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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Packet 2026-09-17 TOWN OF ITHACA s21 NEW YORK PLANNING DEPARTMENT 215 N. Tioga St 14850 607.273.1747 townithacM.gov TOWN OF ITHACA PLANNING COMMITTEE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 at 3:00 P.M. Meeting Location: Ithaca Town Hall, 215 N. Tioga Street, Aurora Conference Room (Enter from the rear entrance of Town Hall, adjacent employee parking lot.) Members of the public may also join the meeting virtually via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6750593272. AGENDA 1. Persons to be heard. 2. Committee announcements and concerns. 3. Consider approval of August meeting minutes. 4. Review and discuss revised draft 2024 Town of Ithaca Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory(Interim Report) for Government Operations. 5. Green New Deal Action Plan update. 6. Review and discuss Ithaca Outdoors: Planning for Parks, Trails, Preserves, & Recreation. 7. Continue to review and discuss consultant responses to RFQ and recommend firm to develop scenario planning models for 2014 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Character Districts/ areas. 8. Staff updates and reports. 9. Discuss next meeting date and upcoming agenda items. A quorum of the Ithaca Town Board may be present, however, no official Board business will be conducted. Town of Ithaca Planning Committee Tuesday,August 11, 2026 (1:00 PM Aurora Conference Room and on Zoom) Draft Minutes Committee members present: Rod Howe, Chair; Diana Sinton; Dave McCune. Board/staff members: Director of Planning C.J. Randall; Director of Code Enforcement Marry Moseley; Director of Engineering Justin McNeal; GIS Specialist Max Villanueva; Town Planner Nick Quilty-Koval; Guests: Tompkins County Planning and Sustainability Department representatives David West and Shawna Stevenson. 1. Persons to be heard: None 2. Committee announcements and concerns: None 3. Approval of June minutes: Diana moved the June 18, 2026, minutes for approval as presented; Dave seconded. The minutes were approved. 4. Review and discuss three consultant responses to RFQ for developing scenario planning models for 2014 Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map Character Districts/ areas. The town received eight responses to the RFQ. Staff internally narrowed down the submissions to the three that aligned closely with the project needs. Representatives from each of the firms below either came in person or via zoom for a 30-minute presentation by their staff followed by a short question and answer period. Fisher Associates (subconsultant MRB Group), Houseal Lavigne (in partnership with Langan, The Gartrell Group, and Urbanomics) and LaBella Associates. At the conclusion of the three presentations, the committee asked for follow-up questions to be sent to Fisher and Labella. A list of potential questions was provided to the committee, C.J. asked for any additional questions to be sent to Planning to compile and send to the respective consultant teams. With the recent execution of the Esri Urban ArcGIS agreement, staff will draft a scope of work for each of the two to consider as well. That draft, along with the responses to the questions, will come back to the September 17 Planning Committee meeting to consider a recommendation to the TB at their late September meeting. 5. Staff updates and reports. C.J. reported on the Streets'27 Forest Home Traffic Calming Plan project.A meeting was held recently with the steering committee and updates will be published on the Town website's project page. C.J. recommended that the Planning Committee revisit the town's existing Large Scale Solar Overlay Zone map at the September meeting for any potential changes. There was a meeting with consultants for the South Hill TND GEIS project.A scoping document is anticipated by the end of this year. Public engagement is expected to continue as the project moves forward both with the property owners and general public. 1 The Planning Board is continuing review of the SouthWorks Woods project. The Joint Sewer Interceptor project presentation at the Public Works committee was noted. Lastly C.J. mentioned in conjunction with the Conservation Board, Towns of Danby and Dryden, an upcoming cluster/conservation subdivision workshop is anticipated in early October. It will be held at the downtown conference center with presenter Randall Arendt. The town's revised subdivision draft was presented at recent CB and PB meetings with good feedback received. Max briefly updated on his recent attendance at the Esri User Conference. Connections were made with many other GIS professionals as well as connections with engineers and consultants. Marty stated he had nothing to report. 6. Next meeting date and upcoming agenda items: September 17, 2026 The Town of Ithaca Planning Committee meeting concluded at 3:25 p.m. 2 DRAFT REPORT: READ THIS FIRST A graphic designer will be formatting and providing visuals for this report.[graphic........]is a notation for the graphic designer and will be deleted in the final version. Title Page: The Interim Report: 2024 Town of Ithaca Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory (Interim Report)for Government Operations [insert Graphic, Town Logo, date adopted by Town Board] Acknowledgements Town Board Rod Howe, Rich DePaolo, Eric Levine, Pamela Bleiwas, Rob Rosen, Margaret Johnson, Susie Gutenberger, David McCune, Diana Sinton Planning Committee Rich DePaolo, Rod Howe, Margaret Johnson*, David McCune, Diana Sinton Report Authors Hilary Swartwood, Sustainability Planner Imogen Dietz, Cornell University Student and Town of Ithaca Intern Report Design Audra Linsner,Three of Four Design Company The Town thanks the following individuals who provided data, reviewed data,and contributed to this document.All individuals are affiliated with the Town unless otherwise noted. Max Villanueva, Debby Kelley, C.J. Randall, Mike Smith, Becca Wright,Joe Slater, Rich DePaolo, Steve Riddle (Bolton Point), Peter Wernsdorffer(City of Ithaca, IAWWTF), Scott Gibson (City of Ithaca, IAWWTF) Table of Contents [DRAFT] The Context:The Town of Ithaca's Green New Deal and Comprehensive Plan Tracking Progress: Greenhouse Gas Inventories for Government Operations The Regulatory Landscape: How does the Town respond to policy changes? What's around the corner: Conclusions and next steps The Context: The Town of Ithaca's Green New Deal and Comprehensive Plan The Town of Ithaca has been proactive in creating robust policy tools to help guide Town staff in our efforts to plan for an adaptable and resilient community. Chief among these is The Town's 2014 Comprehensive Plan— still in use today-which includes a chapter dedicated to Energy and Climate Protection and focuses on the following goals: • EC 1: Incorporate sustainability and climate protection into long-term planning • EC 2: Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings and infrastructure • EC 3: Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions related to treatment and distribution • EC 4: Reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions in transportation • EC 5: Encourage and facilitate production and use of renewable energy • EC 6: Reduce GHG emissions related to waste generation and purchasing • EC 7: Build a resilient community by preparing for and adapting to impacts of climate change When the Town passed its landmark Green New Deal Resolution in 2020, it directed Town staff to create a Green New Deal Action Plan,which provides a road map for implementing the Green New Deal Goals by outlining specific actions and deliverables based on the goals outlined in the Energy and Climate protection section of the Comprehensive Plan.These form the bedrock of the Town's sustainability and climate work. The key goals of the Green New Deal are as follows: 1. Meet the electricity needs of Town government operations with 100%regionally sourced renewable electricity by 2025 2. Reduce emissions, or create offsets,from the Town fleet of vehicles by 50%from the 2010 levels by 2025 • Reduce emissions by at least 10% • Offset remaining emissions 3. Achieve an equitable transition to carbon-neutrality town-wide by 2030 • Reduce net emissions by at least 85%through efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy • Sequester carbon in the Town • Offset remaining GHG emissions through regional initiatives 2025 was a milestone year for the Town of Ithaca's Green New Deal.Although the Town has made significant progress towards the goals laid out in both the Green New Deal Action Plan and the Comprehensive Plan,we did not meet the milestones for 2025 and are off-track to meet our goal for 2030. In the years since the last greenhouse gas inventory was adopted in 2021,the Town of Ithaca has experienced a global pandemic, shifting federal administrations, more volatile energy markets, increasingly unpredictable weather events, delayed technological advancements, and increased costs,to name just a few factors.The Town is dedicated to its Green New Deal Goals,yet aspects of progress have been stymied by environmental and political forces beyond its control. Despite this unpredictability,the Town of Ithaca has remained steady in its commitment to providing a better climate future for all its residents. Tracking Progress: Greenhouse Gas Inventories for Government Operations A GHG emissions inventory is an assessment of the activities that cause or release greenhouse gases. Many inventories also contain information about energy usage—the main driver of GHG emissions—and energy costs. It is also a reflection of the regulatory landscape of the time and this can lead to challenges with comparing data across inventory years. In principle, a greenhouse gas inventory allows a municipality to: • Track progress toward Town GND goals and other climate-related goals • Monitor the impact of past sustainability initiatives • Identify and prioritize areas for reducing GHG emissions, energy use, and energycost • Guide planning and policy decisions in a quantifiable and transparentway • Recognize and build public support for its sustainability initiatives. The Town'sfirst GHG inventory for government operations provided baseline data from 2009. In essence, a baseline year provides a snapshot of the current state of affairs that can be used to set goals and visions for the future.At the time,the Town of Ithaca chose 2009 as a baseline year because the data was relatively accessible and organized compared to previous years; it was consistent with other climate action plans in the region and state; and there were relatively few energy improvements implemented allowing the Town to track the impacts of future energy and climate strategies. The 2009 inventory also had to make assumptions, as calculating greenhouse gas emissions is inherently difficult. A second greenhouse gas inventory was adopted in 2021 and used data from 2017 and 2019(basically,two inventories in one document).This inventory tried to rectify some of the methodological assumptions that were made, but that too proved challenging. As this current iteration of the Town's Greenhouse gas inventory for Government Operations progressed, it became apparent that a typical inventory was not applicable.The regulatory landscape of 2024 is vastly different from 2009 and 2019. Since there has not been any standardized process for completing greenhouse gas inventories at the Town on a regular or semi- regular basis,there have been other tracking methods implemented that add an additional layer of complexity. In essence, how do you compare data and track progress towards your Green New Deal goals when the methods and data do not align? At its core, a greenhouse gas inventory provides a method for tracking progress towards an emissions goal while showing the current state of energy in a municipality. In an ideal world, an inventory would be completed on an annual or bi-annual basis,which would allow a municipality to better track progress and adjust planning efforts accordingly. Greenhouse gas inventories are a heavy lift and rely on accuracy, consistency, and staff capacity to bring them to fruition.The Town has completed two inventories for government operations, but these were ten years apart. Neither of these inventories have been consistently used to track progress towards the Town's Green New Goals. Instead,the Town has relied on the annual Green Fleet inventory and the Green New Deal Action Plan as tracking tools. It is worth noting that of the Green New Deal goals set forth in the 2020 Green New Deal Resolution, only one of them references a baseline year to track progress against:the Town's fleet emissions reduction goal. The best path forward for managing greenhouse gas emission in the future is using the ICLEI ClearPath 2.0 Platform. Founded in 1990, ICLEI— Local Governments for Sustainability is an association of city and county governments dedicated to improving global environmental conditions through cumulative local action.The Town rejoined ICLEI in 2025 to take advantage of ClearPath 2.0, a platform that streamlines the entire climate action planning process through dynamic economic and emissions modeling and smarter data, which can help local governments turn climate plans into measurable action. GHG Accounting Methodologies that have been used by the Town of Ithaca Created by ICLEI and their partners,the LGOP is a standardized guide for local governments to quantify and report GHG emissions associated with Local Government Operations Protocol(LGOP) their operations.The LGOP is the most frequently used methodology for the majority of local governments in the United States.This is also the method used in ICLEI's ClearPath 2.0 platform. The AMAM is different from the LGOP because it accounts for methane Leakage during production and distribution and uses the 20-year Global Warming Protocol(GWP20)for methane instead of the 100-year GWP.This was to help show how methane has an outsized, but often obscured role in Advanced Methane Accounting Method(AMAM) global warming.The AMAM was used in the 2019 inventory because at the time NYS was considering using a similar methodology for the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act(CLCPA)and the Town wanted to be aligned with the state(and Tompkins County),who also used this method. Revision date 0911012026 GHG Inventory for Government Operations: Methods used,assumptions made,and how this influenced progress tracking MethodSector Year Assumptions Can we track progress? 2009 LGOP Used utility data(electricity and gas)from NYSEG and the Town's accounting department for the 4 buildings owned by the Town. Buildings(Town Hall and 2019 LGOP+AMAM Used utility data(electricity and gas)from NYSEG and the Town's Yes Public Works Facility) accounting department for the 4 buildings owned by the Town. 2024 LGOP Used utility data(electricity and gas)from NYSEG and the Town's accounting department for the 4 buildings owned by the Town. 2009 LGOP Used utility data(electricity)from NYSEG and the Town's accounting department for an unspecified number of streetlights. Used utility data(electricity)from NYSEG and the Town's accounting 2019 LGOP+AMAM department-10 different entries:nine lighting districts,one category Streetlights&Traffic Signals of"streetlights at large."Also includes two accounts for school Yes crossing lights. Used utility data(electricity)from NYSEG and the Town's accounting 2024 LGOP department.10 different entries:nine lighting districts,one category of "streetlights at large."Also includes two accounts for school crossing lights. 