Archive: Around Town

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the official opening of Stewart Park as Ithaca’s first public waterfront park, the Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and the newly-formed Friends of Stewart Park will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the restoration of the Mayor Stewart Memorial Flagpole Garden, followed by a picnic and community party in the Large Pavilion at Stewart Park. The potluck organizers ask that attendees bring your own picnic and supplies. A trowel and gardening gloves are optional.

Mayor Edwin C. Stewart spearheaded the initiative to transform the by then neglected private Renwick Park into a thriving city amenity.  The park officially opened July 4 1921 and was renamed Stewart Park in his honor.  In 1927, a flagpole garden was erected in his memory.  Mayor Carolyn Peterson, along with four past City of Ithaca mayors -- Ray Bordoni, Alan Cohen, John Gutenberger, and Bill Shaw – personally endorses the restoration initiative.

Mayor Peterson said, "I and the previous mayors all agree that preserving and honoring the vision of Mayor Stewart through refurbishing the flagpole garden is a very worthy project. Ithacans past and present love Stewart Park. During these tough budget times, joint public and private efforts will be needed to maintain our beautiful assets for generations to come."

Jean McPheeters, the President of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, said, “As a gathering place for the Ithaca community, Stewart Park is incomparable. The park also serves as a major tourist attraction. The view of the lake from Stewart Park is extraordinary and we all have wonderful memories of picnics, festivals, family gatherings and quiet times just walking along the lake shore. I’m delighted that this groundbreaking will celebrate both the 90th anniversary of the park and the efforts to renew the gardens and the park’s infrastructure.  We need to make the park as beautiful in reality as it is in our imaginations and our memories.”

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