|  | | From FSP’s Executive Director, Meloney McMurryI am so excited to be starting 2025 as the new Executive Director of Friends of Stewart Park. I am looking forward to working with the City of Ithaca, as well as our partners at the Wharton Studio Museum, Cascadilla Boat Club, Historic Ithaca, and the Ithaca Youth Bureau, among others, as we continue to restore and revitalize this cherished public space. The park has always been a special place for me and my family, and I am honored to take on a role dedicated to making the park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail a more welcoming space for all. This is a particularly exciting time for the park as we finish up the final details on our inclusive playground project and look forward to launching our capital campaign for the Wharton Studio & Café in partnership with Wharton Studio Museum which has been leading this project for the past many years. Soon, visitors won’t need to leave the park to find food, drinks, WiFi or phone charging. The café, exhibit spaces, and lakeside terraces will also create new spaces for events, performances, and workshops on film history. The current parking areas will be renovated to create a new Performance Plaza, where will can look forward to enjoying concerts and other public events. |
|  | Other upcoming projects include re-envisioning the Cascadilla Boathouse’s second floor as a public events space, finishing the final loop of the Waterfront Trail in the park, and creating an open play and accessible picnic area adjacent to the playground. There is so much to look forward to in 2025! |
| | | | We are looking forward to an exciting year in the park and along the Trail! Here are some of the dates we hope you will join us for! |
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“The State of Birds” with Amanda Rodewold opens Ithaca Native Landscape Symposium. Proceeds benefit final steps of Fuertes Overlook revitalization. March 20, 7:00 PM
FSP’s Annual Spring Waterfront Cleanup April 5
Daffodil Dash on the trail with IGC and ICG April 26, 2025
“I Love My Park Day” projects in the Park with FSP May 3
Stewart Park Carousel Opening Weekend May 24
Watermusic & Dancing on the Trail with FSP and Triphammer Arts August 3
FSP and Wharton Studio Museum’s Tenth Annual Party for the Park Sept 20
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| | |  | After five years on Brindley Street, Friends of Stewart Park has moved our office to the Tompkins Center for History and Culture!
We’ll be sharing our new accessible office with our partner in revitalization, Wharton Studio Museum. Meanwhile, our new TCHC neighbors will be other small local non-profits, including the Ithaca Visitors Center, the History Center, Community Arts Partnership, Discover Cayuga Lake, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and the Dorothy Cotton Institute, among others.
The building is open to the public from 10 AM - 5 PM Monday - Saturday. For more information about the TCHC, including a full list of partners and current exhibits, visit tompkins-center.net.
You can find us in the TCHC at 110 N. Tioga St. #305. We also receive mail at PO Box 105, Ithaca, NY 14850. |
| | Picnic Pavilion Addition Progress |
|  | The 925 sq. ft. addition to the back of the Picnic “Large" Pavilion is nearly complete! The addition will serve as storage for the Ithaca Youth Bureau's Stewart Park Day Camp and consolidate the camp's operations into one building, enhancing camper safety. The addition will provide easier access to boats, bikes and other equipment through a large garage door, with inside access to store smaller arts & crafts and equipment. Built-in cubbies with hooks are being added by the side door to the building for the benefit of campers, camp staff, and those renting the pavilion.
The new addition is designed by Bero Architecture with engineering work by Andrew Sciarabba Engineering and Taitem Engineering, and will also greatly enhance the aesthetic of the south facade of the pavilion. Thanks to the construction team at W.L. Kline Inc. for their hard work.
The storage location frees up 1000 sq. ft. in the lake-facing section of the historic Wharton Studio/DPW Building, paving the way to build the Wharton Studio & Café, a year-round cultural and recreational destination featuring exhibits about the film studio and Ithaca' s role in early American moviemaking. The WS&C will be a nice spot to grab a snack while sitting on terraces looking onto Cayuga Lake.
This project, spearheaded by Wharton Studio Museum and FSP, is made possible with NYS funding from Assemblymember Anna Kelles and State Senator Lea Webb, individual donors, and Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau. Check out video of the inside of the Picnic Pavilion Addition here. |
| | | Waterfront Trail Winter Maintenance |
| Winter is a great time to enjoy the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Be aware, however, that the only section of the CWT that receives winter maintenance is the stretch along Cass Park, marked in navy blue on this map. City workers do their best to get the trail cleaned off in a timely manner after every snowfall, so this is by far the safest section of the trail this time of year.
That said, snow naturally melts off the black paved trail faster than on unpaved surfaces, so the entire trail can be enjoyed once temps go above freezing for a few days at a time. No matter what, please take care when using the trail in winter. |
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| | Sponsor the Stewart Park Carousel! |
| Did you know you can provide thousands of free Carousel rides while supporting Friends of Stewart Park with a tax-deductible gift?
As a Carousel Sponsor, you or your organization or business will be recognized with: *Your name and/or logo featured on a prominent sign at the Carousel. *Ability to table at the Carousel. *Acknowledgements through social media such as Facebook, Instagram and the FSP newsletter. *As many as 2,500 smiles daily from children who appreciate your gift! |
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| | Calling Young Film Makers |
| From our partners in revitalization, Wharton Studio Museum:
WSM is proud to announce the continuation of Quiet on the Set!🎥 Film Festival for student and local youth! 2025 marks our 7th year!
-No filmmaking experience necessary
-Open to local youth (11-18) in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Central NY regions.
QOTS is a terrific opportunity for local youth to showcase their creativity by making short silent films. Registration is open until April 28. Learn more at: whartonstudiomuseum.org/quiet-on-the-set |
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