Syracuse Creekwalk

C&S was the prime design consultant for the Syracuse Creekwalk. The Syracuse Creekwalk is a 2.2-mile urban trail along Onondaga Creek from the city’s core to a natural setting at Onondaga Lake. For many years, the creek and surrounding areas were underused and inaccessible. The Creekwalk now allows people to experience nature in the heart of the city, with views of historic buildings, a marina and park, and the lakeshore. Public involvement was critical, with periodic presentations and updates to the client, businesses, and city residents. To accommodate a variety of terrain conditions and elevation changes, a number of structural elements were incorporated, including retaining walls, a stone gabion wall, and two bridges—a fiber reinforced polymer pedestrian bridge, and a 10-span, pile-supported bridge structure over a natural gully. Several sustainable features were integrated, including rain gardens, permeable soils, porous concrete and asphalt pavement surfaces, and vegetated swales, all of which help with rainwater infiltration and reduction of runoff.