Onondaga County Opens First Traffic Garden in Central New York

Onondaga County officials inaugurated the region’s first traffic garden at Santaro Park in the Town of Onondaga, providing a miniature roadway where children can practice walking, biking and obeying traffic signs in a safe environment. The 180‑by‑105‑foot site features scaled‑down streets, intersections, stop signs, crosswalks and lane markings that mirror real‑world traffic conditions.

The project, backed by the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the Onondaga County Traffic Safety Advisory Board, aims to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety as the area sees rising bicycle and e‑bike use. Officials plan up to three additional gardens in the county, with future enhancements such as painted destinations like a shopping center and Onondaga Lake Park. The opening included a bike rodeo and demonstrations by local volunteers, including Deputy Danielle Podejko, who championed the initiative.