The Stewart Park Inclusive Playground is for ALL children.
The new Stewart Park Inclusive Playground is an expansive playscape featuring pre-school structures that invoke Park history, a school-age structure with entry points at five differing elevations, a sand play area, swings, slides and spinning and climbing elements. A paved berm path leads past the information kiosk and Elayne’s Lending Library, the splash pad, and to the summit overlook of the park, Cayuga Lake and the historic carousel, with its new permanent cover.
Flat safety surfacing, wide, gently graded pathways and bridges, as well as specialty play structures, equip children and parents with wheelchairs or other mobility aids to play side by side with others. Natural playscapes, including a sandplay area and pollinator garden, provide hands-on engagement with the landscape.
In 2024, a new Splash Pad and Accessible Bathroom were opened as the final phase of the inclusive playground.
Features:
School-aged playground
Pre-school playground
Sandplay area
Net-climber
Covered swings
Paved berm path and summit overlook
THANK YOU
The Stewart Park Playground was made possible through generous support from donors and volunteers like you. Thank you.
State Funding
Through Friends of Stewart Park’s efforts and commitment, Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton has nominated the City of Ithaca for $1,000,000 in New York State funding. FSP has undertaken this Capital Campaign to raise the $700,000 balance needed to build the inclusive playground we envision for the park which includes a new splash pad and new accessible bathrooms.
The City has indicated its willingness to create a capital project for $1,000,000 to front the funding from NYS, since this is a reimbursement grant that requires the City to spend the funding first, then be reimbursed by New York State.
Private Funding
$50,000 - $100,000
Park Foundation | Brooks Family Foundation
$25,000 - $45,000
Anonymous | Elmira Savings Bank | Heather & Bruce Lane | Sarah & Stephen Wicker | Cornell University | Diana Riesman & Fred Cowett | David Sprague | Tompkins Trust Company | Wegmans
$15,000 - $20,000
Anonymous Family Foundation | Cayuga Medical Center | Nicky & Rick Falck | Legacy Foundation | Robert E. Browning Fund
$5,000 - $10,000
Terry & Jim Byrnes | CFCU Community Credit Union | Donald Guthrie Foundation | Mary & Bradley Grainger | Miller Mayer | Fran Littin & Chuck Tauck | Elayne & John Alexander | Anonymous | Ursula & Peter Browning | Ehrhart Energy | Maguire Family of Dealerships | Margaret McDougall | Meloney & David McMurry | The Robert G. and Jane V. Engel Foundation | Kathy Lacson & Peter Schwartz | THERM Inc. | Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund | Paula Peter & Michael Ward
Do you have feedback about the playground? Please feel free to contact us at info@friendsofstewartpark.org or 607-319-4766 with your concerns, suggestions and comments.
