Senator Lea Webb Delivers $120,000 to Stewart Park for Upgrades to the Picnic Pavilion

ITHACA, NY – Today, Senator Lea Webb announced that she has allocated $120,000 in state funding to support infrastructure upgrades at Stewart Park, one of Ithaca’s most cherished community spaces. This funding will facilitate the construction of a new addition to the Picnic (Large) Pavilion in the park, providing vital enhancements for the Ithaca Youth Bureau and paving the way for the future development of the Wharton Studio & Café.

The new addition to the Picnic (Large) Pavilion will house equipment and supplies for the Stewart Park Day Camp, which are currently stored in the Wharton Studio Building. This strategic relocation will consolidate the camp’s operations into one building, significantly improving safety for campers and staff by eliminating the need to cross the parking lot to access camp gear and supplies. Additionally, the Pavilion’s south façade will be visually enhanced, contributing to the park’s aesthetic appeal.

"I am thrilled to have secured this funding for the City of Ithaca, which will make essential infrastructure upgrades to the Picnic Pavilion at Stewart Park,” said Senator Lea Webb. “This park is a cornerstone of our community, offering a space where people of all ages can come together to enjoy recreation, education, and cultural activities. By enhancing the safety and accessibility of the Pavilion for the Ithaca Youth Bureau and its campers, we are not only supporting our youth but also laying the groundwork for the Wharton Studio Building to be transformed into a vibrant cultural center. I am committed to allocating resources to projects like this that strengthen our community bonds and create lasting opportunities for everyone to connect and thrive."

"Ithaca's parks and natural areas are some of its greatest assets,” said City of Ithaca Mayor, Robert Cantelmo. “They anchor our neighborhoods and offer residents a place to seek recreation and community, while serving as a tourist destination for those visiting our beautiful city. Senator Webb's continued investment in our public parks demonstrates her strong commitment to the values and needs of our community. On behalf of the City of Ithaca, I am grateful for her support and look forward to enjoying these new additions to Stewart Park."

Said Gregg Houck, Ithaca Youth Bureau Director, "Once again, Senator Webb has delivered for our community. Her continuing support of investments in parks, recreation, and youth programs, which are a vital part of life here in Ithaca and Tompkins County, clearly demonstrates her holistic approach to building strong communities. Expanded storage space probably seems unexciting to most folks, but what it sets the stage for at the Wharton Studio building is truly exciting. I look forward to welcoming the Senator back in the near future to celebrate what she has helped to make possible."

Said Diana Riesman, Executive Director and Cofounder, Wharton Studio Museum and Board President, Friends of Stewart Park, "As someone fortunate enough to be part of two nonprofits working to revitalize Ithaca's much-loved Stewart Park, I, along with my colleagues, are truly grateful to Senator Webb for touring the park with us last summer and for her interest in and commitment to improving and restoring the park, specifically the Addition to the lovely Picnic Pavilion, a project that has the dual benefit of creating much needed accessible storage for the Ithaca Youth Bureau's Stewart Park Day Camp, as well as making Wharton Studio Museum's project -- the Wharton Studio & Cafe, one step closer to being realized." 

"Stewart Park is one of the region's most popular parks -- a recreational lakefront destination for everyone to enjoy,” said Rick Manning, Executive Director, Friends of Stewart Park and creator of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. “We at Friends of Stewart Park, working in partnership with the City of Ithaca and Wharton Studio Museum, warmly thank Senator Webb for her generous support that is making this project possible. The Friends of Stewart Park is committed to ensuring that this historic park -- now on the National Register of Historic Places -- is always inviting, welcoming and accessible to everyone. The Picnic Pavilion Addition and the future Wharton Studio & Cafe are part of our vision for an engaging and inclusive park that will serve thousands of people for the next many decades."  

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Photos from the Announcement | Watch the Full Announcement