Syeisha Byrd Appointed to Commissioner of Parks and Recreation

Syeisha Byrd Appointed to Commissioner of Parks and Recreation

Published on October 08, 2024

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh named Syeisha Byrd as Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs. Byrd, a lifelong city resident and respected youth and neighborhood advocate, has 30 years of experience in recreation, community relations and child and family engagement. She starts as commissioner on Nov. 4.

"Syracuse is fortunate Syeisha Byrd's next chapter of service to our community will be as commissioner of Parks Recreation and Youth Programs. Her personal and career experience is ideally suited to this role," said Mayor Walsh. "Syeisha's a product of our schools, a mother raising a family in the city, an active community leader and an accomplished professional who's been working for many years with youth and families here in the City of Syracuse."

Byrd will lead a City department that oversees 1,000 acres of parks, playgrounds and open spaces, and nearly 50 facilities in neighborhoods across the city. Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs is comprised of 12 bureaus that also manage and support programs, activities and events for youth, seniors and people of all ages. The department has nearly 640 full-time and seasonal employees.

Most recently, Byrd was director of family voice engagement at the Early Childhood Alliance, a Syracuse non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children in Onondaga County are born healthy and reach their full potential. She was director of the Office of Engagement Programs community engagement at Syracuse University from 2010 to 2021. Prior to SU, Byrd served as program and site director at the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse. Byrd is a member of Mayor Walsh's Quality of Life Commission, serves on the boards of Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today and the Syracuse Urban Partnership, and is board president of Home Headquarters, Inc.

Byrd has a Master of Social Work from Syracuse University. She earned an associate's degree from Onondaga Community College and a bachelor's degree in social work from Keuka College. A graduate of PSLA@Fowler, Byrd lives on Syracuse's Northside.

Byrd assumes leadership of the Department of Parks Recreation and Youth Programs from current Commissioner Tony Williams. Williams has accepted a new role as City Facilities Manager. He joined the City in August of 2023 after working in facilities management for the YMCA and the Onondaga County Public Library system.

"I'm grateful to Tony for his leadership and dedication to the department over the past year. We need his strong experience in facilities management and capital planning in departments across City government."

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