Equal Access For All!

November 4, 2021

For Friends of Stewart Park, inclusion and accessibility are a priority in every revitalization project it undertakes. We are proud to announce that FSP has been awarded this year's Community Partner Award from Racker, in recognition of the work regarding inclusivity FSP has done and continues to do in Stewart Park. Racker has provided support and advocacy for individuals with disabilities and their families in our area for over 70 years, and we are honored to receive this award from them.

This e-news is a bit different than usual. Today, we invite you to take a look at all the ways FSP works with the City of Ithaca and its generous community to help ensure Stewart Park is welcoming and accessible to all. With your help, we're making Stewart Park one of the area's top inclusive recreation destinations! Please show your support for accessibility in Stewart Park and make a gift today.

SUPPORT AN INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE STEWART PARK

FSP cut the ribbon to open the new inclusive playground in August 2020, ensuring Ithaca has a place where all children and their caregivers can play side by side.

"Having an inclusive playground is so important for families in our community, not only do we want our daughter to play and learn alongside other children and families of all abilities, but it is also critical that Patrick be able to be an active participate with his children instead of watching from afar. This playground means Patrick is able be an independent father; he can play with his children and socialize with other community members on his own, just like any other parent."

- Ashley Bohn

With the help of Play By Design and volunteers, FSP adapted the carousel for users with mobility aids by adding a ramp and adaptive chariot where a wheelchair can be secured next to a seated caregiver.

"We love Stewart Park now more than ever, now that it is more accessible. We love that my son can now ride the carousel in his wheelchair, and that there are things he can do on the play structure. My family is looking forward to the accessible splash pad and bathrooms. Never underestimate how important accessible bathrooms are for people with disabilities!"

- Meghan Kennedy

All-season accessible bathrooms like the ones FSP and Wharton Studio Museum opened July 2021 mean Stewart Park can be enjoyed by everyone year-round, even if nature calls. FSP plans to build an accessible seasonal bathroom building near the playground in 2022.

Thanks to your generous gifts, this summer three accessible picnic tables were added by the playground.

The ADA compliant multi-use Cayuga Waterfront Trail safely and comfortably connects Stewart Park to so many wonderful waterfront destinations: Cayuga Lake and the Inlet, Ithaca Farmers Market, Ithaca Children's Garden, Cass Park, the Allan Treman and Black Diamond Trails.

Wide flat paths and walkways, as well as ramps and curb cuts, make the park more accessible for people who use wheelchairs, walkers, gait trainers and strollers.

Ongoing maintenance is an essential for keeping paths and walkways accessible. FSP coordinates volunteers to rake, clean debris, pick up litter and more to keep our park paths clear.

EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL
Inclusion means more that ADA compliance. Stewart Park is FREE, open from dawn to dusk, easy to get to by car, foot, bike or public transportation, and welcoming to ALL.

"When I'm here in Stewart Park, I always notice that people of all ages and all walks of life use this park on a regular basis, and that's a beautiful thing."

- Dan Segal

MAKE A GIFT TO HELP FSP ENHANCE ACCESSIBILITY

Friends of Stewart Park is a non-profit organization with a mission to enhance, revitalize and maintain Stewart Park and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, in partnership with the City of Ithaca and park stakeholders, for the enjoyment of Ithaca residents and visitors to our community.

Restored Boathouse, Park Cleanup, Musical Presentation and more!

October 20 , 2021

Friends of Stewart Park is thrilled to see the beautiful restoration of the exterior of the Cascadilla Boathouse complete.

This exciting work to the iconic late 19th century building, currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was made possible by a $367,000 grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The grant was written by Historic Ithaca, with additional support from the City of Ithaca and Friends of Stewart Park.

The building's siding and trim has been replaced or restored, the entire exterior was repainted, flooring replaced on the veranda and more. We are thrilled with the work of Bero Architecture, Bouley Associates, Verdigree Collective /Julie Kitson Construction Management, and Trowbridge Wolf Michaels Landscape Architects on this important project.

The public is invited to the Ribbon Cutting, taking place Thursday, October 21 at 3:30PM with Svante Myrick, Historic Ithaca with the City of Ithaca, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the team that made the restoration possible!

OCTOBER EVENTS

Last weekend was raining, so we've moved the Stewart Park volunteer cleanup event in Stewart Park to this Saturday, October 23 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

Tasks will include: Trimming Lakeshore vegetation; adding playground fibar surfacing; shoveling, sweeping and raking the sand play area, and litter and brush cleanup.

Bring gloves, hand loppers, pruners and hedge trimmers, wheelbarrows, pitchforks, yard rakes and iron rakes, depending on the type of work you'd like to do!

Meet in the parking lot between the Picnic Pavilion and the Wharton Studio building to sign in and get directions.

Friends of Stewart Park and Wharton Studio are pleased to present local historian, Corey Ryan Earle, as he introduces us to Patrick “Patsy” Conway! Patsy Conway and his early 20th century Ithaca Band toured the country and the world — but one of their favorite venues was Stewart Park! Discover Ithaca's very own "Music Man" and his impact locally and nationally during the Golden Age of Bands, a timeframe which was also the golden age of silent film! This presentation is brought to you as part of Silent Movie Month -- happening every October in Ithaca since 2012!

In 2012, Mayor Myrick signed a proclamation making October Silent Movie Month in the City of Ithaca. Wharton Studio Museum invites you to celebrate Silent Movie Month this October — and this year we’re including November — with local historian Corey Earle's talk on silent film's contemporary, Patrick Conway and his Famous Ithaca Band, spooky silent classics and the State Theatre and more! For all the latest, visit whartonstudiomuseum.org and WSM’s page on Facebook.

MORE PARK & TRAIL NEWS

BEST OF ITHACA

Thank you for voting Stewart Park your favorite place for a birthday party! From the Ithaca Times: With a handful of pavilions, swaying willow trees, numerous playgrounds and perfect Cayuga Lake views, who wouldn’t want to hold a birthday party at Stewart Park? In fact, this year, the park hosted one for itself. “It was for the centennial birthday party,” executive director Rick Manning said. “It was the 100th anniversary of the park as a public park. It was held a week late because of the big storm in Stewart Park, but we had a lot of people and a lot of music. It went really well!” See the Best of Ithaca here.

STEWART PARK TOUR

Thanks to folks from Love Living at Home who came to Stewart Park for a history tour with Friends of Stewart Park and Wharton Studio Museum. If you'd like to explore the history of Stewart Park on your own, you can take a Pocket Sights walking tour by downloading the Pocket Sights app or going to their website for the: Stewart Park Tour or Wharton Studio Silent Film Tour.

CENTENNIAL SERIES ONLINE

Did you miss our last virtual presentation, Water Conservation in the Age of Toxic Algae: Keeping Our Land (and What’s On It) Out of Cayuga Lake, with Andy Zepp from Finger Lakes Land Trust? You can now find it online here.

In face, you can find all the the videos in the Centennial Series and more on the Friends of Stewart Park YouTube Page.

MURAL ON THE CWT

The Cayuga Waterfront Trail has a new mural by Brittany Johnson, featuring Harmony Malone, also known as Ms. Harmony. She runs Ms. Harmony's Dance Studio (formerly UNITED), choreographs for Running to Places and local school productions, leads church worship and exudes positivity in every endeavor. We are so happy to see her honored along the trail. Find the mural under the Route 89 bridge, and check out these videos of the mural by Uplifted Ithaca, both in progress and as it's nearly done.