Stewart Park

Stewart Park. . , Established in 1921, Stewart Park is Ithaca’s first public waterfront park. Many of its buildings remain from the trolley destination Renwick Park that opened in 1894. Over the years, individuals, families, and groups have come steadily to this site to enjoy the natural setting and the festivals, music, and activities that take place here. , , Pre-Renwick , Although early maps indicate this waterfront area as ‘swampy land of little use’, it was important to members of the Cayuga Nation for fishing and trapping. After the Revolutionary War, the region was divided into 400 acre portions known as the Military Tract. Soldier Andrew Moodie was granted this parcel for his military service and promptly sold it to John Renwick. The waterfront area remained undeveloped for 100 years. , , Renwick Park , In 1894, the Ithaca Street Railway Company developed 40 acres as a trolley destination park, complete with bandstand, two pavilions, water tower, a zoo and vaudeville theatre. The buildings were designed by architects Vivian and Gibb and completed over the course of two years. The park was highly popular with attractions every night of the week, including many evenings of music and dance with Patsy Conway and the Ithaca Band. Over 12,000 people gathered at Renwick Park to celebrate July 4th, 1894. , , Renwick Pier , In the 1890s, the steamboat Frontenac, Iroquois and Mohawk docked at Renwick Pier and offered excursions up the lake. Tourists at grand hotels and summer resorts along the lake came to Renwick Park by steamboat for a day’s outing. Cottagers took steamboat rides and received mail and grocery deliveries from smaller steamboats Horton and Kellogg. Rowboats were also popular and available for rent from the pier. , , Cascadilla Boathouse , On the National Register of Historic Places, the Cascadilla Boathouse stands today as a prime example of Second Tier Shingle Style building of the 1890s. Architects Vivian and Gibb designed the boathouse for rowing crews of the Cascadilla Preparatory School and to serve as a venue for their social activities. The second floor included a large dance floor and a full wrap around porch with ample view of the lake. Since 1975, the boathouse has continued as a home for rowers through the Cascadilla Boat Club. , , Wharton Studios , From 1915 to 1919, Renwick Park land and buildings were leased to the Wharton Brothers to use as a studio site for silent movie productions. The Whartons recognized the scenic potential of Ithaca’s lake, gorges, trolleys and buildings, and are well known for many uses of a shot of a trolley falling into the gorge. They made The Exploits of Elaine, Beatrix Fairfox and other films here before moving on to California and its preferable climate. , , Mayor Edwin C. Stewart declared: “It is a disgrace to our city that there is not a place where Ithacans and their guests may go to enjoy our lake without trespassing on the private property.” Soon thereafter, the city purchased the aging Renwick property, spruced up the grounds and opened Ithaca’s first public waterfront park on July 4th, 1926. Mayor Stewart left $150,000 in his will for the improvement and maintenance of the park. It was renamed in his honor in 1927 and has been a popular Ithaca destination ever since., Swimming at the Park? , In its heyday, swimmers at Stewart Park waded out in the shallow water to splash play on large slides and rafts. This popular activity had to be discontinued in 1964 after two people drowned, as the murky sediment-laden water does not allow for effective lifeguarding. , , Festivals, Festivals, Festivals , Stewart Park has been home to many distinctive festivals dreamed up by creative Ithacans and enjoyed by thousands. Ithaca Festival, Brewfest, ….the list goes on.