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With high gas prices and a growing concern for the environment, more people are looking for modes of transportation that use less energy resources.  Nothing uses less gas than walking and biking, and add the beauty of Lake Cayuga and you have the idea behind the Cayuga Waterfront Trail.  Representatives of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ithaca (partners in the project) joined together with others who have contributed to the project to celebrate the start of phase 3 of the project, which will link Stewart Park to the Ithaca Farmers Market.

"This a means of transportation to view Lake Cayuga --  get closer to it, be part of it, see it more effectively, more clearly, and engage in this gorgeous, huge lake," says U.S. Congressman Maurice hinchey, who was present for the shovel ceremony.  "This is going to stimulate economic growth.  I think it's going to bring in a lot of people who now see Lake Cayuga, but now can get closer to it."


The six mile trail is planned in three phases.  Phase 1 was a loop in Cass Park that was completed in 2003.  Chamber President Jean McPheeters says that Hinchey has been able to bring over $1 million of federal transport funding to the project, most recently $980,000 Hinchey secured in the 2006 Federal Transportation Reauthorization Act.   The money will pay for Phase 3 and possibly for part of Phase 2, planned for 2011, which will link Cass Park with the Farmers Market, connecting Cass and Stewart Parks.

"Phase Three is on publicly-owned land," says landscape architect consultant Rick Manning, who has been spearheading the project.  "That makes it much easier and much faster.  That's why we're jumping ahead to do Phase Three.  Phase Two is still in the easement/acquisition process and that's where the real hard work is.  We're hopeful that it will happen next year."

The City of Ithaca hired Manning in 2000 to do feasibility study and write the grant for Phase One.  He approached the Chamber to use their foundation for the fund raising effort.  Park and Triad foundations have been generous donors as well as individuals.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been donated so far to purchase benches, stones, plazas, a bird garden, interpretive signs, and other features along the trail.

"I love to see paths and trails," says Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson.  "Every community I visit seems to have a number of trails.  We have a challenge in our older city.  Roads are narrower and our topography make some of the biking routes pretty challenging.  It is something we've been working on for years, and it's very exciting to see some of this come to fruition."


The location of the Phase 3 part of the trail was marked with yellow yard signs for Monday's ceremony.  A chart showing the full plan was on display as Chamber Co-Chairs John Gutenberger and Laurie Linn, Hinchey, Peterson, McPheeters, and Manning dug the first shovelfuls. 

Manning is looking ahead to the next phase, as well as extra features private donations will make possible.

"The thing to do now is to create a fitness trail head," he says.  "The state of the art in that is to do it in one place rather than stopping every 100 feet.  We build the trail heads, which are places where you can park and get on the trail.  There is some orientation and interpretive signage.  The benches -- we have a nicely designed bench that are sponsored privately.  To support the trail heads we've gotten a big lead donation from Park Foundation, Triad Foundation, and Chemung Canal Trust.  Stepping stones -- engraved bricks -- at three different levels have been an important fundraiser for us, and we'll certainly be pushing that in the future."

Peterson says the trail is about the values her administration is bringing to the city.  She says that connecting it to the Farmers Market will also enhance that element of city commerce, which features local produce and products.

"This administration is certainly one that is trying to practice what it preaches about sustainability and walkable pedestrian-friendly communities," she says.  "And also sustain people having the ability to enhance their health and wellness in our community.  This is certainly part of that."

Manning says that Phase 3 of the project is expected to begin immediately after the July 4th holiday, to be completed by October of this year.

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