Heartwarming fall stories and sights from the Park and Trail

October 19, 2020

Friends of Stewart Park is pleased to be working with the City of Ithaca on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail-- helping manage and maintain this wonderful lakefront amenity! We will continue to keep you posted about all the exciting happenings on and related to the CWT via this newsletter, our website and social media. In this issue, we're happy to share heartwarming stories and pictures from the Trail, the Park and beyond.

See you on the Trail!

HEALING AND HAPPINESS ON THE CWT

Friends of Stewart Park is honored to share this wonderful story from a grateful mom. Her son was diagnosed with Autism at the age of two and is now a young adult living in a group home. COVID protocols took a heavy toll on him emotionally and physically, so once outdoor activities were able to safely resume, his mother introduced him to her bike. And sooner than she could imagine, a cyclist was born! The two can now regularly be found cruising along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.

Read the entire story here.

Sights from the Park and Trail

A witch has been seen paddling the inlet again this October. Is she good or wicked? We're not sure, but she's certainly enchanting.

Cornell Outdoor Education has been running their tree climbing class. Students not only climb to great heights, but learn how to set up and sleep in tree hammocks, and get to zip line across the park. FSP was fortunate to have COE share their knowledge and equipment with us for last years' Pedal, Paddle and Play Festival. We look forward to partnering with them again in the future. Learn more about Cornell Outdoor Education at their website.

Phi Beta Sigma was in Stewart Park last Wednesday filming a special project. Visit our Instagram Page to see some of their moves and hear their soulful cheer.

FROM WHARTON STUDIO MUSEUM

Silent Movie Month 2020 -- its 9th year! -- continues with another exciting virtual event brought to you by Wharton Studio Museum, FSP's partner in park revitalization. In 2012, Mayor Myrick signed a proclamation to make every October in the City of Ithaca Silent Movie Month. It's a great way to celebrate Ithaca's movie making history.

Join us in making noise about silent film!

ITHAQA Comic Book Launch Party
Virtual Program
Saturday, October 24th 3pm-4pm

There’s a new comic book called ITHAQA — a Lovecratian horror comic set against the backdrop of the Wharton Studio era — and you’re invited to the virtual launch party! Meet ITHAQA's creator/ writer Michael Watson and illustrator Theresa Chiechi — both are IC alums — and hear how this creative project came to be! The panel and audience Q&A will be moderated by Bob Proehl, Ithaca-based author of The Nobody People and A Hundred Thousand Worlds, a Booklist "Best Book of the Year."

This online event is brought to you by Wharton Studio Museum and hosted
by Buffalo Street Books. Register here.

For more info about ITHAQA visit www.ithaqacomic.com.

FAVORITE FINGER LAKES MULTI-USE TRAILS

The Cayuga Seneca Canal Trail is one of many trails you can find in our region

Did you miss Rick's great article on his favorite multi-use trails of the Finger Lakes?

The Cayuga Waterfront Trail and Black Diamond Trail have been a lifeline for many Ithacans during this unusual year. As fortunate as we are here in Ithaca to have so many great biking and hiking opportunities, here are some other multi-use trails here in the Finger Lakes worth checking out. Go Finger Lakes website curated by the Finger Lakes Land Trust and IthacaTrails.org are both excellent sources of information about local and regional trails.

Cayuga Seneca Canal Trail

Start your trip on Geneva’s Lakefront Park and follow signs to the east through Seneca Lake State Park to the trail. This rail trail links Geneva to Waterloo with plans to link to Seneca Falls and the Erie Canal Trail in the future. It’s flat, wooded and lovely and follows the Cayuga Seneca Canal that links the northern ends of Seneca and Cayuga Lakes (photo above). https://www.gofingerlakes.org/locations/cayuga-seneca-canal-trail/

The Catherine Valley Trail

You can hop on the CVT in Watkins Glen or Montour Falls and head south through Queen Catharine Marsh and into the woods on this New York State Parks rail trail. The ride from Watkins Glen to Millport is a highlight, passing through the Queen Catharine Marsh. In Montour Falls, check out Shequaga Falls at ‘The Glorious T’. South of Montour Falls, you can see remnants of the Chemung Canal, which predated the railroad bed, then the trail passes through beautiful woodlands on the way to Millport. You can continue south towards Horseheads, or return (downhill!) to your starting point in Montour Falls or WatkinsGlen. Visit Go Finger Lakes to learn more.

Keuka Outlet Trail

Start your ride in Dresden on the west side of Seneca Lake and you can walk or bike at a leisurely pace to Penn Yan and back in just 3 hours or so. The Outlet Trail follows a beautiful and powerful waterway that connects Keuka and Seneca Lakes. The Outlet powered many 19th century mills and many charming ruins remain. The surface is mix of grass, gravel and stone dust, but easily manageable, best on a hybrid or mountain bike. https://www.gofingerlakes.org/locations/keuka-outlet-trail/

MORE PARK & TRAIL NEWS

COLLECTING MEMORIES
Send FSP your Stewart Park Pics

Do you have pictures of your family at Stewart Park over the years? Help FSP celebrate the park's 100th anniversary by sharing them with us! We'd especially love to find more pictures from 1921-1980. Send to memories@friendsofstewartpark.org
Thanks!

ICE SKATING

The Cass Park Ice Skating season will begin October 24. Visit their website for details on the skating season, including dates, times and COVID protocols.

Want to learn more about the effort to enclose the Cass Park rink? Read about it here.

VIDEOS

Have you been to the Friends of Stewart Park YouTube channel? There you can see this videos like this one from the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, "Stewart Park Minute" videos, families enjoying the Accessible Playground, and more.

Give to Friends of Stewart Park

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Our address is:
120 Brindley St. Suite 4, Ithaca, NY 14850

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Heartwarming fall stories and sites from the Park and Trail

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