winter's day would have brought dozens of ducks and geese as soon as a car drove up--the birds looking for a handout. Now that it's spring, many of the migrants have moved north and the residents (including white ducks and geese) are nesting and not as interested in free food.
Among the attractions now, Lilly the swan, who just showed up. She especially likes lettuce and will take in from the hand, but watch your fingers!
Webster Pond is open daily from 9am til dusk. For information on programs, call Chad Norton at 727-2922.