100%of emissions included in 2009 inventory even though the Town is one of five municipalities who use the water treatment facility.This 2009 LGOP assumed that"the other smaller municipalities would not inventory Water Delivery Facilities emissions from Bolton Point in the near future,nor would they have (Bolton Point,Pump the resources to drive energy efficiency and carbon reduction No Stations,and Pump strategies" Houses) 2019 LGOP+AMAM 51.9%of emissions were included in this inventory because that was the Town's share of Bolton Point in 2017 and 2019. 2024 LGOP The Town has a 51.9%share of Bolton Point in 2024. The Town has 42%ownership,therefore 42%of attributable emissions are included in this inventory.The City of Ithaca includes 100%of emissions in their inventory(2001).The Town and City were supposed 2009 LGOP to create an arrangement that guides all municipalities involved to account for the emissions proportional to their ownership and to avoid double counting.Unclear if this was ever done-was not mentioned in Wastewater Facilities later inventories. (IAWWTF and Wastewater The Town had a 37.3%ownership and owns and operates 15 pump No Pump Houses) 2019 LGOP+AMAM houses. The Town had a 39.3%ownership and owns and operates 15 pump houses.There were difficulties getting accurate data because it was 2024 LGOP unclear what the LGOP means by aerobic and anaerobic processes and what part of the treatment process the LGOP is referring to. Unclear with how they dealt with this in 2019. Fuel consumption and vehicle miles traveled for fleet vehicles and equipment were not available for the chosen baseline year(2009)so 2010 LGOP 2010 was substituted.The Town considered Bolton Point's vehicle fleet as part of their total vehicles.100%of the emissions from Bolton Points Vehicles were included. No,if tracking through the GHG inventory Fleet Vehicles 2019 LGOP+AMAM Created a single entry titled"Bolton Point Vehicles"using a single Yes,if tracking with the Green Fleet inventory vehicle type(Light Truck)and a 51.9%share of gasoline. The Town adopted a Green Fleet Inventory in 2021,which is 2024 LGOP conducted annually.This does not include Bolton Point's vehicles but is more accurate overall. 2009 LGOP Employees from Town Hall,Public Works and Bolton Point were surveyed. Employees from Town Hall,Public Works and Bolton Point were surveyed.For each work location an"average emissions per AMAM+ employee"were calculated.The average emissions were then Employee Commute 2019 Alternate multiplied by the respective number of employees that did not No method respond to the survey.This was a departure from the LGOP in an attempt to create a more accurate and granular representation of the Town's employee commute emissions. 2024 LGOP Employees from Town Hall,Public Works,and Bolton Point were surveyed. 2009 LGOP Not included in the baseline. Carbon sequestration and forested land were calculated using maps 2019 LGOP+AMAM from 2015 that were not as accurate as the maps in use today.Used Urban Forestry(Carbon this to calculate how much carbon was offset from forested land. No sequestration) Sequestration in trees is not scientifically uniform and this introduces 2024 LGOP methodological inconsistencies.The technology behind ArcGIS has advanced over the last several years leading to significant improvements in map accuracy. Revision date 0 911 012 02 6 The Regulatory Landscape: How does the Town respond to policy changes? The regulatory and climate landscape often feels like standing on sand: as soon as you have a steady foothold,there is a sudden shift and you are left trying to balance on increasingly unstable ground. How does a community plan for its future in this type of environment? Here are some examples of how the Town has responded to changes in policies, using New York State as an example: Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act(CLCPA)(2019) This mandated several goals, including one to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Though the state committed to working aggressively to reduce greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions and becoming a hub of the new clean energy economy, it has been slow to implement its climate law and set forth draft regulations for greenhouse gas reduction requirements. In the 2019 greenhouse gas inventory the Town did a secondary analysis of its greenhouse gas emissions using the Advanced Methane Accounting Methodology because at the time it appeared that the State was also moving in that direction. However,this has not occurred. Recently, a Lawsuit was filed against the NYS DEC in 2025 for failure to implement the CLCPA,which included setting up the accounting methodology for greenhouse gas emissions.The Town has decided to continue using the LGOP method for inventories as that is the most frequently used standard for the majority of United States jurisdictions. If New York state decides to use a different methodology in the future,the Town can assess if they wish to align themselves accordingly.Town staff recommend that the Town of Ithaca continue to invest in ICLEI membership,which includes the ClearPath 2.0 platform.The ClearPath 2.0 tool will enable the Town to be responsive to changes in methodologies in the future(ICLEI is one of the founders of the LGOP methodology). Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act(2020) Created the Office of Renewable Energy Siting(ORES)to fast-track the review and permitting of major utility- scale renewable energy infrastructure.The Town of Ithaca updated the zoning for Solar Energy to allow small- scale building-and ground-mounted solar facilities by right and increased the size of large-scale solar development projects up to 35 acres(approximately 5 MW)with site plan review granted by the Planning Board.There is10 MW of Solar under construction or in development within the Town. All- Electric Buildings Act(AEBA) (2023 A first-in-the-nation comprehensive legislation for constructing modern zero-emission new homes and buildings with targets to reduce consumers'rising energy costs, create healthier living and working environments, and add thousands of local clean energy and energy efficiencyjobs. In response,gas corporations and others filed a legal challenge claiming that the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)overrides all state control over fossil fuel appliances. Until a verdict is reached, implementation of the AEBA is indefinitely paused.The Town of Ithaca adopted and enforced the local Ithaca Energy Code Supplement(first adopted in 2020,with updates in 2023 and 2025), which sets requirements for new construction to substantially reduce emissions.This included becoming the first municipality in New York State to adopt a local energy code requiring net-zero emissions in all new residential and commercial builds (adopted in early 2026). Even though the Town has not yet met the goals outline in the Green New Deal Resolution, it has been successfully completing sustainability projects that, even indirectly, are making a positive impact. • Met its goal to reduce GHG emissions from government facilities by 30% by 2020. • Adopted a Green Fleet Policy to assist the Town in reducing emissions from fleet vehicles and reducing fuel costs. • Created a dedicated Sustainability Planner position. • Updated electric vehicle charging stations to be an accessory use in most Town zones to make charging stations more accessible for residents, business owners, and developers. • Replaced all streetlamps with LED lights and installed advanced lighting controls. • Developed a plan to weatherize the Town Hall as part of a multi-phased approach to government building electrification. • Implemented a Community Choice Aggregation Program and Distributed Energy Resource Program in partnership with the City of Ithaca and Local Power, LLC. called Tompkins Green Energy Network (T-GEN). What's Around the Corner: Conclusions and Next Steps [graphic ideas: ?] Greenhouse Gas Inventories provide a comprehensive look at existing energy conditions within a municipality. Its most important function-as a tool to assist jurisdictions in energy and adaptation planning- provides credibility to decision making while holding municipal staff and elected officials accountable. As the 2024 inventory was developed, a few patterns emerged that were consistent across all former inventories: data discrepancies, regulatory complexity, and unclear objectives. Several solutions are provided that would help mitigate these concerns in future updates. Assess the 2009 baseline year. Why is this important? • The 2009 inventory was chosen to be consistent with regional and local inventories and was considered, at the time,to be the most complete set of data. However, since that time other municipalities have selected different baseline years;the City of Ithaca,for example, changed their baseline year from 2001 to 2019,the latter of which has more complete dataset. • Updating the baseline year(ex. 2017 and 2019)will provide the Town with a consistent accounting methodology in the long run and help support decision making, especially as the 2030 deadline to reach carbon neutrality town-wide approaches. • This will likely mean a shift in the emission targets the Town is trying to achieve but will ultimately benefit the Town in the long-term. What to do next? • Workwith staff to determine which year has the most comprehensive data across all sectors. Alternatively,the Town could decide to go with an existing GHG inventory year, like 2017 or 2019,to simplify the process. • Leverage the technical assistance available within ICLEI to help find a solution that works for the Town. • Present findings to Planning Committee and/or Town Board and discuss options. • Determine if the Town Board will need to adopt a revised Green New Deal Resolution with new baseline years. Leverage the ICLEI ClearPath 2.0 platform to create a standardized process and publicly available dashboard. Why is this important? • ICLEI ClearPath 2.0 can streamline inventory updates and make tracking progress feel real time. As new technologies and data methods continue to emerge at a rapid pace, a process that allows the Town to be reliable and fluid will be imperative. • ICLEI ClearPath 2.0 gives the public an accessible route to hold the Town accountable to its commitments.As a storytelling tool, it can amplify important narratives and support decision- making. It's an engaging and effective approach to share technical information with a broad audience. • Using a platform that is managed by an external partner, like ICLEI ClearPath 2.0,would assist the Town is staying current with emissions calculation methods. • ClearPath 2.0 will help mitigate the loss of institutional knowledge from staff transitions over time. It provides a reliable and consistent method to track emissions over time. What to do next? • Become fluent in the ClearPath 2.0 program. Utilize ICLEI's technical assistance and training modules to get up to speed on the platform's operation. • Consider working with Cornell students to acquire the necessary data in the right format to upload to the ClearPath 2.0 platform. • Commit to updating the inventory on a cyclical basis. Collaborate with staff—Town and ICLEI-to determine the timing of the updates (ex. annual, bi-annual,5-years). • Collaborate with Town and ICLEI staff and investigate how the greenhouse gas inventories, and the ClearPath 2.0 tool could help track progress towards the Town's Green New Deal and Comprehensive Plan goals. DRAFT September • • ITHA A TD R Planning for Parks, Trails, Preserves & Recreation • �.i► 1B 21 IV OV- (Microsoft Copilot TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION Acknowledgements Town Board Rod Howe,Town Supervisor Eric Levine, Deputy Supervisor Pamela Bleiwas Rich DePaolo Susie Gutenberger David McCune Diana Sinton Town Staff Planning Department C.J. Randall, Director of Planning Christine Balestra, Senior Planner Michael Smith,Senior Planner Nick Quilty-Koval, Planner Hilary Swartwood, Sustainability Planner Public Works Department Joe Slater, Highway Superintendent/ Director of Public Works Joe Talbut, Parks Maintenance Manager Former Town Board Members&Staff William Goodman,Town Board Member Tee-Ann Hunter,Town Board Member Rich Schoch, Parks Maintenance Manager Imogen Dietz, Planning Intern Prepared By: Town of Ithaca Planning & Public Works Departments 215 North Tioga Street Ithaca, NY 14850 607-273-1721 https://townithacany.gov/ 2 TOWN OF . PRESERVES, RECREATION Table of Contents 1. By the Numbers 2. Why This Matters • Purpose of the Plan • Justification/ Benefits o Environmental Benefits o Social & Community Benefits o Economic Benefits 3. Who We Are • Previous Park and Open Space Planning • Demographics • Public Works Department/ Parks Department Overview • Municipal Partners 4. What's Here Today • Overview of Town Park,Trail & Preserve System • Map of Existing Parks,Trails, & Preserves • Parks • Trails • Preserves • Recreation • Park and Trail Rules and Regulations 5. What We Hope For • Summary of Town Survey • National Recreation & Park Association Standards 6. Growing Forward • Goals • General Recommendations • Funding and Donation Related Recommendations • Recommendations for Town Parks,Trails and Preserves o Parks (develop new and improvements to existing) o Trails (develop new and improvements to existing) o Preserves (develop new and improvements to existing) • Recommendations Involving Other Agencies • Recreation Related Recommendations • Map of Proposed Future Parks Trails, and Preserves 7. Making It Happen • Phasing and Implementation • Potential Funding Sources 3 TOWN OF . PRESERVES, RECREATION Appendices Appendix A- Individual Park Descriptions Appendix B - Individual Trail Descriptions Appendix C- Individual Preserve Descriptions Appendix D - 2020/2021 Resident Survey Results Appendix E -Town of Ithaca Policy on Naming Town Parks (Adopted July 8, 2002) Appendix F-Adopt a Park,Trail or Preserve Agreement Appendix G - Buy a Bench/Tree Programs Appendix H - Park/Trail Permit Application 4 TOWN OF ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION IQ 4 Multi -Use Trails 100+ Acres of 8 + Miles of Off-road, Parks 'w multi-use trails 13 Developed Parks ! 