| Stewart Park Gardeners Discover Mastodon Skeleton |
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| Friends of Stewart Park in Ithaca, NY, employs seasonal gardeners to help ensure the pollinator plants, trailheads, and garden beds are beautiful for anyone visiting Stewart Park — and earlier this morning, April 1, 2026, while digging out invasive plants near the western edge of the park, they unearthed something quite unusual: a very large, thick bone! They immediately called in scientists from the Paleontological Research Institution, who rushed to the park. "Apparently, this is the most intact skeleton PRI has seen since the Hyde Park Mastodon discovered in 1999, which is housed at Ithaca’s own Museum of the Earth,” said FSP executive director Meloney McMurry.
Friends of Stewart Park board chair and Wharton Studio Museum executive director Diana Riesman had this to say: "We are very excited about this discovery! We look forward to displaying the skeleton alongside our silent film and park history exhibits once the Wharton Studio & Café is built!"
PRI has given Friends of Stewart Park the opportunity to name the skeleton, and after much consideration, they chose April – a fitting name for April Fool’s Day.
If you appreciate the real work Friends of Stewart Park staff puts in to beautify, enhance, and revitalize your favorite lakeside destination, consider a tax-deductible donation. Visit StewartPark.org or find them at @StewartParkITH on Venmo. |
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| NO FOOLING! Stewart Park Upcoming Events |
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| Free Bird Walks Start This Saturday! |
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| This spring, Friends of Stewart Park invites you to join Cayuga Bird Club leaders for guided bird walks in Stewart Park on the 1st Saturday of the month in April, May and June. Bring your binoculars, dress for the weather, and meet by the osprey nest in the far northeast corner of the park for a fun family-friendly time.
8:00 AM on April 4, May 2, and June 6, 20206
Help spread the word: like and share the event on Facebook! |
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| Friends of Stewart Park invites you to our Movie Night Fundraiser featuring LISTERS: A Glimpse into Extreme Birdwatching, Thursday, April 30, at 6:00 PM. TICKETS $25, Ages 12 and under $10.
Directed by Owen Reiser, with Mason Kelly and Quentin Reiser. In this hilarious and beautifully filmed, family-friendly documentary, two brothers dive into competitive birdwatching by spending a year living in a used minivan, traveling the country to compete in a “Big Year.”
Introduction by Dr. Stephen Kress: author, ornithologist and founder of Project Puffin.
Join us at the Tompkins Center for History and Culture, 110 N. Tioga St. Come early to visit the History Center’s “The Power of Water: A Dam Good Exhibit." |
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| I Love My Park Day is May 2! Join FSP for a morning of park improvement projects! More details and registration to come. |
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| We are so excited to announce that, thanks to our incredible sponsors, the Stewart Park Carousel will be free to ride 13 days in May and June! Thanks to Elizabeth Ann Clune Montessori School of Ithaca, the Tang Family in Loving Memory of Chung Liang Tang, Child Development Council, and Baywood Hotels: Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown, Hampton Inn Ithaca, and Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Ithaca. |
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| Did you know you can provide thousands of free Carousel rides while supporting Friends of Stewart Park with a tax-deductible gift?
As a Carousel Sponsor, you or your organization or business will be recognized with: *Your name and/or logo featured on a prominent sign at the Carousel. *Ability to table at the Carousel. *Acknowledgements through social media such as Facebook, Instagram and the FSP newsletter. *As many as 2,500 smiles daily from children who appreciate your gift! Message Janelle at info@friendsofstewartpark.org to learn more! |
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| | Cayuga Waterfront Trail Update |
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FSP is actively working to establish a more sustainable, collaborative model for the maintenance and management of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. Please read more about it in this update from Executive Director Meloney McMurry. |
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| | | | Updates and Events From FSP Friends and Partners |
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| | Old Greeny Fringe Fest is a week-long, fringe festival in celebration of the weird, wacky, and whimsical, rooted in the legend of Old Greeny—the cryptid of Cayuga Lake. The festival activates traditional and non-traditional venues along the waterfront trail through performances, installations, community activities, and storytelling, with a strong commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and local culture.
LEARN MORE |
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Ithaca Garden Club and the Ithaca Children’s Garden invite you to register for the FOURTH Annual Daffodil Dash on Saturday, April 25 at Cass Park! Run, walk, or stroll along the paved Cayuga Waterfront Trail course while enjoying 180,000 blooming daffodils!
Kids 12 and under have free registration, and the option to purchase a $5 event t-shirt. Registration for all others is $25, with optional $10 event t-shirts available.
REGISTER ONLINE by April 10. |
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| | | Embrace Mental Health Wellness at Stewart Park on Saturday, May 9, from 11am to 2pm with Better Together!
Join us for an uplifting day of free activities for all-ages focused on supporting mental well-being.
LEARN MORE |
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| | The Tompkins Pollinator Pathway now has its own online StoryMap! This exciting place-based storytelling tool brings together maps, images, and community stories to highlight how five public gardens and landscapes in Tompkins County are supporting pollinator health and biodiversity.
The Cayuga Waterfront Trail is an important piece of the Tompkins Pollinator Pathway. LEARN MORE |
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| | If you appreciate the work that Friends of Stewart Park does, please consider a year-end gift. Your donations help keep our organization running so we can continue to write grants, mobilize volunteers, advocate for the park and plan for its future. |
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