"I just love the trail! Year round it is such a pleasure to get out and run, walk, or stroll along the waterfront and enjoy the beautiful place we live. I can't wait for Phase II - more trail, more fun!"
- Perri LoPinto
Send your praises, comments, suggestions and critiques to info@cayugawaterfronttrail.com.
“My whole family LOVES the trail! We roller blade and/or bike as a family, visit with the Turtle (Gaia) and just enjoy the views. It is another reason why we love living and raising our children in ITHACA! “
-Linda Cimakasky Barr and family
"As I think of some of the greatest cities I have visited in my life, they all have one thing in common, beautiful waterfront trails and access to water. Ithaca is no exception. The Cayuga Water Front Trail is one of the most important initiatives the City has supported in recent years and it has improved our quality of life for the Ithaca community, and our visitors. Once completed, I believe we will have one of the most vibrant and beautiful waterfront trails in the region and as a runner, I will enjoy every step I take looking out to the beautiful water front scenery, listening to the birds, visiting the Farmers Market and the feeling of freedom to recreate outside, where I love to be."
-Laurie Linn
‘Lisa and I are frequently trail users. We love to roller blade and there is only one safe, smooth, level and attractive place we know of in Ithaca where middle-aged folks like us can enjoy this type of exercise... the Waterfront Trail. It is also a great place for running. Count us as people who appreciate the value of the Trail and who look forward to it traversing the entire south end of the Lake.
We have lived in a number of other cities across the United States and have always sought out places that offer trails. Paved trails, such as our Waterfront Trail, offer a lifestyle amenity that we find important and valuable. I know that we are not alone. The proposed six plus mile Waterfront Trail will be a cherished community asset and amenity, a reason for people to want to live, work and play here in Ithaca. The Trail is a great investment in our commun ity's future.’
- Gary Ferguson
It has been over five years since we acquired the “girls”. ..two white, eight-week old Bijon fuzz balls with shoe-button eyes . I named them Franny and Zoe as I had just had the pleasure of rereading J.D. Salinger’s book, Frannie and Zooey. Now, aside from the dubious delights entailed in housebreaking 2 puppies, one must assume other responsibilities such as the daily walk… which soon evolves into the expected daily walk. This is how we became well- acquainted with the Cayuga Waterfront Trail .
Figuring that there are 365 days in most years and multiplying this by five years, subtracting for sub-zero days of 8 below or more and again for out of town and torrential rain days, one could safely say that I have experienced the waterfront trail for the better part of 1700 days in the past five years. Furthermore, if one multiplies 1700 times 2 (the trail loop is 2 miles), then I have walked about 3400 miles on the wonderful waterfront trail. Egad! What kind of fool could allow this redundancy?
Well, aside from the fresh air and exercise, the trail is different every single day. Because one is outside, one notices that the sky is always different, the water is different , the smells and sounds are different. Further, the more you are out there, the more you notice. Having experienced all four seasons on the trail, one cannot help but appreciate that even the grayest, coldest days have beauty. I have whistled with the mocking bird, repeatedly startled the great blue heron, watched the red tailed hawks give flight lessons to their young, and adored the smooth grey dove that sometimes seems to follow us. Oh, and let us not forget the jubilant blue-birds which flit about and remind one of a Disney fairy tale. One thing missed is the ivory billed woodpecker.
Of course we will never forget “Coach” and his selfless upkeep of the trail as well as Mr. and Mrs. Denman who take plastic bags on their walks and kindly pick-up other people’s debris. Those of us who walk early are deeply grateful to the gentlemen who plow the walkway “first thing” on those snowy morns….the same people who keep it so nicely trimmed in the green season and free the owls from the nets on the playing fields.
Shall I go on?
We have seen the babies in buggies become toddlers on bikes. We have seen the same shy solemn people turn into friendly healthier looking people. We have heard many funny stories and laughed a lot. We have seen many “firsts”: Folks learn to skate, kayakers learn to paddle, paddlers learn to crew, children learn to garden, hit a ball, ride a two-wheeler, birds learn to fly and we have witnessed the development of what must be the world’s largest turtle. Fran and Zoë have “interviewed” countless other doggies and I have made countless “ friendshiplets.” I always carry my camera and many of these fine folks have allowed me to photograph them as I do figurative painting and, for me, “painting is useless without humanity.” The waterfront trail is rife with humanity.
- Pattie Francis