162 + Daily users 11 Playgrounds. of the South Hill 4 Basketball Courts Recreation Way 1 Baseball Field 6 Nature Preserves 1 Community +/- 352 Acres Garden r TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION 2. Why It Matters Purpose of the Plan The Town of Ithaca Parks, Trails, Preserves and Recreation Plan is intended to enhance and expand the wide variety of recreation opportunities for current and future Town of Ithaca residents and the broader Ithaca community. While the Town has made significant accomplishments to meet the recreation needs of individual neighborhoods and of the overall community, the Town needs to continue to address the recreational needs of the growing population of the Town while preserving and protecting various natural areas.There are several locations within the Town that have limited convenient recreational facilities, and there are several types of recreation facilities that the Town may wish to explore adding or increasing. Justification/Benefits Environmental Benefits The Town of Ithaca's parks,trails, and preserves play a critical role in protecting ecosystems, improving air and water quality, reducing climate impacts, and supporting wildlife,while making the Town healthier and more resilient.All of the Town parks and preserves sit within the Cayuga Lake Watershed and help to filter pollutants and sediment before they reach the lake. The Town's parks and preserves help to protect numerous forests, meadows, wetlands, streams, and important wildlife habitat. The collection of these Town facilities, in connection with other protected lands in the Town, create wildlife corridors, allowing animals to move safely between habitats. These natural landscapes also buffer against extreme weather events and help the community to adapt to climate change by maintaining ecological balance. The parks, preserves, and along the trails include wildflowers and native plants that support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators,which are essential for ecosystem health.Trails also provide a sustainable transportation option and nearby recreation opportunity for residents, thereby reducing vehicle trips and carbon emissions. Social &Community Benefits Parks, preserves, and trails have been shown to play an Figure 3:In the past year,which of the following health benefits have motivated you to spend time in a local park,trail,open-access important role in enhancing social and community schoolyard,or natural area? health, that goes beyond recreation. Town facilities are 7o be active(walking, 71% designed for shared use, including playgrounds, exercise,sports) ballfields, picnic areas, and walking paths, naturally To de-stress or 61% bringing people together.Trails and open spaces serve as improve my mood 7o spend time with informal gathering places, where neighbors meet while friends,family, 46°i° walking, biking, or attending events. Parks act as neutral, community To get off my phone or= 36% inclusive spaces where people from different other screen device backgrounds can interact, improving social ties. Green To get a free or16% spaces strengthen a sense of community and belonging, affordable meal reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and support Other beneth013% psychological restoration and relaxation. At least one 92% of the above People living near parks and trails are more likely to be None—have not been Sao physically active and maintain healthier lifestyles. Regular motivated by health ° Souma:Tru4 fur PW°c LwvWou(;w Survey of 4,000 U5.aduUa=dumd hbrd,2026 activity helps reduce risks of obesity, cardiovascular 6 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION disease, and other chronic conditions. Ithaca's trail system provides safe off-road routes for walking, jogging, biking, and commuting to work or school, making activity part of daily life. Ithaca's parks include playgrounds, sports fields, and open lawns, giving children safe places to play and socialize. Families also gain low-cost recreation opportunities, improving equity and quality of life. Trails and walkways in Ithaca function as recreational resources, but they also connect neighborhoods to schools, shops, and workplaces. The Town of Ithaca's parks, trails, and preserves build community connections and social cohesion, improves physical health and daily activity, enhances mental well-being, supports youth and families, and promotes inclusivity and access. These spaces are not just recreational amenities, they are essential to community health, resilience, and quality of life in Ithaca. Economic Benefits Recent studies show the continued numerous fiscal benefits that parks, trails and preserves provide to their communities. To simply quantify these economic benefits, the National Recreation and Park Association found that in 2023 local public park and recreation agencies in the US generated over $201 billion in economic activity and supported 1.1 million jobs. Furthermore, according to the Office of the New York State Comptroller, outdoor recreation in New York state provided $21.1 billion in economic activity in 2020 and supported over 241,000 jobs with $13.1 billion in compensation. While New York ranks fourth in the nation on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) generated by outdoor recreation, outdoor recreation represents a more significant part of the economy in nearly every other state, and there is a significant need for conservation to continue providing these services. The Comptroller's office also found that prior to the pandemic, New York had over 264 million visitors spending nearly $74 billion. While the pandemic caused both visitors and tourism dollars to decrease, it also resulted in a shift to conventional outdoor recreation; these activities were both less limited during the pandemic and were perceived as safer than indoor activities and gatherings.The Empire State Development reported that the wealth of New York's outdoor recreational activities is one reason why survey respondents continued to view the State as a vacation destination during this time. As the economy opened back up in 2021, New York's real GDP from the industries associated with tourism (arts, entertainment,and recreation as well as accommodation and food services) increased by over 18 percent. This makes it clear that parks and recreations are a vital and valued part of the New York economy. Another part of the economic value of parks and preserves are their quantified benefits to public health. The Trust for Public Land's (TPL) report found that parks in NYC in 2022 provide$9.1 billion in recreational value for residents alone,and the residents who exercise in the parks exclusively avoid more than a billion dollars each year in health care costs. A 2026 report from the TPLfound that for every$1 invested in parks and recreation, communities get back at least $3 in local economic benefits each year, stemming from reduced stormwater treatment costs, lower healthcare costs, improved public health outcomes, consumer savings on fitness and recreation, rising tax revenues for municipal governments, and a boost in public-private partnerships. The TPL estimates, conservatively,that people are willing to pay a 5 to 15 percent premium for homes within 500 feet of a well-maintained park, which increases annual property tax revenue. 7 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION 3. Who We Are Previous Park and Open Space Planning The Town of Ithaca has undertaken multiple planning efforts over the years related to parks, trails and open space that helped direct the planning process for this plan. These documents include: Town of Ithaca Park and Open Space Plan (1977) The first Town of Ithaca Park and Open Space Plan established a permanent park construction and maintenance program in the Town. This plan set forth policies empowering the Planning Board to recommend acceptance of individual parks to the Town Board and participate in their design and landscaping. Town of Ithaca Park and Open Space Plan Update(1984) In 1984, the Town Board approved an update to the 1977 plan that reflected the changing recreational needs of town residents. The 1984 Plan inventoried existing parkland and introduced bikeways and recreational trails as important recreational assets. Six Mile Creek Valley:A Heritage to Preserve(1990) This report was produced in 1990 by the Town of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Council, predecessor of the Conservation Board. It contained a number of recommendations for better protection of the inner areas of the Six Mile Creek valley adjacent to and including the gorge, Mulholland Wildflower Preserve, and City watershed lands. Planning for Agriculture in the Town of Ithaca(1992) In 1992, the Town of Ithaca Conservation Board adopted policy recommendations and implementation measures to support the preservation of agricultural land in the Town and enhance the economic viability of area farms. 1992 Open Space Report(1992) In 1992 the Town of Ithaca Conservation Advisory Board completed an inventory and map of open spaces within the Town of Ithaca, describing and indexing all open areas based on significant ecological, cultural, and historical features. Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan (1997) The 1997 Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan reassessed the Town's recreational goals set forth in previous plans to accommodate current demographics and anticipated population changes. It set forth recommendations for an integrated network of parks, recreational facilities, and open space for Town residents. 8 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan (2011) The 2011 Agriculture and Farmland Protection Plan evaluated strategies to continue to foster agriculture within the Town. It outlined goals to retain a diversity of economically viable farm types, ensure long- term protection of agricultural-land resources, and promote wise land use and waste management on agricultural land. Town of Ithaca Comprehensive Plan (2014) The 2014 Comprehensive Plan establishes goals for future land use and development, as well as for the protection of open space, and natural and environmental resources. Tompkins County Priority Trails Strategy(2014& 2023) The Tompkins County Priority Trails Strategy outlines priority actions related to the development of five key trails that will provide the basis of a regional network, several of which pass through the Town of Ithaca. These include the section of the Black Diamond Trail between Buttermilk and Robert H. Treman State Park, the extension of the South Hill Recreation Way to the south, the Gateway Trail extension to the South Hill Recreation Way, and the Finger Lakes Trail. ,neranhics This section provides an understanding of the Town of Ithaca's population and forecasted changes. All data comes from the 2020 Census or the American Community Survey(2009-2023).The Town of Ithaca's population is heavily influenced by the presence of Cornell University and Ithaca College, which affects income levels, median age, and other demographic characteristics. The Town of Ithaca currently has a population of 22,283 residents, with the population density for the Town being 736 people per square mile, per the 2020 census. This indicates that there has been a large growth rate of 11.8%since the 2010 census,which reported 19,930 residents.The Town's population had previously grown steadily over the past 40 years,with an average increase of 6.75%each decade between 1970 and 2010(a growth rate of 0.7%per year).Census information indicates that the Town grew another 6.5% between 2000 and 2010, and 3.1% between 2010 and 2015. The median household income is$105,978 and there are approximately 7,891 housing units in the Town. The current Employment Rate in the Town is 47.2% and 75.3% of residents have a Bachelor's degree or higher. The median age is 29.3,which is significantly lower than both NY state and national medians,which report to be around a decade older. 18- to 24-year-olds are the largest age distribution, representing 32.5% of the total population in the Town. The Town of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan projects the Town's population to continue to increase. According to the projections, the Town's system of parks, preserves, and trails can be expected to serve 22,605 residents by 2030, which the population is already close to 9 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION surpassing. The graph below shows the change in population in the Town of Ithaca, as well as the projected population according to the 2014 Comprehensive plan. Historical and Projected Population 1970-2050 30000 - 25000 27869 5600 940 2283 20000 19930 7 10 15000 - 6022 10000 - 5000 - 0 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 More information on Town demographics: - Town of Ithaca Website- Demographics - United States Census Bureau - Town of Ithaca 2014 Comprehensive Plan Public Works Department/Parks Department Overview The Town of Ithaca Public Works Department(DPW)consists of three main groups(Parks and Trails,Water and Sewer, and Highway) which are responsible for construction and regular maintenance of the Town's infrastructure and other facilities. Employees within the department are assigned to a specific group daily, depending on workload. At the core,the functions and responsibilities are as follows: - Infrastructure maintenance—roads, bridges, sidewalks, buildings - Parks and Trails— trash and recycling collection, mowing, playgrounds, trail maintenance, recreation areas, community/public spaces - Water and Sewer— Management of the water supply, stormwater, sewage - Transportation management—snow removal, street cleaning, traffic signs, and signals Noting these tasks, and the anticipated continued increase in Town population, our residents need for recreation and parks is a necessity. Offering citizens a variety of activities for recreation, physical and mental well-being is a priority of the Town of Ithaca. The Parks and Trails group consists of the Director of Public Works, the Parks Maintenance Manager, a Heavy Equipment Operator(HEO),two Medium Equipment Operators (MEO),two Laborers, and seasonal help. This serves as a baseline for the day-to-day operations of the department. These employees are 10 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION tasked each day with performing basic maintenance and improvements on all assets of the Town parks, trails,and preserves under the direction of the Parks Maintenance Manager. Year-round activities includes mowing, trash collection, restroom cleaning, trail inspections, baseball field maintenance, pruning and trimming of trees/shrubs, planting of trees/shrubs, pest control, playground equipment inspections, cemetery maintenance, trail maintenance, maintenance of amenities (picnic tables, benches, shelters, signs,etc.),graffiti removal,snow and ice removal (parking lots,walkways,trails), leaf removal,equipment maintenance, and volunteer coordination.These activities can be adjusted based on the specific needs of the park or trail system and the local climate. The Parks and Trails group faces intense seasonal demands on both staff and equipment to maintain the Town's parks,trails and preserves at a high level of service. The Town's annual budget includes allocation of funding specifically for maintenance and improvements in the Town facilities. The Town will need to continually assess if staffing and maintenance equipment is adequate for current and future facilities to uphold the current high maintenance standards. Frequency of Services Provided by Parks and Trails Group Frequency Services Daily/Weekly Restroom cleaning,trash collection, snow and ice removal, baseball field, mowing, trimming, cemetery maintenance, community garden maintenance Monthly Playground inspections,trail inspections Varies (as needed) Pruning and trimming of trees/shrubs, planting of trees/shrubs, pest control,trail maintenance, maintenance of amenities,graffiti removal, leaf removal, equipment maintenance, volunteer coordination Municipal Partners The Ithaca area is fortunate in having two large City parks, four State parks, Village parks, and the non- publicly owned open areas of Cornell University, Ithaca College, The Nature Conservancy, and the Finger Lakes Land Trust, as well as numerous other public and private recreational facilities within or near the Town of Ithaca. Both Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H. Treman State Park are located within the Town of Ithaca. The Town of Ithaca provides an annual contribution to the City of Ithaca to support the operation and maintenance of Stewart and Cass Parks. 