Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation strives to provide a broad range of recreation programs and facilities to enhance the quality of life for the City of Watertown. To Register for Programs using our secure CivicRec system use the link titled "Register For Programs" on the menu located on the left side of this page.

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Please visit our Civil Service section and fill out a Temporary Employment Application in order to apply to be a City Lifeguard this summer.

There are 574 dedicated acres of Parks and Playgrounds which offer diverse and unique recreational opportunities. In addition the department creates opportunities for all age groups to participate in recreational and leisure activities. The neighborhood parks form the cornerstone of the City’s park system and include facilities such as:

The Veteran’s River Walk, Waterworks Park, Bicentennial Park, and Marble Street Park are all located along the magnificent Black River providing scenic views, trails, and picnic areas.

Watertown ‘s historic Thompson Park serves as a central gathering place for a variety of community uses, events and for visitors to the City. The Park is an Olmstead design and is rich in activity and scenic trails. The Park is home to the NYS Zoo where one can see a collection of animals that are native to the area. The Park has:

Community-built playground
Picnic areas
Tennis court
Golf course
Exercise trail
Walk and trail systems
Large open spaces

The Parks & Recreation Department proudly works annually with local businesses to offer the Concert in the Park, which includes a fireworks display that generally takes place the week of the 4th of July. For more information, please call the Parks & Recreation office at 315-785-7775.