Thornden Park Rose Garden by Mike Davis, Syracuse New Times
Thornden Park, a beautiful 76-acre park, adjoined by Ostrom Avenue, Madison Street, and South Beech Street, is maintained by the Syracuse Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs. Thornden offers many natural highlights as well a 6-lane inground swimming pool, a multi-purpose athletic field, 3 basketball courts, 5 tennis courts, a playground, and a fitness trail.
The historic E. M. Mills Memorial Rose Garden is located on the southwest end of the park. The Syracuse Rose Society has cultivated the roses since the garden was first planted in 1923 and now tends over 4,000 rose bushes in the garden. The Thornden Park Pinetum, containing a wide variety of evergreen trees, is located on the western side of the park. Thornden Park highest point is its drumlin, which features beautiful views of Syracuse. The Thornden Park Association is dedicated to maintaining the park and organizes various community events held in the park. Thornden Park is listed on the prestigious State and National Register of Historic Places as an historic designed landscape.