Friends of Stewart Park continues its goal of revitalizing Ithaca’s historic lakefront park for its 2021 centennial as a public park.
2019 was an active and productive year of successful projects, events and fundraising.
Park Projects
Playground Phase I: 2019 saw completion of Phase I (which opened in fall 2018) with the installation of boulders, fibar surfacing, safety railings, sand fill, landscaping and signage.
Playground Phase II: Groundbreaking of Phase II of the Inclusive Playground took place on September 5, 2019 with City of Ithaca’s Mayor Myrick and Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton in attendance.
Excellent progress was made on the installation of the expansive school-age play structure and the creation of a berm due to a dry fall.
Construction will continue starting early spring 2020, with the Inclusive Playground slated to open in May. A new cover for the Carousel cover is included in Phase II.
Cleanups: FSP hosted several park clean-up events including a Waterfront Cleanup in March, the “Coach’s Sweep” Trail cleanup in late April, and several Trail Adopter clean-up days.
Picnic Pavilion Restoration: The $500,000 project to restore the Picnic ”Large” Pavilion concluded in a ribbon cutting/grand opening on June 4, 2019, with City and County representatives in attendance. The project included restoration of all seven original semi-circular door and window units; construction of new bathrooms and a new roof; new lighting; and the repair and painting of interior walls, and the veranda’s ceiling and columns.
Information Kiosk: A kiosk, designed to evoke the park’s 1896 water tower (destroyed by Hurricane Hazel in 1954), was built by former FSP intern and community-build manager Lucas Raley this summer and displayed information about playground construction for visitors to the park. Moving forward, the kiosk will feature information about park revitalization efforts and events taking place in Stewart Park.
Board Planting: In June, the FSP Board of Directors planted a pollinator garden on the northern edge of the pre-school playground comprised of native perennials and grasses that grew into a beautiful border during the course of the summer.
Boathouse Restoration: A $367,000 state grant from the Regional Economic Development Council was awarded to the City of Ithaca to restore the exterior of the Cascadilla Boathouse. For the past several years, FSP has led the effort to restore the Boathouse, and in 2019 worked with Historic Ithaca to submit the grant application, with the funds going to the City of Ithaca to complete the project.
Park Events
Bird Walks: The Cayuga Bird Club led early morning bird walks every Saturday in May.
Ithaca Festival Parade: Friends of Stewart Park walked in the parade for the first time. FSP was represented by members of its Board of Directors, staff, and Girl Scout Troop #60333.
Fireworks: As it has for the past several years, FSP co-hosted July 4th Ithaca Rotary Fireworks, with live music, food vendors, and fun activities.
Watermusic: Nice weather made for a good turnout for Watermusic & Dancing on the Trail in July. Since 2010, this annual event, led by Triphammer Arts, features musicians and dancers performing throughout the park and on the Trail. The event is free and open to the public.
Movies in the Park : Presented and sponsored by the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and Chemung Canal Trust Company, Movies in the Park took place at Stewart Park again this August. 2019 movies included Incredibles 2, Mary Poppins, Captain Marvel, the Mighty Ducks, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The State Theatre served as a rain location.
Park Tours: Rick Manning, FSP Executive Director and Diana Riesman, FSP Board President and Wharton Studio Museum Executive Director, hosted park tours for a Girl Scout troop, County Legislators, a group of university educators from Buffalo, the Lifelong Walkers, and a tour produced by Historic Ithaca. The tours focus on park history, Wharton Studio movie history, and current revitalization efforts.
Paddle, Pedal & Play Festival: On September 14, 2019, FSP hosted its inaugural outdoor recreation festival, Paddle, Pedal & Play. The P3 festival, created to promote Stewart Park as a destination for family friendly recreation, was made possible by funding from a Tompkins County Tourism Program grant and sponsor support from Paddle-N-More. An estimated 250 people participated in various activities, with the most popular being free bike rentals from Ithaca Youth Bureau, tree climbing with Cornell Outdoor Education, and juggling with Nate the Great.
Fundraising Events
Pub with a Purpose: Kilpatricks and Hilton Garden Inn generously selected Friends of Stewart Park to be the recipient of their Pub with a Purpose fundraiser for January and February. Each Tuesday evening, a percentage of the proceeds from the bar and restaurant went to FSP. Rick Manning reached out to musicians who graciously showed up to play, which helped to help draw in more people.
Wild About Stewart Park: This 3rd annual February fundraiser at Cinemapolis featured nature photography by Sarah Blodgett, Rachel Hogancamp and Dan Segal, with music by Tim Ball, Dave Davies, Tom Hodgson, and Rick Manning. Hilby made a surprise comedic appearance.
Strings for Stewart Park: This musical town-gown fundraiser in April featured Cornell University's Ariana Kim, Ithaca College's Susan Waterbury, and Ithaca musicians Judy Hyman, Tim Ball, Dave Davies, and Rick Manning, with special guest Alice Saltonstall, Dana Paul, and 11-year-old Nellia Mattson who sang and played the ukelele. LaTourelle graciously hosted the event.
Philanthropic Friday at Ciao’s: FSP was invited to create a pizza to be sold at Ciao’s on Friday, August 16 for its Philanthropic Fridays event. For every “Friends of Stewart Pork” pizza sold that night, FSP received $20. FSP thanks Ciao’s and Jerry and Margaret Dietz for their generosity.
Party for the Park: FSP and Wharton Studio Museum’s 4th Annual Park for the Park took place in the newly-restored Picnic Pavilion. Luna Inspired Street Food catered the evening and music by the lake featured Ariana Kim, Rick Manning, Harry Aceto, and Tom Hodgson. Along with Rick Manning and Diana Riesman, speakers included Common Council member Laura Lewis (5th Ward), and Patrick and his wife Ashley Bohn. Patrick has used a wheelchair since childhood, and he and Ashley highlighted how the new accessible playground at Stewart Park gives him the ability to take his children to the park, and talked about the importance of kids with mobility issues being able to play alongside siblings and friends.
Fundraising Campaigns
Make a Splash!: This campaign began last fall and now continues as FSP focuses on Phase III of the playground which encompasses a new splash pad for Stewart Park.
Annual Appeal: Our Annual Appeal Letter was our most successful to date. It was mailed to 1,400 people in total with three different letters sent to major donors, donors and non-donors. We thank everyone who donated to this campaign!
