Grant for Cascadilla Boathouse Restoration

Friends of Stewart Park is delighted that Historic Ithaca was awarded a $367,000 grant to restore the exterior of the Cascadilla Boathouse, with the funds going to the City of Ithaca to Complete the Project. 

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation/Historic Preservation Development program announced the funds in December as part of the state's Regional Economic Development Initiative.

FSP worked with Historic Ithaca to submit grant application to restore Cascadilla Boathouse, a local landmark that has been in use since 1896 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“This is an important step forward for restoring the boathouse and for our broader park revitalization effort,” said Rick Manning, executive director of the Friends of Stewart Park. 

The Ithaca Journal quotes Tim Logue, City Engineer, in saying,

“With this grant and the partnership with Historic Ithaca, our community will be able to nearly quadruple what the city was able to do alone. Also, the partnership with Historic Ithaca will relieve the burden on city staff for grant administration and ensure that the work is done with best practices in historic preservation. The building is a true treasure on the waterfront, and this investment is truly needed for the next generation.”

Wharton Studio Park Center project gets grant

October 18, 2018 was an exciting day for Wharton Studio Museum and Friends of Stewart Park as New York State Senator Tom O'Mara presented WSM Executive Director and Co-Founder Diana Riesman (Riesman is also chair of FSP), and Rick Manning, FSP Executive Director, with a big ‘check’ valued at $450,000 in support of developing the Wharton Studio Park Center along the lakefront and Waterfront Trail in Stewart Park! This grant from NYS will help convert the lake-facing side of the historic studio building into a Museum and Visitor Center, encompassing a gallery for exhibits on Ithaca's movie history, as well as park cultural and natural history. In addition an outdoor terrace will be developed with lake views and the existing public bathrooms will be renovated and winterized. The Wharton Studio Park Center is a cornerstone project in the revitalization of the park's Historic Core.