Dear Friends,
I hope that Martin Luther King Day provided you with an opportunity to reflect on this important time. Dr. King's last book published in 1967 was entitled "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community." Here's to choosing community at this very chaotic time!
Thank you so much for supporting FSP's 2020 annual appeal. We exceeded what we considered to be a very optimistic fundraising goal for our organization. We also raised some needed funding to continue to furnish and enhance The Stewart Park Playground. Look out for some new accessible picnic tables, benches, pathways and plantings in the spring.
All this year, FSP celebrates the 100th anniversary of Stewart Park's opening as a City-owned public park, on July 4, 1921. After the influenza pandemic of 1918, the Wharton Studio, a bustling motion picture production company located in Stewart Park (then called Renwick Park) closed, and the City of Ithaca, under the leadership of newly-elected Mayor Edwin Stewart, acted boldly and purchased, renovated and opened the park, renamed in Mayor Stewart's honor soon thereafter. Now, a century later, we are riding out the COVID storm and, hopeful and excited by the vaccine, celebrating 100 years on Cayuga Lake. Like a century ago, Stewart Park is providing a destination critical to our community's well-being at a very challenging time. This is cause to celebrate.
FSP's Centennial Celebration will, fittingly, begin with a virtual presentation on the plethora of birds that pass through and reside in the Park. They were here long before us, and will very likely be around for far longer. We invite you to join us and Steve Kress to learn about these bright and beautiful creatures, and how we can be better stewards for them in Stewart Park.
All the best and stay safe,
Rick Manning
Executive Director
|
|
|
Friends of Stewart Park is looking forward to celebrating the Park Centennial throughout 2021.
Here's a preview of some of what we're planning.
Stay tuned for more details and updates!
|
|
|
Birds of Stewart Park with Dr. Steven Kress - February 17, 7:00 PM
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Spring Field Ornithology teacher of 40 years founder of Audubon's Puffin Project explores why Stewart Park is ideal for birding and how we can protect bird habitat in the park. More Details below.
The People's Park: Natural & Cultural History of Stewart Park - March 31, 7:00 PM
FSP Executive Director Rick Manning, Board President and Executive Director of Wharton Studio Museum Diana Riesman, and Susan Holland of Historic Ithaca explore the history that made Stewart Park Ithaca's Favorite lakeside destination.
Boys & Girls in the Boat - Ithaca’s Amazing History of Competitive Rowing - April 29, 7:00 PM. From the Cascadilla Boat Club to Cornell and Ithaca College rowing teams, we look at Rowing on Cayuga Lake. This presentation will include a short feature on the restoration of the Cascadilla Boathouse, which will be ongoing throughout the summer of 2021.
|
|
|
|
Music in Stewart Park from Patrick Conway's early 20th Century Ithaca Band to local contemporary artists.
Theatre, Movies, and other Events in Stewart Park such as a Streets Alive-style festival in the park, Illuminate the Inlet, and a 4th of July Park 100th Birthday Party.
An Exhibit Celebrating Stewart Park in the Atrium of the Tompkins Center for History & Culture on the Commons in downtown Ithaca.
All in-person events and exhibits will follow Covid-safety guidelines.
|
|
|
|
Water Quality in Cayuga Lake Finger Lakes Land Trust, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, and the Community Science Institute provide insight on the health of Cayuga Lake and what measures can be taken to enhance its water quality. September.
The Cayuga Waterfront Trail and Ithaca’s Evolving Waterfront Jean McPheeters, Rick Manning and other special guests will look back at the Waterfront Trail long and sometimes controversial planning process and look ahead at projects and trends on the waterfront. October.
