A Community Within a City

The Sixth Ward features a wonderful mix of shops, restaurants, small businesses, parks, and essential services—from medical clinics to utilities—enjoyed by City residents and visitors alike. Several long-standing businesses are still proudly operated by their original owners. In many ways, the Sixth Ward feels like a small city within the city.

Families love visiting Neahwa Park, whether they’re from the Sixth Ward or beyond. You can catch a baseball game at historic Damaschke Field, which opened in 1906 and remains one of the oldest active baseball parks in America. Over the years, they have hosted teams ranging from amateur to minor league professional, and legends like Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Don Mattingly, Whitey Ford, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, and even John Elway have played here.

While at the park, visitors can also pay their respects at the war memorial honoring local heroes who gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Neahwa Park is a hub of activity year-round, hosting concerts, playgrounds, a dog park, an ice-skating rink, a skateboarding park, soccer and baseball games, pickleball, fishing derbies, hot air balloon festivals, Christmas drive-through light displays, New Year’s Eve fireworks and more. Whether you’re jogging, walking, or watching the wildlife like a great heron hunting for its dinner or the beauty and tranquility of the glistening pond, there’s always something to enjoy.

Nearby, is the Community Garden open to all residents of the city. A few steps from the Community Garden you can visit the historic Swart-Wilcox House Museum, a landmark that’s over 200 years old. Catch a little league or softball game at Doc Knapp Field, Rich Murphy Field, or the new Softball Field Park, which have also hosted concerts, circuses, and car shows in the past.

A Caring and Diverse Neighborhood

The Sixth Ward is home to a wide range of talented people—firefighters, police officers, teachers, professors, artists, medical professionals, mechanics, carpenters, electricians, chefs, servers, retail workers, business owners, landscapers, and childcare providers to name a few. Blue-collar and white-collar residents live side by side in harmony.

Our neighborhood also looks after those in need. We have a homeless shelter and the Salvation Army provides weekly meals and a food pantry. Neighbors regularly donate food and supplies to the homeless as well as rides to the warming station during cold nights—ensuring that everyone has a safe place to stay.

A Spirit of Community

The Sixth Ward is a special place where neighbors look out for one another. Whether it’s raking leaves for an elderly resident, shoveling snow, offering a ride to the grocery store or doctor’s appointment, pet sitting, watching your home while you're away, watering a friend’s garden, or sharing a basket of homegrown produce, kindness and generosity define our community.

Many still refer to the Sixth Ward as the “Lower Deck,” a nod to its immigrant and working-class roots. But those of us fortunate to call this home know it is one of the best places to live in Oneonta. Families have grown here for generations—parents, children, and grandchildren often living just a few blocks apart.

Strength, solidarity, family, and tradition are values we hold dear. The Sixth Ward is more than a neighborhood—it’s a community that cares, one that we’re proud to preserve for generations to come.

Our Privacy Promise
We value our neighbors and respect your privacy. Any contact information you share with Sixth Ward Neighbors United will only be used to keep you informed about neighborhood news, meetings, and events. We will never share or sell your information to anyone outside our group.