A Look Ahead

FSP is looking forward to an exciting new year for the Park and Trail!

Thank you for your incredible response to FSP’s Annual Appeal — our most successful ever! Your gifts will help us plan and ongoing and future revitalization projects.

FSP received the official signage from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund that will soon be posted in the park.

Construction for the new Splash Pad and Accessible Bathrooms will start in late 2023 for a 2024 opening!

FSP and Wharton Studio Museum, its partner in park revitalization, are excited to share the latest schematic design renderings from Rochester-based Bero Architecture for the Wharton Studio Park Center. FSP and WSM are thrilled to be working with Bero -- the firm that led the 2021 restoration of the Cascadilla Boathouse exterior -- on this project!

The next step in developing the Wharton Studio Park Center (WSPC) is an Addition to the back of the Picnic Pavilion. The addition will provide equipment storage for the City of Ithaca’s beloved Stewart Park Day Camp. The equipment is currently housed in the section of the Wharton Studio Building being developed into the WSPC.

The 925 sq. ft. addition will convienently consolidate the Day Camp’s operation into one building, enhancing camper safety and providing easy access to boats, bikes and other sports equipment and arts and crafts supplies. Supplies will be accessible through an interior doorway within the pavilion, as well as by a large garage door, which will make it much easier to remove large equipment like canoes. The addition will also greatly enhance the aesthetic of the south facade of the Pavilion.

The annual Stewart Park Spring Waterfront Cleanup will take place late March or early April this year. We’ll send out more details closer to the event.

I Love My Park Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023. Volunteers help with garden beds, playground cleanup, and more. This event is a great way to help Stewart Park prepare for summer.

As always, if you are interested in receiving emails explicitly about volunteer opportunities in Stewart Park and on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, subscribe to the FSP volunteer listserv.

Volunteer Listserv

Friends of Stewart Park is once again organizing weekend sponsorships of the Carousel. When you, your business or organization sponsor the Carousel, bring a smile to thousands of children!

In 2021 and 2022, carousel sponsorships provided between 15,000 and 20,000 free rides!

Visit

www.stewartpark.org/carousel-sponsor

to learn more!

On August 12th, 2023, Friends of Stewart Park is planning to bring back the Paddle, Pedal and Play Festival! Initiated in 2019, the festival invites attendees to spend an afternoon trying all the outdoor recreation options the Finger Lakes has to offer. That same day will feature Watermusic and Dancing on the Trail, a lovely and popular evening of music along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail to be enjoyed from the trail or the water!

The Picnic Pavilion has been reserved for Party for the Park 2023. We hope you’ll join Friends of Stewart Park and Wharton Studio Museum for this annual fundraiser — our 8th year!

Details to follow!

An exciting new year for Stewart Park and the Waterfront Trail!

A Look Ahead

Volunteer Highlight

Project Highlight

Sponsor the Carousel