11 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION 4. What's Here Today Overview of Town Park,Trail & Preserve System Each park,trail or preserve in the Town's system carries a unique set of features which begin to define the recreation type and user groups.Town facilities can be grouped into the following categories: parks/active recreation, preserves / passive recreation, and trails. While active facilities require significant infrastructure and movement (e.g., sports fields, playgrounds, basketball courts), passive recreation focuses on open, natural spaces for unstructured leisure like hiking, birdwatching, or picnicking.The trails provide a recreational and commuter systems, connecting various parks, preserves, neighborhoods, workplaces and other community resources. The Town of Ithaca park, trail and preserve system consists of a wide variety of types and sizes of facilities. These facilities include twelve developed neighborhood parks, one developed community park, six nature preserves, four multiuse trails, and numerous walkways. The existing Town parks provide a range of recreational facilities including play structures, ballfields, playfields, sledding hills, picnic areas, nature trails, and even a community garden in one undeveloped Town park. The multi-use trails and walkways provide off-street alternatives for joggers, bikers, and walkers, as well as commuting paths to work, school or shopping. Dog waste facilities are available at several sites. 12 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION Map of Existing Parks,Trails& Preserves Town of Ithaca Parks, Trails & Preserves September 8, 2026 Town of Ulysses Woolf Village of Lansin Park Tareyton r Park 96 89 Northeast Salem Cayuga Lake easy llthaca� Park Shore Park Recreation 13 e o Village Way H FD Cayuga Heights NSB _ �q c,p 0 Park _ Forest West Hill Home Park Park 366 LKL N 7g Cornell z University City of Ithaca East Ithaca Recreation Way 3 d Westhaven• a Preserve ?� ELM ST N a POOLE RD A fLL/5 G� NOLI.OW RO Glenside o�' Preserve d Culvei Road Preserve Pine Tree Hungerford Wildlife Heights Park Grandview z/ Preserve X Park \9, Vincenz JJJ eosrHncKR lacovelli Park East Ithaca Tutelo Park o _AJ Nature Preserve i Northview o Ithaca Park o Tudor Park Eastern - College Heights Saponi Parh Park e^ 2 KING Ro f 13 Tray Park Saunders 96 Sage Park 3 ? Comptonrve £ Park Coddington Road Community Center, Town of Danby Town of Newfield _ Town of Ithaca Town of Ithaca Parks Town of Ithaca Preserves Trails&Walkways Q Parking o; � F F os a.zs o a, .id...s ~eW yO6'k 13 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION Parks The Town of Ithaca Public Works Department maintains a system of 12 neighborhood parks, one community park, and several yet to be developed park sites. These parks provide a range of active recreational facilities including play structures, ballfields, playfields,grills, picnic tables, park benches,and walking trails. The Town also holds an easement at the Coddington Road Community Center,which allows the public to use some of their recreation facilities. At Tutelo Park, Valentino Field is a regulation sized Little League field that is available for rent. The Tutelo Park pavilion is also available for rent. The Town also owns approximately 38 acres of parkland that is not currently developed for any active uses.Appendix A includes additional information on each respective park property. Trails The Town owns and maintains approximately eight miles of off-road multi-use trails for jogging, walking, bicycling, horseback riding,and cross-country skiing. Portions of the South Hill Recreation Way, East Ithaca Recreation Way, and Gateway Trail pass through attractive woodland and meadows and afford local residents' convenient access to high quality natural settings. The Town's multi-use trails also provide important commuter alternatives for pedestrians and bicyclists. The Town recently installed trail counters at several locations to help understand the use of the Town trails. The counters are being used year-round and show fluctuation based on the season and when colleges are in session.The following table shows the average daily use of the various trails. Trail Average Daily Traffic Years in Use South Hill Recreation Way(Juniper DR) 162 January 2023—January 2026 Forest Home Walk 35 January 2023—January 2026 Gateway Trail 18 January 2025—January 2026 East Ithaca Recreation Way(Pew Trail) 103 January 2023—January 2024 Appendix B includes additional information on each respective trail. Preserves Nature preserves are protected areas dedicated to conserving wildlife and natural resources.They contain habitats where ecosystems thrive with minimal human interference. They also provide spaces where people can reconnect with nature, learn about environmental stewardship, and find a peaceful setting. These lands must generally possess unique flora or fauna, geological formations, freshwater wetlands or streams, scenic values, or other features that may qualify for recognition or protection. The six preserves within the Town of Ithaca consist of a mix of habitat types that support a wide range of plants and animals.The preserves total approximately 352 acres and may contain walking paths, benches and picnic tables, interpretive signage, and parking areas. In general, the preserves are managed on a passive basis, including infrequent mowing of any paths, reduction of invasive species, maintaining a walkable trail surface as appropriate, and clean-up of storm damage as necessary. The Town will not be developing these preserves for active uses and many of them have deed restrictions limiting their future uses. Appendix C includes additional information on each respective preserve property. 14 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION Recreation While the Town of Ithaca does not host or conduct any recreational programs on its own, it does participate in the local Joint Youth Commission (JYC) and the Recreation Partnership. In 2014, the Town of Caroline, Town of Ithaca and the Villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing joined together to form the new expanded JYC to offer programs year-round for youth who live in these communities. Programs are offered after school and during school breaks and the summer. These programs are open to youth aged 10 and up. The Recreation Partnership is an inter-municipal collaboration between ten municipalities within Tompkins County.The Ithaca Youth Bureau Recreation Division is the program provider.Tompkins County Youth Services provides planning and financial coordination. The contributions of the county and the participating municipalities help keep programs affordable and accessible. You are automatically a member if you are a resident of the City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, Towns of Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Groton, Newfield, Ulysses (including students who attend Trumansburg Schools) or the Village of Lansing; Recreation Partnership members receive a discounted program fee. In addition to organized adult and youth sports leagues, Town residents may also participate in recreational programs through the YMCA, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4-H, and other local organizations.Seasonal programs and summer camps are also offered at Cornell University, Ithaca College, and through various other local organizations. Park and Trail Rules and Regulations To enhance and promote the safety and enjoyment of everyone using the Town of Ithaca parks,trails, and facilities, and to assure that everyone has an equal opportunity in the use and enjoyment of such facilities, the Town has established various rules and regulations. Town park and trail facilities are generally open from % hour prior to sunrise to% hour after sunset. For a complete list of all park and trail rules, see Chapter 200: Parks and Recreation Areas of the Town of Ithaca Code. 15 TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • 5. What We Hope For The 2025 Engagement with Parks Report from the National Recreation and Park Association documents that people use and value the programs and services that local park and recreation agencies deliver to their communities every day.The report shows that more than 227 million adults or a household member in the United States visited a local park or recreation facility at least once between August 2024 and September 2025. The report also shows that approximately 2 in 3 adults (68%) strongly agree that parks and recreation is an important service provided by their local government. Summary of Town Survey The Town is committed to enhancing residents' quality of life by providing recreational opportunities that foster connection to nature, promote health, and strengthen community.The Town conducted a resident survey from 2020/2021,which was designed to better understand community opinions, preferences, and patterns of park and trail use. Because the Town values public input, resident feedback plays an essential role in shaping future recreational planning. The Town takes great pride in its parks,trails, and preserves, and seeks to reassess which amenities should be prioritized for development in the coming years. The survey findings will help guide efforts to expand the trail network and introduce strategic new recreational initiatives, making it an integral part of the Town's long-term planning process. The 213 survey responses indicate that 92%of Town of Ithaca residents rate the quality of Town recreation facilities as excellent or good. Approximately 66%of respondents are very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with current developed parks used for play and active recreation, and approximately 81%of users report being very or somewhat satisfied with the passive recreational facilities. However, a substantial portion of respondents never use Town parks or preserves, and even among trail users, the majority visit only once or twice rather than on a regular basis. Walking is the most common activity, followed by birdwatching, enjoying nature, and biking. Most users learned about parks through personal exploration or word of mouth, suggesting limited visibility of Town offerings. Residents identified several barriers that limit their use of parks and open spaces. The most frequently cited constraints include not knowing where facilities are located and living too far from accessible recreation areas. Secondary concerns include lack of time and insufficient maintenance of existing facilities. When asked what recreational facilities or programs are needed or should be expanded, the top three responses were hiking &walking trails (20%), bike paths (16%), and conservation or natural areas (14%). These findings will guide the Town in better meeting community needs.The results highlight a clear need to increase public awareness of park locations and amenities, develop programs that encourage more frequent and sustained use of parks and trails, and expand and maintain trail networks to improve accessibility and user experience. Additional information regarding the survey results can be found in Appendix A. National Recreation& Park Association Standards The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation. NRPA advances this vision by investing in and championing the work of park and recreation professionals as a catalyst for positive change in service of equity, environmental resilience, and overall health and well-being. NRPA 16 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION Park Metrics is a comprehensive source of benchmarks and insights for park and recreation agencies. Launched in 2009, these agency performance resources assist park and recreation professionals in the effective management and planning of their operating resources and capital facilities. According to NRPA,the typical park and recreation agency offers one park for every 2,437 residents served, with 10 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. With the Town having a population of 22,283, that would mean the Town should only need 9 parks and approximately 223 acres of parkland to serve Town residents. While the Town already greatly exceeds national standards for number of parks and acreage, the existing Town park system is not evenly distributed throughout the Town and the public continually expresses interest in new or additional facilities. East Hill (7 parks)and South Hill (4 parks) have the bulk of the Town's active, developed parks. While the Town does refer to the NRPA standards and guidance for general park planning, it does not strictly follow the breakdown of the national standards, as we have found they do not always represent local Town needs, interests and values. 17 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION 6. Growing Forward The basic principles of this park, trail, preserve and recreation plan are presented in the following goals and recommendations. Designed to guide the Town as it carries out this plan over the coming years,these goals and recommendations will serve as benchmarks against which the Town can measure its progress. Some of the recommendations may be carried out solely by the Town, while others could be cooperative efforts with neighboring municipalities, New York State, non-for-profit organizations, developers, or private landowners. Park and trail development facilities should be planned while high quality park sites,pedestrian and bicycle routes, and important ecological open space resources are still undeveloped and available. By planning and taking action now, the Town can meet its goals in the most efficient and cost-effective manner for taxpayers. Goals Goal#1 Goat#2 Goat parks,AAA a NI Provide an integrated system of tralis and preserves throughout the Provide for adequate Improve the environment Town.Create linkages between the recreational services d preserve andprotect parks,traits, preserves and for all Town residents. it from degradation. neighborhoods, of work, . other community resources. Recommendations 1. Design a system of trails to connect existing and future Town parks and preserves with residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and places of work. Identify gaps in the trail system and prioritize trail development to create a Town and regional trail system. 2. Provide recreational opportunities for people near their home and workplace. 3. Develop an interconnected network of Town parks, trails and preserves to provide active and passive recreational opportunities for all Town residents. 4. Ensure adequate public access to the recreational resources of Cayuga Lake, including support of the City's Stewart and Cass Parks. S. Provide high-quality parks, trails and preserves. Maintain and improve/upgrade existing facilities and amenities at existing parks, trails and preserves based on changing demand and trends. Develop new parks, trails and preserves to meet changing or unmet needs. 6. Promote the Town's adopt a park/trail program to help care for the Town facilities. 7. For parks and trails where the Town only has a lease/license/easement, work with landowner to obtain full permanent Town ownership, where appropriate. 8. Develop digital tools (app, storymap, GIS maps,webpages,etc.)showcasing the Town parks,trails and preserves for both local residents and visitors, showing locations and amenities. Tools could 18 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION also include Conservation Board scenic view locations, Town historic markers, and other Town highlights. 