Stewart Park Revitalization Plan: 2022 - 2031: FSP Executive Director Rick Manning and the Friends of Stewart Park will lead a presentation of the updated and final draft of an updated Stewart Park Revitalization Plan bringing Stewart Park into the next century.
|
|
|
Friends of Stewart Park will continue to partner with Wharton Studio Museum, the City of Ithaca, Historic Ithaca, Tompkins County Tourism Program to continue to revitalize Ithaca's lakefront gem. Revitalization projects in various stages of planning, fundraising, design and construction include:
- Cascadilla Boathouse Exterior Restoration
- Wharton Studio Building Winter Bathroom Renovations
- Wharton Studio Museum & Park Center
- Splash Pad and Accessible Seasonal Bathrooms by the Playground
- Renwick Plaza and Performance Venue with Cayuga Lake Overlook
- Update the Stewart Park Revitalization Plan 2031 to guide park enhancements for the next decade and beyond.
|
|
|
Birds of Stewart Park
with Dr. Stephen Kress
February 17, 2021, 7pm
Join FSP for for the first event in our Centennial series, as guest Dr. Stephen Kress, author and ornithologist, introduces some of the more than 100 bird species that frequent Stewart Park and will offer suggestions for making the park landscape more bird-friendly.
Dr. Kress is well-known in Ithaca and beyond as an entertaining teacher who uses stunning images and audio recordings to enliven his presentations.
|
|
|
This FREE online program for any and all bird enthusiasts, explains why Stewart Park is such a popular destination for both birds and birders!
Click here to register!
Help spread the word! Share the event on Facebook.
|
|
Cayuga Waterfront Trail Winter Maintenance
Trail Maintenance in Cass Park only
Winter is a great time to enjoy the waterfront trail, however, the only section that receives winter maintenance is the stretch along Cass Park, marked in orange on this map. City workers do their best to get the trail their cleaned off in a timely manner after every snow, 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.
|
|
|
THANK YOU!
Your support makes a big impact in Stewart Park
You stepped up and showed your support for Stewart Park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in a big way with your year end gifts to FSP, with over $20,000 in organizational support and over $5,000 in support of designated projects since November.
Your gifts make park revitalization possible, helping us prepare Stewart Park for the next hundred years. For that, we thank you.
|
|
|
LOOK BACK
20 for 2020
Did you miss our last enews with twenty pictures looking back at 2020 in Stewart Park and Cayuga Waterfront Trail? You can still see them all the captivating image. Click here.
Photo credit Instagram @abhinavjindal93
|
|
|
|
TAG IT
Celebrate 100 years of Stewart Park!
2021 is Stewart Park's Centennial as a public park. We invite your to celebrate and share your love for the park by marking your social media posts taken in the park with the hashtag #stewartpark100!
|
|
|
|
BIKING
Mountain Bike Trail Coming to Cass Park
A proposal for a mountain bike trail in Cass Park was unanimously supported by members of Ithaca’s Planning and Economic Development Committee this week. The agreement would be Cycle CNY and the City, with Cycle CNY doing most of the trail maintenance. Cycle CNY chairperson Donald Fitterer says community support for the project has been tremendous and he is optimistic there will be trails ready for riding sometime in spring.
|
|
|
HONORING ELAYNE
Elayne Nicholas honored in Ithaca Journal, Stewart Park.
2021 is Stewart Park's Centennial as a public park. We invite your to celebrate and share your love for the park by marking your social media posts taken in the park with the hashtag #stewartpark100!
Gay Huddle wrote of Stewart Park Playground Champion Elayne Nicholas in the Southern Tompkins Town Talk section of the Ithaca Journal this week. If you missed it, the remembrance of Elayne, as well that of as Emily Virkler, can be read here. FSP will be honoring Elayne in the park with Elayne's Lending Library near the playground.
|
|
|
BIRDING
8 Week Online Course
The Cayuga Bird Club invites you to Spring Ornithology: an 8 week course with with Steve Kress.
Presentations Include: Bird Identification, Family Life of Birds, Bird Song, Migration Mysteries, Attracting Birds, and Bird Conservation.
Dates: 7 to 9 PM, Tuesdays, March 30 – May 18, 2021, via Zoom
(Classes are recorded for viewing or reviewing at your convenience.)
Cost: $125/Household (includes Cayuga Bird Club membership)
Registration & Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
