|  | Thinking Ahead to Spring! |
| This week showed us the first glimmers of spring, and the park was buzzing with families, joggers, and nature lovers eager to shake off the winter chill and soak in the fresh air. With longer days and the returning sounds of birdsong, there’s something magical about watching the park slowly reawaken at this time of year. In this edition of our newsletter, we’re excited to share updates on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and new projects that will enhance the park for everyone to enjoy. From the return of our seasonal clean-up days to the launch of exciting new initiatives, there are plenty of ways to get involved and celebrate the beauty of spring in Stewart Park. Thank you for being part of our community of park lovers and stewards. Your support helps keep Stewart Park a welcoming and vibrant space for all. We hope to see you in the park soon! |
|  | Meloney McMurry FSP Executive Director |
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| | Ecological-Minded Fundraiser |
|  | Join Friends of Stewart Park for this engaging presentation by ecologist and conservation biologist Amanda Rodewald, Thursday, March 20th, 7pm at Cinemapolis in Downtown Ithaca.
In her talk she will discuss how birds give us a powerful lens through which we identify and implement strategies to conserve biodiversity and address global challenges facing people and the planet. Rodewald will illustrate how eBird, a global participatory science project run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, can facilitate the development of flexible, adaptable, creative, and economical approaches to conservation. Ms. Roderwald is the Garvin Professor and Senior Director of the Center for Avian Population Studies at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
All proceeds benefit a new Interpretive sign for the Fuertes Bird Sanctuary Overlook in Stewart Park. This event also kicks off the Ithaca Native Landscape Symposium. |
| |  | The Louis Agassiz Fuertes Memorial Bird Sanctuary and “Swan Pond” Overlook were built by the Cayuga Bird Club (CBC) in 1928 and 1933 respectively, and gifted to the City in honor of Ithaca’s renowned ornithologist, artist, CBC founder and boy scout leader Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Friends of Stewart Park is working with Cayuga Bird Club to create an interpretive panel for this historic landmark which FSP helped restored in 2017 and 2021. |
| | |  | It's that time of year again and we are always so grateful to our volunteers! So, please join Friends of Stewart for its Annual Spring Waterfront Cleanup, Saturday, April 5 from 10 am to noon. Meet by the Wharton Studio Building (DPW).
Together, we'll practice good stewardship of our park and Cayuga Lake’s waterfront with trash cleanup, Picnic Pavilion cleaning, and trimming. Dress for the weather, wear boots or sturdy shoes, and bring gloves, garbage bags, litter grabbers, rakes or anything else that will help.
Thanks to Zero Waste Ithaca for partnering with FSP on this cleanup. Learn more about the great work they do at their website.Like and Share the event on Facebook
If the weather is terrible, we’ll reschedule to April 12th. |
| | |  | After five years on Brindley Street, Friends of Stewart Park has moved its office to the Tompkins Center for History and Culture on the Commons in Downtown Ithaca.
Wharton Studio Museum, our partner in park revitalization, kindly invited us to share their office. We are so glad to be in an accessible building and our new TCHC neighbors are other small local non-profits, including the Ithaca Visitors Center, The History Center, Community Arts Partnership, Discover Cayuga Lake, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and the Dorothy Cotton Institute, among others.
FSP's office at the TCHC is located at 110 N. Tioga St. Office #305, Ithaca, NY 14850. Mail can be sent there or to Friends of Stewart Park, PO Box 105, Ithaca, NY 14850.
The building is open to the public from 10 AM - 6 PM Monday-Saturday. For more information about the TCHC, including a full list of partners and current exhibits, visit tompkins-center.net. |
| | Picnic Pavilion Addition Progress |
|  | The 925 sq. ft. Addition to the back of the Picnic “Large" Pavilion is in its final phases of completion! It's looking wonderful.
The Addition will provide spacious accessible and well-lit storage for watercraft, bikes and sports equipment, etc. for the Ithaca Youth Bureau's Stewart Park Day Camp and consolidate the camp's operations into one building, enhancing camper safety. Built-in cubbies with hooks (pictured below) are being added to the "foyer" just off the main Picnic Pavilion space for campers, camp staff, and those renting the pavilion.
Bero Architecture from Rochester, NY led the design team with engineering work by Andrew Sciarabba Engineering and Taitem Engineering, with W.L. Kline Inc. on construction.
The new storage location frees up the lake-facing section of the historic Wharton Studio/DPW Building, paving the way for the Wharton Studio & Café, a cultural and recreational destination featuring exhibits about the film studio and Ithaca' s role in early American moviemaking. The WS&C will be a nice spot to grab a snack from the cafe while sitting on terraces looking onto Cayuga Lake. This project, led by Wharton Studio Museum and FSP, was made possible through NYS funding from Assemblymember Anna Kelles and State Senator Lea Webb, individual donors, and Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau. Check out video of the inside of the Picnic Pavilion Addition here. |
| | | | Sponsor the Stewart Park Carousel! |
| 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! |
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| | Calling Young Film Makers |
| From our partners in revitalization, Wharton Studio Museum:
WSM is proud to announce another Quiet on the Set!🎥 Film Festival for student and local youth! 2025 marks our 7th year!
-No filmmaking experience necessary
-Open to local youth (11-18) in the Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Central NY regions.
QOTS is a terrific opportunity for local youth to showcase their creativity by making short silent films. Registration is open until April 28. Learn more at: whartonstudiomuseum.org/quiet-on-the-set |
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|  | Thank you to the Park School of Communications at Ithaca College for being the fest's Presenting Sponsor! |
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| | | | Our friends The Ithaca Garden Club and the Ithaca Children’s Garden are excited to invite you to participate in the THIRD Daffodil Dash on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.
Ready, set, SPRING! Register for the Third Annual Daffodil Dash at Cass Park on April 26 at 9:00 AM. Choose your pace — run, walk, or stroll — on the fun paved course through 180,000 daffodils for a one-mile run or a 5K race. And yes, stopping to sniff the flowers is highly encouraged! |
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| | | We are looking forward to an exciting year in the park and along the Trail! Here are some of the dates we hope you will join us for. Stay tuned for more details! |
| Community Conversation regarding the Wharton Studio & Cafe at Ithaca Youth Bureau April 27.
“I Love My Park Day” work in the Park with FSP May 3 and follow-up May 4
Stewart Park Carousel Opening Weekend May 24
Watermusic & Dancing on the Trail with FSP and Triphammer Arts August 3
FSP and Wharton Studio Museum’s Tenth Annual Party for the Park Sept 20
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