9. Incorporate additional educational components (interpretive signage, brochure/guides, etc.) into various parks, preserves and trails. 10. Continue to improve ADA accessibility at all Town recreational facilities. 11. Continue to remove invasive plants in all Town parks, trails and preserves and replant where possible with native trees,shrubs, and wildflowers. 12. Ensure staffing and maintenance equipment is adequate for current and new facilities to uphold current high maintenance standards. Staffing and equipment should be considered as each new facility is acquired and developed. 13. Combine, organize, and consolidate signage at entrances to all existing Town parks, trails and preserves. Provide improved signage Town-wide to make it easier for residents to find and use parks,trails and preserves. 14. Incorporate planning for climate resiliency into the development or updating of Town recreational facilities. 15. Reevaluate and update the Town's park permit system. Funding and Donation Related Recommendations 1. Promote the Town's program where residents can donate a tree or bench in memory/honor or someone. 2. Explore developing a program/guidelines where donations can be easily accepted by the Town for the development or improvement of parks,trails and preserves. 3. Actively seek public and private sources of outside funding for acquisition, development or improvement of Town parks,trails and preserves. 4. Continue to support the Town's Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan Reserve Account with annual contributions. 5. Structure an economically sustainable parks,trails and preserve system to support the goals of all recreational groups. Recommendations for Town Parks,Trails and Preserves Parks (develop new and improvements to existing): 1. Vincenzo lacovelli Park - replace the existing playground and explore moving it to a more accessible location in the park. Potentially create additional parking. 2. Saponi Park—develop the community park, potentially including a ball field or multi-purpose field, parking lot, restroom facilities, playground, shelter, etc. Provide a walkway connection to Peachtree Lane. 3. West Hill Park—develop the community park, potentially including a playground, improved access and a parking lot, nature trail, shelter, basketball/pickleball court, etc. 4. Compton Park— develop the neighborhood park, potentially including a small playground, open lawn area, nature trail, picnic area, etc. Provide a trail connection to the adjacent Sage Preserve. 5. Woolf Park—develop the neighborhood park, potentially including a small playground and picnic area with trail connections to Woolf Lane and Grove Road. 6. Park off Perry Ln - (neighborhood park) (???) (pending road construction and near-by development) 19 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION 7. Explore new elements/facilities to include in existing or new parks, including tennis and/or pickleball courts, horseshoe pits, bocce ball court, infrastructure for teenagers and seniors,fitness trail/equipment,volleyball court, etc. 8. Seek to acquire additional park properties in locations that do not currently have close to home recreational opportunities. Trails (develop new and improvements to existing): 1. South Hill Recreation Way - develop additional parking along the existing trail. Options may include City of Ithaca owned lands on Coddington Road and near the existing lacovelli Park. 2. South Hill Recreation Way - work with the Towns of Dryden, Danby and Caroline to extend the multi-use trail south from the existing Burns Road entrance to the Tioga County line. 3. South Hill Recreation Way-work with the City of Ithaca and the SouthWorks developer to extend the South Hill Recreation Way from the Hudson Street entrance to the Gateway Trail at Stone Quarry Road. 4. Inlet Valley Path - work with private landowners and NYS Parks to obtain access to construct a multi-use trail that would connect Tutelo Park, Saponi Park and the Black Diamond Trail. 5. West Hill Path Network—connect existing and future parks, trails and preserves on west hill with a trail system. Trail network could also provide connections to the State's Black Diamond Trail and the Finger Lakes Land Trust's West Hill Wildway. 6. South Hill Path Network—connect existing and future parks,trails and preserves on south hill with a trail system. Trail network could also provide connections to Buttermilk Falls State Park, the South Hill Recreation Way, and Ithaca College. 7. Provide a trail connection between the South Hill Recreation Way and the East Ithaca Recreation Way/ Pew Tra i I. Preserves (develop new and improvement to existing): 1. Culver Road Preserve-Enhance the Culver Road Preserve with additional internal connecting trails and educational components (interpretive signage,guided walks, etc.), etc. 2. Sage Preserve — Develop a parking area off King Road E. and additional trails to connect to the parking area, existing trails, adjacent properties (Ithaca College, Namgyal Monastery, etc.), and additional access points. Explore if some of the new trails from the King Road E parking area could developed to be accessible(boardwalks, pavement,stone dust,etc.)to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility issues. 3. Glenside Preserve - Develop a formal entrance(s) and internal trail loop. Explore acquiring adjacent lands to improve access. 4. Develop a management plan for each of the preserves discussing natural features, existing and proposed facilities, removal of invasive plants, native planting opportunities, management of deer and invasive pests, general maintenance requirements, etc. 5. Seek to acquire additional preserve lands to protect natural resources, selected open spaces, environmentally sensitive areas, unique natural areas,to buffer already protected properties, and to provide additional passive recreational opportunities. 6. Add interpretative signage in preserves when possible. 20 TOWN OF .A• RECREATION Recommendations Involving Other Agencies 1. Maximize intermunicipal cooperation and partnerships between the public and private sectors to deliver high quality recreational facilities and services for Town residents. 2. Coordinate development of the Town's park, trail and preserve system with the efforts of surrounding municipalities. 3. Support the Finger Lakes Land Trust in the acquisition, development, programming, and maintenance of properties that can provide additional active or passive recreational opportunities in the Town of Ithaca, including the West Hill Wildway. 4. Support the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in the acquisition, development and maintenance of properties located in the Town of Ithaca, including the Black Diamond Trail between Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H.Treman State Park. 5. Collaborate with the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, NYS Parks, and other partner groups to expand the local trail system. 6. The Town shall establish and/or maintain regular contact with the Ithaca School District, Ithaca College, and Cornell University to ensure that community access to school facilities remains available. Recreation Related Recommendations 1. Continue to support the Joint Youth Commission, the Recreation Partnership, and other organizations providing recreation programs to Town residents. 2. Explore opportunities to increase recreational activities or events based on demand and trends. 21 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION Map of Proposed Future Parks Trails,and Preserves (insert newer map—to come—needs more discussion of future facilities and related recommendations) 1997 Park Recreation&Open Space Plan Proposed Future Parks&Bicycle I Pedestrian Paths(Map 1) 8 2020 Existing Town Parks.Preserves and TraitslWalkways Town of Ithaca May 21,2020 't l � � L LN \\ \ wlage of +1 1 Cayuga rlegrns N %. N I C coy arNiiiiii:iii t b N P a N � I 1 Air \ \ � 1 Future Neighborhood Parts Tbwn Preserves-ExlsCng Future Com mnity Park 0 Town Parts-ExlsCng r Devmope(j Inlet Valley Preserve N 0 Town Parts-Exisling;Undeveloped Tbwn Trails-Ebsting f Developed Future Bikemedes"n Pali Tbwn Trans-Ebsting r Undeveloped (from 1997 Plan) >! 22 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION 7. Making It Happen Phasing and Implementation The level of investment needed to carry out the projects and activities outlined in this plan is significant. It is important to remember that it is an investment, a commitment of financial resources now for future advantage or benefit, that is being proposed in this plan. These benefits will be enjoyed by all Town of Ithaca residents for generations to come. This plan is a significant investment in the understanding of the park, trail and preserve needs and opportunities in the Town of Ithaca. It is important to continue community dialogue about the Town's recreational opportunities and open spaces into the future, not only to help build public support, but to ensure that the plan remains dynamic and responds to changing needs and opportunities. The implementation of this plan will require the continued coordination and collaboration by the Town of Ithaca's Engineering, Public Works, Finance, and Planning Departments in the acquisition, development, and maintenance of the Town's parks, trails, and preserves. Potential Funding Sources A reliable and diverse set of funding sources is vital to fully implement the goals and recommendations in this plan. In order to develop this set of funding sources,the Town will identify likely internal and external funding sources and pursue appropriate sources on a project-by-project basis. Additionally, ongoing operations and maintenance costs need to be considered in addition to capital costs. The range of funding agencies, priority areas, and funding requirements is constantly shifting, as is the amount of money made available through each of these resources. Careful attention to the changes is important. The breakdown of potential funding sources for the future acquisition, development and maintenance of the park,trail and preserve facilities include: - Town of Ithaca Budgeting - Town of Ithaca Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan Reserve account - County, State, and Federal Grants - Private and Non-Profit Grants - Private Donations and Volunteer Services - Fees for Facility Use The Town's Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan Reserve account includes funds designated for the purpose of future park development, preservation of open space, and the purchasing of development rights, as outlined in the Town's Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan, as adopted on December 12, 1997.This account is funded by the Town Board making an annual re-designation of a portion of the Fund Balance of the General Townwide Fund from unreserved to reserved. In 2025,the Town Board transferred an additional $100,000 into this account. 23 TOWN OF . PRESERVES, RECREATION Appendices Appendix A Individual Park Descriptions Appendix B Individual Trail Descriptions Appendix C Individual Preserve Descriptions Appendix D 2020/2021 Resident Survey Results Appendix E Town of Ithaca Policy on Naming Town Parks (Adopted July 8, 2002) Appendix F Adopt a Park,Trail or Preserve Agreement Appendix G Buy a Bench/Tree Programs Appendix H Park/Trail Permit Application TOWN •F ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, RECREATION PLAN Appendix A Individual Park Descriptions TOWN OF . PRESERVES, RECREATION COMPTON PARK (Undeveloped) LARISA LN INVENTORY • 2.9 Acres • Undeveloped DESCRIPTION This undeveloped park is in the South Hill area of the Town, within the Schickel Road / Larissa Lane residential development. The park currently serves as a lovely natural space. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS This land is extremely wet with inadequate drainage and slopes, ». which will limit its development as w 2� a park. A portion of the property , was used as a fill site prior to Town ;. ownership and will require grading z , to use that area. Currently, the „!; Town mows the field annually when it is dry enough to do so. There are currently no plans to develop this park, but that could change depending on the needs and interest of the neighborhood, and the availability of funding. Potential elements could include a small playground, open lawn area, nature trail, and a picnic area. In 2026, the Town acquired the adjacent Sage Preserve property,so ' any development of this park should also include a trail connection with the preserve. There is a large number of invasive plants in this park that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs should be planted following the removal of the invasives. TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN EAST SHORE PARK Maintenance is a daily activity at this site. If the weather is EAST SHORE DR nice,Town staff must visit the site every day to collect garbage and recycling. INVENTORY This land is owned by Cornell and leased to the Town on a 99- 0 0.29 Acres year lease (signed 1998). The Town should seek permanent • Pavilion ownership or extension of the lease when it expires. • Mutt Mitt Station • Cayuga Lake Waterfront t• Parking Lot • Picnic Tables/Benches • Lawn Area 0 Grills 0 Cayuga Lake Blueway 1 Trail access a DESCRIPTION y This park is our most heavily used in the Town.This hidden gem is being discovered more each year. At any given time during the warmer months, this park is at full capacity and then some. The park is located off Route 34 and the driveway entrance is shared with the Cornell University Sailing Center. From early afternoon till the sun goes down, this park is active. This park is used for a multitude of leisure activities (sunbathing, picnics, dog walking, scenic views, fishing). The shoreline has an area where one , 1 can sit and enjoy the scenery of ' Cayuga Lake. Swimming is not allowed at the park. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS Parking is at a premium at East Shore Park (approximately 14 spaces). Daily, there are cars lined along the road attempting to visit. If � 4r any property becomes available ` near the park, it would be wise for the Town to consider it for that i purpose at a reasonable price. y - EAST SHORE PARK TOWN OF . PRESERVES, RECREATION EASTERN HEIGHTS PARK SKY-VUE RD,TUDOR RD & JOHN ST INVENTORY • 15.2 Acres • Playground • Full Basketball Court • Play Field '- • Nature Trail • Picnic Tables/Benches • Mutt Mitt Station fi • Parking Lot DESCRIPTION Eastern Heights Park is a neighborhood park in the East Hill area of the Town. The park has multiple access points (Tudor Rd., John St., Sky-Vue Rd.). There is a modern playground with several Vr benches and picnic tables r. surrounding it. A full basketball court is located near Tudor Road, which is the only full one in the Town.This park also has a large play - —` field which is used for baseball and soccer events. Within the 15.2 y Y acres, there is a mowed path and a ; woodchip trail that meanders through the forest. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS Maintaining all of the existing park 4 ' elements is a priority, including the pavement and path surfaces.Waste rt collection is always an issue at this park. This actively used park is a J 4 priority for the Town. There is a large number of invasive :;; plants in this park that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs should be planted following the p g removal of the invasives. f '` TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • FOREST HOME PARK FOREST HOME DR INVENTORY • 0.68 Acres • Picnic Tables/Benches • Lawn Area • Small Parking Lot • Scenic View of Fall Creek DESCRIPTION This park is a small neighborhood area with open lawn and multiple benches and picnic tables. It is located within the hamlet of Forest Home and very near to Cornell University. It is often frequented by members of the Forest Home community, who help to maintain plantings and have community picnics/meetings within the park. t The park is directly across the street from the Forest Home Walkway, , which the Town also maintains. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS General maintenance and mowing area priority in this ark.The Town p Y p also has some plantings and a pump station that we maintain in this park. The busy Forest Home Drive ' creates issues for maintenance and a . access to the park. There are currently no plans to further develop this park, but that could f; change depending on the needs and interest of the neighborhood. This land is owned by Cornell and r z, leased to the Town on a 99-year lease (signed 2012). The Town a z should seek permanent ownership or extension of the lease when it ������ ,s -;: expires. .n � TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • GRANDVIEW PARK SLATERVILLE RD & TERRACEVIEW DR ^. INVENTORY • 2.73 Acres • Playground • Picnic Tables/Benches • Paved 1/5-Mile Walking r. Path • Parking Lot • Mutt Mitt station • Play Lawn DESCRIPTION ` AL Grandview Park is a neighborhood park located off Slaterville Rd. =� (access through Hillside Alliance t c� Church parking lot). There is also pedestrian access from : Terraceview Dr., which leads to the paved path/trail. There is adequate parking within the park, located M) next to the playground equipment. The includes a playground wheelchair accessible swing set. A - - - paved, loop walking trail is offered with a play lawn in the center. Invasive plants alongside Slaterville �, ,• ` Rd have been eliminated. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS Maintaining the walkway and playground area are priorities at this park. It is heavily used in the warmer months as an exercise trail and by dog walkers. General upkeep is a precedence here.There Mae!" may be opportunities to convert some of the unused open lawn to pollinator gardens. TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • HUNGERFORD HEIGHTS PARK DOVE DR INVENTORY • 1.3 Acres • Playground • Picnic Tables/Benches • Half Basketball Court Play Lawn DESCRIPTION Hungerford Heights Park is a neighborhood park located on Dove Dr. in the Eastern Heights area. The south end of the park features a playground encircled by Maple trees that provide a nice shade canopy.A sealed and painted half-court basketball area abuts the playground area.This park contains several attractive native plantings throughout. Parking is available along the road, but it is primarily used by the neighborhood. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS Monitoring ash trees along the _ — property boundaries and maintaining the current facilities are a priority at this park. � I �� ay 1 'r TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • NORTHVIEW PARK NORTHVIEW RD W < INVENTORY • 1.1 Acres 7 • Playground • Short Nature Trail • Picnic Tables/Benches DESCRIPTION Northview Park is located on Northview W Road, off Coddington v ,..- Road. This park contains a modern �� playground and a short, mowed walking trail. Invasive plant removal occurred within this park several years ago, followed by a mass replanting of native trees . throughout the property. ,ji III { t CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS Maintaining the current playground _and new native plantings are the priority for this park. The playground and associated mulch area requires frequent weeding. The Town should continue to monitor ash trees for removal while establishing a native landscape. k ' AM NYS Environmental AMC Protection Fund - 4 N rtM-x Park r F k TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • PARK (Undeveloped) Perry Ln INVENTORY • 1.97 Acres • Undeveloped DESCRIPTION This is a small piece of property in the West Hill area of the Town. Williams Brook runs along the _ southern boundary of the property. It is accessible (walking) from Perry Lane, although you would have to cross other private properties. This area is close to the Town's West Hill Park(22 acres). ; .. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS , The Town mows this property annually. If the Town ever decides to build and develop on this park site,additional land may need to be acquired for access from Perry Lane, Bundy Road, or West Hill - - Park. . g � -a N�, TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • SALEM PARK BIRCHWOOD DR N INVENTORY • 2.4 Acres • Playground • Picnic Tables/Benches • Woodchip Walking/Nature Trail • Grills DESCRIPTION Salem Park is a neighborhood park _ located on Birchwood Dr. N in the Northeast area of the Town. The Birchwood Or N park has a driveway that leads to a playground area with a lovely shade canopy. It is surrounded by forest area with several newly planted native trees.There is a meandering "'` trail throughout the woods, which ' }t leads to neighborhood access on : adjoining streets. Benches are prevalent along the walking trail. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS 1 Salem is a wonderful neighborhood park that is actively used by the community in the Northeast. Maintaining and improving the walking path are goals at this park, as this area could be improved in the future. � + a TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • SAPONI PARK (Undeveloped) SEVEN MILE DR INVENTORY 1 • 8.2 Acres Need map of new park • Undeveloped DESCRIPTION This undeveloped park is located on Seven Mile Dr. in the Inlet Valley. This parcel consists of 8.2 acres of field and wooded area, with a stream running along the northern property boundary. The property is located close to the Town's Public Works Department facility. It is ' currently farmed and used as an open space. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS 04"Need photos of new No maintenance is done on this park location land at the current juncture. This land has been discussed many times over the years with a variety of development ideas, including a recreational/play area, sports field, walking trail, and parking lot. The Town should continue the pursuit of improving this property in the future and open it to the public. " t There is an existing small strip of land that extends to Peachtree r t Lane, which could provide pedestrian access to the park from �� Need photos of new that neighborhood when it is �, ark location developed. 4 ' p Discussions have also included creating a trail that would connect Saponi Park to Tutelo Park. * However, for this to occur, land or easements would have to be acquired between the parks. TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • SAUNDERS PARK KING RD E. INVENTORY • 1.78 Acres J • Playground _ y • Parking Lot • Walking Trail (linking Whitetail Dr.to E. King Rd.) • Picnic Tables/Benches F. DESCRIPTION This is the Town's newest park, = a completed in 2023. This parkIS contains six parking spaces, a playground, and several picnic tables and benches. Scenic views to the north and east can be enjoyed from this park. A stone dust trail starts on E. King Road, connects to the Hospicare trails system, and meanders behind the Whitetail and Saunders `r neighborhoods, into the park. An additional wood chip trail leaves the park down the hill and connects to Whitetail Dr. , CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS Many residents have expressed concerns about the walking trails and the proximity to their property. Screening is an issue with these trails,so the Town must continue to monitor this situation as it comes ®' up. Continuing to work with neighbors and Hospicare should be always considered when operating this park and associated trails. TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • TAREYTON PARK This land is owned by Cornell and leased to the Town through TAREYTON DR &WINSTON CT a revocable license (signed 1965). The Town should seek permanent ownership or a permanent easement for this park. INVENTORY • 2.08 Acres • Playground • Backstop for r Baseball/Softball • Northeast Ithaca Recreation Way Crosses Property • Grills • Play Lawn • Picnic Tables/Benches DESCRIPTION Tareyton Park is a neighborhood park located in the Northeast area of the Town. It is accessible using the Northeast Ithaca Recreation Way, and from Tareyton Dr. and Winston Dr. The playground area is in the Northeast corner of the park with a shade canopy. In addition to the playground, there is a .fIN grilling/picnic area and benches scattered throughout. The play lawn area is substantial and is used for several sports practices and I informal play. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS This park is an excellent place for exercise and walking. There is an updated playground that is up to current playground standards. The play field is one of the largest in the Town. It would be advantageous to the Town to utilize this area more with leagues/recreation for its r residents in the future. Maintaining Yea the forest area and continuing open a dialogue with Cornell on future plans for this parcel, is a goal of the Town. TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • TROY PARK TROY RD & WHITETAIL DR INVENTORY • 4.20 Acres • Parking Lot l • Play Lawn • Picnic Tables/Benches • Playground DESCRIPTION Troy Park is a neighborhood park located on South Hill. It can be accessed off Troy Rd by a paved,yet slightly steep, driveway. There is - also pedestrian access from Whitetail Dr., with a paved walking path down to the park area. This 4.2-acre land area is very spacious and open. Invasive plant removal has left several open spaces on the �cc` upper end of the park. The playground is a modern structure " with numerous shade maples surrounding it. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS Mowing and general maintenance _ is required at this park. Drainage issues have to be monitored and I addressed as they appear. The Town maintains a mowed path under the power lines from this park to the water tank to the northwest. , While not part of this park, the f Town owns an additional 7.5 acres ' directly to the north, which is mostly wooded with a small wetland. This parcel Is not _ considered park space, but park '='` uses (nature trail) could potentially be expanded to this parcel in the future. � h . TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • TUDOR PARK PARK LN INVENTORY • 5.37 Acres '�000 Way Tudor Rd • Playground ' • East Ithaca Recreation Way Crosses Property • • Wooded Walking Trail • Grills • Mutt Mitt Station Y DESCRIPTION Tudor Park is a neighborhood park located in the Eastern Heights neighborhood. The playground structure is located at the west end of the East Ithaca Recreation Way. The East Ithaca Nature Preserve lands borders this park offering a nice natural area for walking as well.A grill area with picnic tables is accessible when using the facility. A . CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS The modern playground and general upkeep make this an easy property to maintain. The Town should look at the additional 3.5 acres which were added to this park `' in 2016 and explore the potential for a new trail connection to Park Lane or other expanded uses. ` a, There is a large number of invasive plants in this park that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs _ should be planted following the removal of the invasives. TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • TUTELO PARK -1 BOSTWICK RD INVENTORY , • 8.31 Acres • Playground • Full Size Cal Ripken Baseball Field with Dugouts, Bleachers, and Batting cage • 30'x 40' Pavilion with Paved Access Driveway • Nature Walking Trail • Parking Lot • Picnic Tables/Benches • Mutt Mitt Station • Grills • Restrooms DESCRIPTION Tutelo Park is one of the Towns most frequented facilities. The ballfield is used primarily by local Pr Cal Ripken leagues in Ithaca. It can � - also be used for recreational use by `' ? residents or by renters of the ! park/pavilion. Accompanying the ball field are restrooms and storage building. The pavilion in the rear of the park can be rented out by the public for a small fee.The park also includes a large playground and nature trail, including interpretive *; signage of native trees. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS Daily maintenance is required at Tutelo Park, be it the restrooms, ball field, or general clean up. Discussions have also included creating a trail that would connect ,, Saponi Park to Tutelo Park. However, for this to occur, land or ~� ' easements would have to be acquired between the parks. TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • VINCENZO IACOVELLI PARK JUNIPER DR INVENTORY • 5.39 Acres • South Hill Recreation Way Crosses the Property e • Half-Court Basketball ,�•. , • Picnic Tables/Benches • Small Pavilion • Playground DESCRIPTION lacovelli Park is a neighborhood park located off the South Hill Recreation Way at the end of Juniper Drive. There are a few parking spaces available at the end of Juniper Dr. The Park has benefited from an invasive plant removal project, with new native plantings installed. A sealed and painted half-court basketball area is very popular. This Park is a great stop along the South Hill Recreation Way. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS 1�, ? The playground is outdated (wooden) and is scheduled for replacement in a more accessible location near the basketball court. Plans also include adding several additional parking spaces in the !; - park. Additional invasive plant 11u V � 1, removal is necessary and maintaining the mowed areas - should continue. ': TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • WEST HILL PARK CONIFER DR & OAKWOOD LN y INVENTORY • 21.7 Acres • Community Garden - J .. G DESCRIPTION West Hill Park, a 21.7-acre piece of land within the West Hill area of the Town.This property has pedestrian access from Oakwood Ln. and Conifer Dr., but no direct road access. The property contains a large wooded area to the south and a large open field to the north, that the Town mows annually. Williams Brook runs along the north edge of the property. Currently the West Hill Community Garden resides on this property, serving as a community garden for residents who wish to join at a small fee (approximately 80 garden plots). CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS i Currently, the Town mows this property annually and maintains " and supports the community ` garden,which should continue. ,AYE. +r If adjacent properties are developed and access is improved, the Town should consider improvements to this park. New park elements could include parking, walking trails, a playground, picnic areas, open play fields,and other facilities for people of all ages. There is a large number of invasive plants in this park that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs should be planted following the removal of the invasives. TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • WOOLF PARK (Undeveloped) WOOLF LN & GROVE DR INVENTORY • 1.63 Acres • Undeveloped DESCRIPTION This is an undeveloped park in the West Hill area of the Town. This parcel is 1.94 acres and primarily wooded.There is a small open path that is mowed throughout. It is used for cross country skiing at times in the winter months. CONDITIONS & FUTURE PLANS The Town mows the walking/cross country path annually. Drainage issues have to be monitored and - addressed as the appear, as there are several ditches throughout that run water onto neighboring properties. p < The Town should continue to s monitor ash trees for removal while establishing a native landscape. There are a large number of invasive plants in this park that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs should be planted following the removal of the invasives. #+ . There are currently no plans to develop this park, but that could change depending on the needs and interest of the neighborhood, and the availability of funding. Future park elements could include a small playground and picnic area with trail connections to Woolf;: ' `��� II f Lane and Grove Road. n 1 TOWN OF . PRESERVES, RECREATION Appendix B Individual Trail Descriptions TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • EAST ITHACA This land is owned by Cornell and the Town has an irrevocable RECREATION WAY license (signed 1982)for this trail section. (GAME FARM TO MAPLE ` ` jam' ;y �;` � GAME FARM RD & MAPLE AVER. INVENTORY • 1.19-mile paved trail • Picnic tables/Benches • Mutt Mitt Stations • Parking at Game Farm Rd. • Connections to Cornell (need to add photos) campus DESCRIPTION This trail is part of the East Ithaca Recreation Way and is used for recreation and as a commuter path to the Cornell campus. It primarily has a paved surface with grass shoulders. At Game Farm Road, there is a small parking area and a connection to the Dryden Rail Trail. The Town performs winter maintenance on this trail. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS The Town maintains this trail with regular mowing and drainage, pavement, and tree maintenance as needed. Many native trees have been planted beside the trail, along with the removal of invasive species. The Town should continue the removal of invasive plants as needed. The Town plans to continue to maintain the existing trail through regular maintenance. As this trail continues to become more popular, the Town may want to explore creating additional parking. TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • EAST ITHACA l• le Ave RECREATION WAY (MAPLE TO HONNESS) MAPLE AVE, MITCHELL ST& HONNESS LN INVENTORY • 1.2-mile paved trail • Mutt Mitt Stations • Picnic tables/Benches �► • Connections to Cornell ��►� Campus DESCRIPTION This trail is part of the East Ithaca Recreation Way and is used for recreation and as a commuter path to the Cornell campus. It primarily has a paved surface with grass - shoulders and can be accessed from Maple Ave, Mitchell St, and Honness Lnj Honness Lane. The Town performs winter maintenance on this trail. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS The Town maintains this trail with E regular mowing and drainage, pavement, and tree maintenance 1 as needed. Many native trees have ' ' +. been planted beside the trail, along Y ' with the removal of invasive` species. The Town should continue the removal of invasive plants as ' needed. The Town plans to continue to maintain the existing trail through regular maintenance. v This land is owned by Cornell and the Town has a revocable license (signed 1978)for this trail section. Y' r TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • EAST ITHACA RECREATION WAY oil (WILLIAM & HANNAH PEW TRAIL) PINE TREE RD, SNYDER HILL RD, REGENCY LN & PARK LN INVENTORY - • 0.8-mile oil and stone trail Pine Tree • Parking at Snyder Hill Rd Wildlife Preserve • Gazebo • Little Free Library • Benches Regency • Mutt Mitt Stations • TCAT Bus Stop DESCRIPTION The southernmost portion of the East Ithaca East Ithaca Recreation Way is an Nature Preserve 0.8-mile trail. It has several connections, most notably along Pine Tree Rd and Tudor Park. This trail meanders throughout the East Ithaca Nature Preserve and the Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve while connecting to the Eastern Heights neighborhood. The Town performs winter maintenance on this trail. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS ; ` The Town maintains this trail with regular mowing and drainage, pavement, and tree maintenance as needed. Many native trees have been planted beside the trail, along with the removal of invasive species. The Town should continue the removal of invasive plants as needed. The Town plans to continue to maintain the existing — trail through regular maintenance. TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • GATEWAY TRAIL STONE QUARRY RD & ELMIRA RD (NYS ROUTE 13) �r INVENTORY • 1.1-mile stone dust trail e • • Connection to Buttermilk Falls State Park DESCRIPTION This newly developed trail (completed 2021) follows the — - former railroad bed from Stone Quarry Road down across the bridge over NYS Route 13, to just past Home Depot. This trail has a " stone dust surface and provides a connection to Buttermilk Falls State Park. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS The Town maintains this trail with regular mowing and drainage, trail surface, and tree maintenance as needed. The Town should continue to work with the City of Ithaca and NYS t Parks on future expansions and � ¢ �! '7 �.i=-.. connections to the South Hill } . Recreation Way and the Black 11 Diamond Trail. 9 4 n: This land is owned by NYS and the Town has a cooperative agreement (signed 2019)for this trail section. !) . TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • NORTHEAST ITHACA RECREATION WAY t WARREN RD, MURIEL ST, TAREYTON DR, WINSTON DR & �. WINTHROP DR INVENTORY • 0.5-mile paved trail • Benches • Crosses Tareyton Park • Mutt Mitt station DESCRIPTION I This trail is used for both recreationNORTHEAST *, and as a commuter path, especially ITHACA ' by students of Dewitt Middle m School and Northeast Elementary School. It provides connections to several residential neighborhoods, BOCES, and the two schools. It primarily has a paved surface and can be accessed from Winston Dr, Tareyton Dr, Muriel St, Warren Rd, and Winthrop Dr. The Town performs winter maintenance on this trail. h CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS The Town maintains this trail with regular mowing and drainage, pavement, and tree maintenance Y as needed. The trail crosses property owned by Cornell University, BOCES, and the Ithaca School District. - �� Ells TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • SOUTH HILL RECREATION WAY HUDSON ST, CODDINGTON RD, JUNIPER DR & BURNS RD INVENTORY Y-r • 3.4-mile stone dust trail, • Picnic tables/Benches m' • Crosses lacovelli Park • Mutt Mitt stations • Parking at Burns Rd. and Juniper Dr. DESCRIPTION The South Hill Trail is mostly built upon the abandoned railroad bed of the Cayuga and Susquehanna Railroad. This is a multi-use trail with a primarily a stone dust surface and is heavily used year- round. The trail can be accessed from Hudson St, Coddington Rd, f Juniper Dr, and Burns Rd. I CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS , The Town maintains this trail with regular mowing and drainage, trail surface improvements, and tree removal or trimming as needed. A project to remove invasive plants ' and replant with native trees and shrubs along the trail was completed in 2020. The Town should continue the removal of invasive plants as needed. Continue to work with the City of Ithaca and the Towns of Dryden, Danby and Caroline on future extensions and connections to the - trail. y ; Explore options to create additional parking for trail users. TOWN •F ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, RECREATION PLAN Appendix C Individual Preserve Descriptions TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • CULVER ROAD PRESERVE CULVER RD & BOSTWICK RD \.. INVENTORY • 155.3 Acres _ • Parking lots • Walking trails • Benches DESCRIPTION Culver Road Preserve is made up of �. four separate areas (Dress Woods, ---- - �` Gerda Knegtman's Glen, Marcia's Woods, and Babcock Ridge). These areas stretch from the north side of Culver Road south to Bostwick Road. This preserve consists of open fields and established forested areas, with several t streams located south of Culver , �., Road. The Babcock Ridge portion features beautiful views to the east `"` and south and contains two small parking areas and trails (completed in 2026). An accessible trail from the upper parking area leads to one of the view points. f - h CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS tip{ ... 'g.... , , ;,.. Depending on the public use of these new trails, there is the potential to expand the trail system through other portions of the preserve in the future. It is anticipated that some of these trails may be a narrow footpath style trail and will involve several stream crossings. There is a large number of invasive plants in this preserve that should be removed. Native trees, shrubs and wildflowers should be planted following the removal of the invasives. TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • EAST ITHACA NATURE PRESERVE -. REGENCY LN, PARK LN & SLATERVILLE ROAD ', �* INVENTORY t • 27.98 Acres l • Benches • Gazebo • Mowed Walking Trails • East Ithaca Recreation Way Crosses Property �rl DESCRIPTION East Ithaca Nature Preserve is a + wooded property with several open fields in East Ithaca. This preserve I*� has several mowed walking trails, a gazebo, benches, and a portion of the East Ithaca Recreation Way crosses the eastern side of the ti , property. Extensive invasive species eradication has occurred in the preserve over the years. New native trees and shrubs have been planted to establish a native landscape, including as part of several community planting events. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS Maintaining the exiting mowed trail system, benches and the gazebo are the priorities at this preserve. Drainage issues will continue to be : monitored to ensure adjacent residential properties on the west/south are not affected. Despite previous invasive plant removals, there is still a large number of invasive plants in this _ preserve that should be removed. Native trees, shrubs and wildflowers should continued to be planted following the removal of —- the invasives. TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • GLENSIDE PRESERVE FIVE MILE DR & GLENSIDE RD INVENTORY • 7.05 Acres • Undeveloped DESCRIPTION Glenside Preserve is a wooded area along the City of Ithaca municipal line, with access from Five Mile Drive (Route 13A) and Glenside Road. There are no formal trails or N other amenities in this preserve. There is a Town water line along the western boundary of the property that is mowed annually by the , Town, which provides some informal access to the preserve. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS The current plans for this preserve are to monitor drainage issues and to maintain it as a forested area. For any development of this preserve to occur, access would have to be improved from Five Mile Drive and/or Glenside Road. While some neighbors current walk the mowed area over the water line and other informal trails, the development of formal trails could be considered in the future if there is neighborhood or general public interest. There is a large number of invasive plants in this preserve that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs should be planted following the removal of the invasives. TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • PINE TREE WILDLIFE PRESERVE PINE TREE RD&SNYDER HILL RD INVENTORY • 13.95 Acres • Benches • Mowed Walking Trails LL , • East Ithaca Recreation Way Crosses Property DESCRIPTION Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve is a mostly wooded property in East Ithaca. This preserve has several mowed walking trails, benches, and East Ithaca Nature Preserve lv a portion of the East Ithaca Recreation Way crosses the eastern side of the property. Extensive invasive species eradication has occurred in the preserve and new native trees and shrubs have been planted to establish a native landscape. The Finger Lakes Land Trust holds a conservation easement on this preserve, which includes annual monitoring inspections. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS Maintaining the exiting mowed trail system and benches are the priorities at this preserve. Despite previous invasive plant removals, there is still a large number of invasive plants in this preserve that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs should continued to be planted following the removal of the invasives. — — rti Vq �rt , Drainage issues will continue to be monitored to ensure adjacent properties are not affected. TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • SAGE PRESERVE CHASE LN, RIDGECREST RD, K. RD EAST &SCKICKEL RD INVENTORY 136.79 Acres • Mowed Walking Trails DESCRIPTION Need map of new preserve *; Sage Preseve is a mix of forested areas and successional growth with several streams and wetlands. The previous landowner maintined a mowed trail system on the property, including access from Chase Lane. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS Maintaining and improving the existing mowed trail system is the priority at this preserve. There is the potential to create a small parking lot off King Road E. and expand the trail system through other portions of the preserve in the future. Trail connections could be provided to other adjacent roads along with the Ithaca College and Namgyal Monastry properties. Being one of the flatter preserves in the Town, there may also be opportunities for some of the new trails to be ADA accessible. There is a large number of invasive plants in this preserve that should �f be removed. Native trees, shrubs M n§� and wildflowers should be planted following the removal of the invasives. l T TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • WESTHAVEN PRESERVE HELEN"S WAY s INVENTORY • 10.7 Acres ' • Mutt Mitt Station • Mowed Walking Trails DESCRIPTION Westhaven Preserve is a mostly wooded parcel with a mowed trail running north to south across the property. Access is provided from , Helen's Way and through an easement across a private driveway, extending from Elm Street Extension. There is a small parking area at the Helen's Way entrance and several benches are provided along the trail. CONDITION & FUTURE PLANS Maintaining the existing mowed trail system and benches are the priorities at this preserve. There is a large number of invasive plants in this preserve that should be removed. Native trees and shrubs should be planted following the removal of the invasives. r Drainage issues will continue to be " monitored to ensure adjacent residential properties are not affected. , , x There is the potential to expand the ,. trail system through other portions t" n w J - of the preserve in the future, if ` s there is neighborhood or general public interest. It is anticipated that some of these trails may be more of a narrow hiking trail style. "' Y TOWN • PARKS, PRESERVES, • Appendix D 2020/2021 Resident Survey Results (Selected Questions) TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN Question 1 How satisfied are you with the Town's current developed park facilities used for play, active recreation or organized team sports (i.e. soccer, baseball, playgrounds): Very satisfied 31% Somewhat satisfied 35% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 30% Somewhat dissatisfied 3% Very dissatisfied 0% Question 2 How satisfied are you with the Town's current park and trail facilities for less struc- tured and passive recreation (i.e. biking, walking): Very satisfied 42% Somewhat satisfied 39% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 9% Somewhat dissatisfied 8°'' Very dissatisfied 0% TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN Question 3 For each of the Town parks listed below,indicate how often you or a member a.your ho usehald have visited them in the past 12 months. Coddington Road Community Center _11 Eastem Heighls Park ■ East Snore Park —. Forest Home Park Grand—Park Hungertord Heighls Park ■ , Northeiew Park _ Salem Park ■ ■ Taretylon Park Troy Park . Tudor Park -y ■ Tutelo Park I Vinc .lacovelli Park —�4a West Hill Park/Community Garden _ Question 4 For each of the Town trails listed below, indicate how often you or a member of your household have visited them in the past 12 months Once or Twice 8 Daily Weekly Monthly Never East Ithaca Recreation Way -. Northeast Ithaca Recreation Way I ■ South Hill Recreation Way �_■ 1UO _I;i� 100% TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN Question 5 For each of the Town preserves listed below, indicate how often you or a mem- ber of your household have visited them in the past 12 months once or Twice Daily Weekly Monthly Never Culver Road Preserve East Ithaca Nature Preserve _I Glenside Preserve ■ Pine Tree Wildlife Preserve -I ■ Westhaven Preserve ■� ' 100::1 0% 100% Question 6 What activities do you use the Town of Ithaca's parks,preserves and trails for?ichec all that spply� walking 23'. Biking 12°5 Running 9'. Picnicking 5% Winter xtrvities(snowshoeing,aoss- B° cousrtry skiing,etcl Comtrwtng 3% Dog walking 9`. Team sports 1% Bird watching/enjoy nature 15`a BBQ/picnic 2% Use of play equipment s% Gardening 0% other .. TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN Question 7 How would you rate the overall quality of the Town of Ithaca recreation facilities you have visited? Excellent 43% Good 49% Fair 7% Poor 0% Question 8 Please rate your level of satisfaction with the overall value that your house- hold receives from Town of Ithaca parks, preserves, and trails 56% Somewhat satisfied Very satisfied .