Syracuse, NY -- CNY Pop Warner Football Inc. has told Syracuse that it will decide on a week-to-week basis whether football games will continue at Kirk Park, the scene of a shooting during a football game earlier this month. The game between the Kirk Park Colts and the Baldwinsville Bees scheduled for Saturday at Kirk Park was moved to...
Helen Hudson, one of the co-founders of Mothers Against Gun Violence, spoke at a news conference Sept. 14 at Kirk Park. Members of her group, local clergy and other community activists expressed their concerns after this weekend's shooting in the park during a Pop Warner football game. At far right is Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, who was one of the speakers. Syracuse, NY -- CNY Pop Warner Football Inc. has told Syracuse that it will decide on a week-to-week basis whether football games will continue at Kirk Park, the scene of a shooting during a football game earlier this month.
The game between the Kirk Park Colts and the Baldwinsville Bees scheduled for Saturday at Kirk Park was moved to Lysander because of a shooting Sept. 11, Syracuse Parks and Recreation Commissioner Patrick Driscoll said this afternoon.
“Given the situation with the safety of kids being the priority, I think the CNY Pop Warner board of directors opted to have Kirk Park Colts play on the road that weekend to have things settle down,” he said.
Officials from the Kirk Park Colts, Baldwinsville Bees and the CNY Pop Warner organization did not return numerous phone calls and emails seeking comment about the field change.
The Colts typically play on their home field at Kirk Park every other weekend, Driscoll said.
This Saturday they are scheduled to play the Eastwood Bears away at Norwood Park.
Driscoll said he hasn’t been notified if the Colts will return as scheduled to their home field on Oct. 2, when they play the Clay Panthers. The board is deciding on a week-to-week basis if the Colts will play at Kirk Park, he said.
“I’m hopeful we as a city, as a community, can get through this so play can resume at Kirk Park,” Driscoll said.
Since 2000, the city has invested $900,000 in the park on its football field, baseball diamond, playground and pool, he said. “It’s a wonderful facility,” Driscoll said.
It was half time on Sept. 11, when shots rang out in Kirk Park scaring children, parents and coaches alike. No one was injured and one 15-year-old suspect was caught by police right away. Click here to see previous coverage.
Two days later, community leaders came together to express their outrage at the incident.