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| The Park is Buzzing and So Are We! |
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| April is my favorite time of year at Stewart Park, as the landscape sheds its winter coat of frost, and the trees don garlands of tiny green leaves and delicate blooms. The bees are buzzing, and the park is filling with energy and the anticipation of the coming summer season.
Here at FSP we’re especially excited for the return of some favorite traditions: the Carousel reopens (for my birthday!) on May 22, and the splash pad will be back in action on Juneteenth. Thanks to some incredible sponsors, carousel rides will be free every weekend in June and on the 4th of July!
The park is starting to look pretty spiffy after an incredibly productive first workday supported by 44 Park Fellows from Cornell University’s Johnson School–check out the new picnic tables by the playground! Another workday is just around the corner, along with a full lineup of events to bring you out into the park and down by the lake.
Finally, we are deeply grateful to the Tompkins County Tourism Program for recognizing the park as a regional asset and providing generous support for park maintenance and Friends of Stewart Park operations. We could not do what we do without partners like them.
We hope to see you in the park soon—enjoying all that this vibrant season has to offer. 
Meloney McMurry Executive Director Friends of Stewart Park |
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| | Movie Night Fundraiser Tomorrow - Thurs. April 30 |
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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 in the CAP Gallery at the Tompkins Center for Hsitory and Culture (TCHC). TICKETS $25, Ages 12 and under $10.
In this hilarious and beautifully filmed, family-friendly documentary, directed by Owen Reiser with Mason Kelluy and Quentin Reiser, 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", as well as our revitalization partner Wharton Studio Museum's permanent exhibit on the Wharton, Inc. Studio. |
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| | | Volunteer Workday This Saturday, May 2 |
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| I Love My Park Day is May 2! Join FSP for a morning of park improvement projects like spreading mulch, painting benches, litter pick up, cleaning up garden beds, cleaning building patios & windows.
Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and meet at the garage doors of the DPW/Wharton Studio Building.
Please register with Parks and Trails New York. Registering for the event helps FSP and PTNY with planning and tracking volunteers for grants. |
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| | | Free Bird Walk This Saturday, May 2! |
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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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| | Waterfront Trail Workday Wednesday, May 6 |
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| On Wednesday, May 6, Rick Manning will lead a volunteer workday in Cass Park from 12 noon - 1:30 pm. will clean up the Bird Garden, Priscilla Point and Inlet Overlook, located near the Dragon Boat Docks and Coach's Crossing.
We will trim back native grasses and perennials on both sides of the trail and trim vegetation along the trail edge to maintain and enhance views of the Inlet from the trail. Bring your hand tools - pruners, loppers, bow saws, rakes and electric blowers - and dress appropriately for gardening with gloves, long pants, boots and sun protection.
Park near the playground behind the Cass Park Pool or ride your bike. If you have any questions, contact Rick at 607-592-4647 or rickmanning1225@gmail.com.
Help spread the word: like and share the event on Facebook! |
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| We are so excited that, thanks to the generosity of numerous generous sponsors, the Stewart Park Carousel will be free to ride 14 days so far this summer! We are incredibly grateful to Elizabeth Ann Clune Montessori School of Ithaca; The Tang Family in Loving Memory of Chung Liang Tang; Child Development Council; Baywood Hotels: Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown, Hampton Inn Ithaca, and Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Ithaca; and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services for their sponsorships! |
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| | FSP Receives Tompkins Tourism Program Grant |
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| Friends of Stewart Park warmly thanks Tompkins County Tourism Program for investing in the great outdoors! TCTP awarded a combined $55,000 to five organizations, including $19,000 to FSP to sustain stewardship and programming at Stewart Park, including year-round gardening.
This grant affords FSP the ability to help the City of Ithaca take care of trails, gardens, playgrounds, pavilions, and lakefront amenities—ensuring the park remains safe, welcoming, environmentally healthy, and accessible to the public. Thank you, TCTP, for helping people enjoy the outdoors in Tompkins County! |
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| | Cayuga Waterfront Trail Paving |
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| | Another round of thanks to Tompkins County Tourism Program for its support of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. FSP’s 2025 grant award included money to help pay for trail improvements, including repaving in several locations where tree roots and weather had buckled the trail.
The City of Ithaca arranged for the work, which was done by Nick Sr. and Nick Jr. of Bellisario Excavating & Drainage, with the supervision of Lenny the dog! |
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| | | | We are so grateful to have had a large group of volunteers from Cornell University's Park Leadership Fellows Program of the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management with us in the park last Friday, April 10. These hardworking students picked up litter, raked tons of willow wisps, spread mulch, installed a new swing bench, and built and installed a picnic table, and more! Thank you all for helping prepare Stewart Park for the summer! |
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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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Are you following Friends of Stewart Park on Facebook and Instagram? It’s a great way to stay abreast of what’s happening, especially in the summer! |
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| | | Updates and Events From FSP Friends and Partners |
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| | Embrace Mental Health Wellness at Stewart Park on Saturday, May 9, from 11am to 2pm with the annual Better Together event!
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 biodiversity and health!
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 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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