Syracuse Sun

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has appointed Syeisha Byrd as the new Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Youth Programs. Byrd, a resident of Syracuse with extensive experience in community relations and youth advocacy, will begin her role on November 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," stated 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 manage a department responsible for 1,000 acres of parks and nearly 50 facilities throughout Syracuse. The department includes 12 bureaus that offer programs for various age groups. It employs around 640 full-time and seasonal staff members.

Before this appointment, Byrd was director of family voice engagement at the Early Childhood Alliance, a non-profit organization focused on children's health in Onondaga County. She also worked at Syracuse University from 2010 to 2021 as director of community engagement programs. Her previous roles include program director at the Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse.

In addition to her professional roles, Byrd serves on several boards including Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today and the Syracuse Urban Partnership. She is also board president of Home Headquarters, Inc., and a member of Mayor Walsh’s Quality of Life Commission.

Byrd holds a Master of Social Work from Syracuse University, along with degrees from Onondaga Community College and Keuka College. She resides on Syracuse's Northside.

She succeeds Tony Williams as commissioner. Williams will transition to his new position as City Facilities Manager after joining the city government in August 2023.

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