ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Another phase of the Stewart Park transformation is complete.

Culminating a decade of restoration efforts, the Friends of Stewart Park, along with state and local officials, cut the ribbon on May 30 at the “large pavilion” addition. They’ve been working on this part of the project since September 2024.

Early info and plans for Large Pavilion addition, February 2023

The new 950-square-foot space will provide equipment storage room for the Ithaca Youth Bureau Summer Day Camp program. This move will allow the Wharton Studio to develop a lakefront café and museum exhibit.

Friends of Stewart Park Board President and Wharton Studio Museum Director Diana Riesman previously detailed the expansion plans to WHCU.

The pavilion addition is dedicated to the memory of Floyd “Todd” Peterson III, who ran the Ithaca Youth Bureau’s Stewart Park Day camp from 1988 to 2018. A temporary plaque was unveiled at the ceremony.

Officials with the Friends of Stewart Park say a permanent plaque will go up later this month.