PARKS PERSPECTIVES - City of Syracuse

DARRYL LOVE
EVA ZOOK
Darryl Love, center, takes a break from work, with crewmembers
Steve Tonas, left, and Darryl Love Jr.
A 21-year-employee with the City of Syracuse, Darryl Love is
one of the longest-serving members of the Parks Dept.’s grounds
maintenance division. He has had a lot of jobs in his 2-plus-decade
career with the City, he said, and he loves being outdoors.
He and his crew are responsible for maintaining acres of green
space in the parks on the East side and some Southside sites, On
many weekends during the summer months, Darryl can be seen
working at the festivals in Clinton Square. And most recently, he
has taken on the additional job of handling the Parks afternoon
mail run.
―Regardless of the task at hand, Darryl always has a smile on his
face and is one of the friendliest co-workers,‖ said Mary Beth
Roach, of the Special Events Division.
Born and raised in Syracuse and a 1980 graduate of Bishop Ludden
High School, Darryl has four children and seven grandchildren,
who keep him busy when he’s not working, he said with a smile.
Many of the murals that beautify the city parks– including those at
the entrances to the Southwest Pool and Valley Pool, the Arts &
Crafts Center at Burnet Park, and the community center at Wilson
Park; the side of the bathhouse at Kirk Park, and the mosaic
panels at the former Ward Bakery site on Shonnard Street –
showcase the artistic talents of Eva Zook, who has been part of
the Arts & Crafts Division of the Parks Dept. for 14 years.
Eva has been involved in creating these artworks, working with
fellow staff members and members of the community. As a recreation
activities specialist, she also teaches four clay classes to
adults at Burnet Park and occasionally works with the youth in
developing arts projects. Some of the students in her classes
over the years have created some unique ornaments for the Festival
of Lights holiday program at Burnet Park, as well.
She received her bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Alfred University
and an associate’s degree in arts and sciences from Onondaga
Community College.
CHRIS O’BRIEN
Hardly a special event goes on in the City Parks
Dept. without the help of Chris O’Brien. Over
the past seven years or so, she has led hundreds of
people on haunted house tours and dressed as a
crazy clown for the Halloween Spooktacular; she’s
served up thousands of meals at the Breakfast with
Santa; she’s one of the hostesses at the sponsor area
during the City’s Fireworks Celebration; she’s distributed
thousands of prizes at the Easter Egg Hunt; and
she has been a guide at the department’s Big Rig
Show in the spring.
Her enthusiasm and her bright and cheerful personality
make the events more enjoyable for the staff
and guests, alike.
Chris O’Brien, left, with Parks Dept.
staffer Britney Walsh -Farmer during Big
Rig Day.