• TOWN OF .A. TRAIL, PRESERVES, RECREATION PLAN Question 9 How did you learn about the Town's different parks, trails, preserves and recreational amenities? (check all that apply) Friends and neighbors 31 Town newsletter 5% Town website 6% Social media 3% Newspaper 2% Listservs 1% Another municipality 0% Other websites 6% Self-discovered 36 Other 6% Question 10 Please indicate which of the following have prevented you or members of your household from using Town of Ithaca parks,preserves, and trails.(check all that apply) Too far from our residence 19% Not interested in recreation 0% Facilities not well maintained 2% 1 do not know locations of facilities 2996 Facilities lack the right equipment 1% Lack of parking by facilities 6% Use facilities in other communities 7% Lack of quality programs 1% Security is insufficient 1% Lack of transportation 3% Accessibility concerns 2% Lack of time 1 11% Other 1 11% TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN Question 11 The Town of Ithaca currently does not provide its own recreational programming, instead participating in a recreation al partnership with 10 other municipalities within Tompkins County.Town residents receive discounted program fees f or activities provided by the Ithaca Youth Bureau Recreation Division.Indicate your satisfaction with this current arran gement. II • Very satisfied 62 31% • Somewhat satisfied 53 41% • Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 81 • Somewhat dissatisfied 2 • Very dissatisfied 2 27% Question 12 Tompkins County has many providers of park and recreation services.Frorn the following list of park and recreation providers in the area,please select all that you or members of your household have used for indoor and outdoor recreation activities during the past 12 months. City of Ithaca Public Facilities 17. Town Public Facilities 13'. State Parks and Forests 269, College/University Facilities 16% Ithaca Children's Garden 11 School District Facilities 6% Private Fitness Clubs/Studios s% YMCA of Ithaca&Tompkins County 4% Homeowners Association/Apartment Complex other 1% TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN Question 13 Please indicate the top three recreational facilities or programs you feel are needed or should be expanded in the Town of Ithaca(check maximum of 4) Bike paths 16% Childrens play areas 5% Softball/baseball fields O% Basketball courts 1% Volleyball courts 1% Tennis/pickleball courts 4% Horseshoe courts o% Bocce courts 0'c Summer recreation program 2`. Year-round recreation program 3% Conservation or natural areas 14'. Picnic areas/shelters S1. Hiking&walking trails 20% Skateboard park 1 Community gardens 5% Soccerfields 1% Snovrshoeing or cross-country skiing trails Outdoorfimess/exercise equipment 3'. Other 3':, Question 14 The Town is exploring offering at least two events each year that utilize our recreational amenities. Below is a list of possible events.Please check any that you would be potentially interested in and feel free to add ideas(check maximum of 3). Halloween/harvest event 6'. Outdoor movies at a park 1 191_ Public works equipment open house/show 2'e Summer day camps 7% Sk runs 9% Senior walking programs 8" Easter egg hunt 2% arts/craft festival 13`: music/dinner in a park with food trucks 281; Other 2% TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN Question 15 Would you be willing to donate money to enhance the Town's recreational facilities? 6 % .. Maybe Question16 Would you be willing to volunteer time for some aspect of the Town's recreational amenities? Maybe • TOWN •F ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, RECREATION PLAN Appendix E Town of Ithaca Policy on Naming Town Parks (Adopted July 8, 2002) TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN TOWN OF ITHACA POLICY ON NAMING TOWN PARKS Over the years the Town of Ithaca has received title to numerous areas for use as Town parks. In establishing the parks, it does not appear that any consistent rationale has been adopted for the naming of parks. On occasion requests have been made for the naming of a particular park in a particular way, and the Town has found it difficult to address the request due to the lack of an overall policy. The Town believes it would be helpful in the future in discussing the naming of parks to have a general policy in place as a guide. Accordingly, the following policies and cntena are adopted for the naming of parks in the Town. The name of a Town park shall be drawn from, or based upon- 1_ The geographic location of the park (e.g. Eastern Heights Park or Salem Park); or 2_ The name or names of persons who made significant contributions through service to the Town or general community for a long period of time and in a significant, usually official, role (e_g_ Shirley Raffensperger Park — a two-term Town Supervisor and long-term Town Board member), or 3_ A significant archeological site associated with the park (e.g.Tutelo Park—on or near the site of a Tutelo Native American village); or 4. The name or names of the donor of the land or improvements for the park (e.g. lacovelli Park); or 5. A significant physical feature contained in or located near the park (e.g_ if the Coy Glen Gorge were to become a town park, it could be named Coy Glen Gorge Park);or 6_ A significant historical event either associated wdh the site or of national significance (e.g. a memorial park to those Town of Ithaca residents who died while serving their country in the military service). Adopted July 8,2002 by the Ithaca Town Board TB RESOLUTION NO.2002-105 TOWN •F ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, RECREATION PLAN Appendix F Adopt a Park, Trail or Preserve Agreement TOWN OF ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN OF ip o �� TORT OF MlkCA L' ADOPT-A-PARK,TR-Ml.,OR PRESERVE AGREEMENT nublicworks0townithacanv-oov Phone(607)273-1656 The Town of Ithaca Public Works Department, having offices at 114 Seven Mile Drive. Ithaca, NY 14850, hereafter called the`Department"and a neighborhood or community organization using the mailing address of , hereinafter called the"Organization".desire a more utilized,attractive, and litter-free neighborhood and community Park/Trail/Preserve and are entering into this Agreement to initiate and maintain the agreed upon improvements as well as to enhance the appearance of the Park/Trail/Preserve for the Town of Ithaca. By signature below,the Organization acknowledges the potential risks of the activities involved and hereby agrees to the following terms and conditions: 1. Clean-up/maintain the agreed upon improvements of the assigned park.trail or preserve a minimum of two(2)times during any twetve(12)month period(preferably spring and fall)- 2. Before first clean up or other work.participate in an orientation or training if necessary with the Town Parks Maintenance Manager(or designee)to understand proper maintenance procedures and potential dangers to limit risk of injury from natural or hazardous materials. 3. Work only during daylight hours and obey all park and trail regulations. 4. Notify the Town's Public Works Department by phone or email(above)at least one week prior to a major clean-up of the area where collected material may need to be picked up by Town Staff_ 5. Place filled trash bags in areas designated by Town staff for pick up. 6. Require a minimum of two(2)people working together and use the buddy system on major work days. 7. Provide adequate supervision by at least one adult(over age 18)of clean up activity. 8. Take care not to trespass on adjacent private property or interfere with other users or activities going on at the park/traiVpreserve. 9. Report vandalism or unsafe conditions to the Tompkins County Sheriffs department at (607)257-1234 and problems or other concerns to the Public Works Department. The Town of Ithaca's Parks Maintenance Manager may modify this list as needed to accommodate specific situations- :'_`0_'4 1 TOWN OF ITHACA—PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN OF ip Fa> TORN OF TTHAC A Lr" ADOPT A-P.kW TR1 1,OR PRESERVE e o'- AGREEMET-I The Organization will: 1. Organize and supervise all activities. 2. Require,organize and conduct a safety briefing before for all participants in the major field activity. 3. Pick up supplies and materials(hardhats.vests,and garbage bags)from the Public Works Department,as needed. The Public Works Department will: 1 Make every effort to honor an organization's request for a specific park/traillpreserve,but assignments will be made on a first come,first choice basis. 2. Upon request and suitable arrangement, provide safety vests,hardhats,appropriate gloves, and garbage bags. 3. Remove trash bags that have been left in the areas designated by Town staff for pick up- 4. Publicize the execution of this Agreement and highlight it at various periods thereafter. 5. Continue to apply its assets in the maintenance of the park/trail/preserve. 6. Make every effort to provide a representative at the initial safety briefing. 7. Upon request and suitable arrangement, provide appropriate hand tools for use in controlling invasive species_ This Agreement shall be for a two(2)year period, commencing on and terminating on Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement,and if in the sole judgment of the Department it is determined that the Organization is not meeting the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Department may terminate this Agreement and take such other action as it deems appropriate upon thirty(30)days written notice to the Organization. The Department recognizes as adopting (Organization) (park/trail/preserve) 512024 TOWN OF PARKS, PRESERVES, • TOWN OF ITH ACA k," � ADOPT.A,-.A, RF-SER« Yo1 AGREEMYNI The Organization agrees to fully defend,indemnify and hold harmless the Town, its elected officials,public officers, employees,and agents from and against all claims,actions,suits, demands,damages, liabilities,obligations, losses,settlements,judgments,costs and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorney's fees and costs),whether or not involving a third party claim,which any or all of them may incur,resulting from bodily injuries(or death)to any person,damage(including loss of use)to any property,other damages,or contamination of or adverse effects on the environment, caused by the acts or omissions of Organization or Organization's employees,agents or subcontractors,in connection with this Agreement. To the extent the Town is negligent;Organization's duty to indemnify the Town shall not extend to the proportion of loss attributable to the Town's negligence. Name of Organization Organization Representative Signature and Date Organization Representative's Printed Name and Title Town of Ithaca Representative Signature and Date Town of Ithaca Representative's Printed Name and Title 512024 3 TOWN •F ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, RECREATION PLAN Appendix G Buy a Bench /Tree Programs TOWN OF . PRESERVES, RECREATION 'MEEMORUL TREE A-ND BEN(H POLICY Touru of Ithaca Public Works—Parks PURPOSE: Establish procedures and guidelines for donated trees and benches(item)on Town of Ithaca property managed by the Public Works Department. POLICY Donations are encouraged on park land and park sites throughout the Town of Ithaca. Donations may be accompanied by a plaque(bench)or tag(tree)after approval by the Parks Manger. Guidelines: $cZiest; Requests for the donation and placement of item(s)should be in writing to the Parks Maintenance Manager(Manager)and include details as to which park.trail, playground or open space is requested along with a sketch or detailed planation of the desired physical location of said item(s)at the property. ,Uproval The Manager will meet with the donor and discuss the request and render a decision. General guidehnes Tree species must be native,and bench styles should be chosen keeping ease of maintenance in mind_ Cost:The donor will cover the cost of the item(s).Town staff may be able to build the standard bench seen throughout the Towns public properties,with plaque_at the request and cost of the donor. N aunt n nctallatio The Town will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of all donated item(s)once established on Town property.Time of installation is at the discretion of Town staff and subject to change. Installation will be scheduled so as not to unnecessarily interfere aith routine maintenance activities_ Requests: Joe Talbut—Parks Maintenance Nianaeer jtalbut ie town.ithaca jy_us (607)273-1656 e L 222 Adopted 2022-05-23 TOWN •F ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, RECREATION PLAN Appendix H Park/Trail Permit Application rfi.�ti«,.��r• TOWN OF ITHACA-PARKS,TRAIL, PRESERVES, AND RECREATION PLAN jk Olr :]Itta Ca~F*Wm FM harm LOW�• �yA+fir civ �Ir.tar/� Iti��Oolr FlNr 11�+ ice• M017farr19 "W ter MrrrtmM a tlrayi• "pumofta tyy" amirt Irl1��M T.YMEMMadr ti lam uarh T rib r.ra ab r era ra th.EW Mod..uar -t/A •RW�f y.0 r,�nritamra m,�t de tlefd t.r rrrr rllw+t�ra.iy to era for�b 1�+.e.a Mserea •lam.rtMtiic Ma OI t�4U.nrws I..CnrrE rrlryYa+PMYrn IretK I.r/u PtaTrr 7Prrr1�',tL,rntfSa.i.rtM t�Y+w rwrsw� In fltdIb OWN IMA *tr.rft •r ahL rrrs 0A,.nrld.ornaaVa rwk n alm ut M,fer p.M/ aa<itrnm�'.V. -envy MN—QVR:ME— M6Mr oULM rm�4+.+ridrrV��rL Adtdb,tBbbn"tea■r.tbd ti u.pt dq.a ft,2. 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