UTICA, N.Y. -- Some parks in Utica are now nationally recognized as historic places. Proctor Park, Memorial Parkway and Conkling Park are included on the New York State and National Registers of historic places.

A ceremony was held by the city and the Central New York Conservancy Tuesday. The parks commissioner says the city is now eligible for federal and state grants to make improvements to these parks.

"Back when the park was created, this place was packed, full of people, just loaded with people. And we're seeing that re-emergence of more people coming down. And hopefully this will encourage even more

people to come down and use our parks system," parks and recreation commissioner David Short.

Utica has nearly 900 acres of park land, making it one of the largest park systems outside of New York City.