Ithaca Reggae Fest returns to Stewart Park on Saturday, June 23 for day of music and good vibes to help protect Cayuga Lake.
From its earliest use by the Cayuga Nation, the beautiful lakeside site that is now Stewart Park has a fascinating history. Originally known as Renwick Park, its main pavilions date back to the late 1890's. Soon thereafter, the park became a private amusement park featuring dance and picnic pavilions, a bandstand, and a beautiful water tower. In the 1910's a booming movie studio produced scores of silent films there. Explore the buildings and sites that capture the history of the park—and hear plans for its ongoing revitalization—on a guided walking tour led by Friends of Stewart Park’s Executive Director Rick Manning and Board Chair Diana Riesman, who is also Executive Director of the Wharton Studio Museum.
Meet at the Picnic (Large) Pavilion. Tickets $10; students/seniors $5; children under 12 free.
Proceeds benefit the work of Friends of Stewart Park.
Additional Links:
Ithaca Heritage Event Page
Facebook Event Page
FREE RIDES 11:00 am to 12 noon
Join Us to Celebrate the Opening of the Accessible Carousel Chariot & Ramp!
We are pleased to complete the Carousel Restoration project by celebrating the opening of a newly constructed and painted accessible Carousel Chariot along with an access ramp. Beginning in 2016, the Carousel and its horses have been re-painted by local artists Christi Sobel and Julia John, and a new black steel fence has been installed.
Special thanks to Christi Sobel for painting the Chariot, Tim Merrick for chariot construction and design assistance, Play by Design for leading volunteer build of the accessible ramp, Danielle Fuld for her generous financial support and City of Ithaca staff members Rob Lilly and Jeanne Grace.
A traditional day camp run by the Ithaca Youth Bureau
Enjoy a day in the park topped off with evening fireworks launched from Newman Municipal Golf Course. Fireworks time TBA.
Hop on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail or paddle down the Cayuga Inlet to enjoy live music and dancing along the waterfront - including in Stewart Park!
The Friends of Stewart Park is entering a 10-person team in the novice category to raise awareness of our Stewart Park Inclusive Playground community build in Stewart Park on September 11-16, 2018.
We need you! Contact Lucas to join our Paddle for the Playground team or for more information: lucas@friendsofstewartpark.org
More information on the Festival.
More information on the Stewart Park playground campaign.
Movies in the Park are returning to Stewart Park August 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 7-11pm!
You can help build a section of the new Stewart Park Inclusive Playground by volunteering at the community build this September!
Join us for an evening of food, drinks, live music, and carousel rides in support of Stewart Park revitalization! Tickets will go on sale in June or July.
Cayuga Sound 2018 brings two days of amazing music to Stewart Park in September with performances by X Ambassadors, Young The Giant, Sofi Tukker, Matt and Kim, Talib Kweli and many more.
Join us for a guided tour of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. We will begin at the Jean McPheeters Trailhead and visit all of the five trailheads, also including Stewart Park Trailhead, Farmers Market, Inlet Island, and Cass Park. In addition we will stop at the Rowing Panel and the Gateway to the Erie Canal Panel on Inlet Island and follow the Walk Through History guide for the Cass Park Trail. This will be a 10-mile and very flat ride at a relaxed pace. Bring your bike or grab a Limebike and see you on the trail.
Meet at Jean McPheeters Trailhead (East Shore Visitor Center, 904 East Shore Dr., Ithaca, NY). Tickets $10; students/seniors/Friends of Historic Ithaca/Friends of the History Center $7; under 12 free.
Proceeds benefit the work of Friends of Stewart Park.
Join Trail Adopters from Greenstar to weed the perennial beds along the trail north of Buffalo Street, near Puddledockers and Greenstar along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.
Join the Community Beautification Program and Friends of Stewart Park to weed and mulch trail beds between the Pavilions and the Boathouse. This was rescheduled from last week due to high winds and the brittle waterfront willows near the beds.
Join the Friends of Stewart Park and volunteers from the Community Beautification Program for a couple hours weeding and mulching the perennial beds along the west, lake-facing parking lot in Stewart Park. Bring your favorite tools and gloves if you have them, otherwise we can provide them for you.
The Stewart Park Carousel reopens Memorial Day weekend for the summer!
Grab your gardening gloves and help beautify Stewart Park!
Grab your binoculars and join Jody Enck of the Cayuga Bird Club for a morning of birding. No experience necessary!
Ithaca Garden Club will be planting three new trees in Stewart Park for Arbor Day.
Grab your binoculars and join Jody Enck of the Cayuga Bird Club for a morning of birding. Make sure to dress for the weather!
You can be part of the volunteer Playground Build Committee! Join FSP Saturday, April 14 from 9-10:30am at in the Arch Room at the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca for a conversation about the Stewart Park Inclusive Playground and the community build happening this September. From volunteer recruitment to carpentry, their is a role for you on this team!
You can help prepare our beautiful public lakefront park for a long season of picnics, recreation, concerts, and relaxation through this afternoon of spring cleaning. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot between the two main pavilions to help collect litter and do some light gardening. Bring a trash bag and gardening gloves, and together we'll practice good stewardship of our city park!
FSP will be hosting a public presentation and conversation on Wednesday, March 21st, at the Cherry ArtSpace on Cherry Street in the city's West End, across from Ports of New York. Please join Friends of Stewart Park at 5:30 pm to learn more about playground plans and how you can help build the playground, as well as exciting news about other Stewart Park revitalization projects.
Two Central Park Conservancy Landscape Architects and graduates of Cornell's Landscape Architecture Program present an overview of Central Park history and Central Park Conservancy’s completed and current work as park stewards. Ticket sales from this presentation will benefit the revitalization of our own beautiful Stewart Park!
Presenters
Christopher J. Nolan, FASLA, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Landscape Architect | Central Park Conservancy
Bob Rumsey, RLA, Studio Director for Planning, Design & Construction | Central Park Conservancy
