Cayuga Waterfront Trail to host ribbon cutting

The Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative invites you to join their celebration of the completion of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail this Sunday, August 30th. The official ribbon cutting ceremony and community gathering will be held at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market from 5 to 6:30 pm, and attendees are encouraged to enjoy the trail from end to end. At 5 pm, the celebration at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market will begin with music by the Djug Django Trio (Dave Davies, Brian Earle, and Harry Aceto) and a variety of market vendors serving food and ice cream. At 6 pm, there will be ribbon cutting celebration featuring brief comments by Mayor Svante Myrick, Chamber President Jennifer Tavares, former Mayor Carolyn Petersen, former Chamber President Jean McPheeters, City Traffic Engineer Tim Logue, and Trail Coordinator Rick Manning. The Cayuga Waterfront Trail is a 6 mile multi-use trail that links Ithaca’s key waterfront destinations, including the Ithaca Farmers Market, Cass Park, Treman State Marine Park, Inlet Island and the West End, the Cornell and Ithaca College Boathouses, Newman Golf Course, Renwick Wildwood, Stewart Park, the Ithaca Youth Bureau and the Tompkins County Visitors Center and Chamber of Commerce offices. It is the result of a remarkable 14 year partnership of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the City of Ithaca. Before the ribbon cutting ceremony, Dave Davies is leading a musical procession, and all are invited to participate. Meet in Stewart Park at the Cascadilla Boathouse at 3 pm, learn some tunes, and then process together starting at 4 pm in celebration to the Farmers Market, where there will be a grand opening party. Bring instruments, voices, feather boas and whatever else strikes your fancy. Also needed are cyclists with trailers and/or people with wagons to carry instrument cases and water. Tunes to be played included: Down By the Riverside – key of F; Joe Avery Blues – key of Bb; Bill Bailey – key of F; Yellow Submarine – key of F; When the Saints Go Marchin’ In – key of G. A Scandinavian Fiddle Processional will also begin at CASS Park Children’s Garden, and walk to the Farmers Market. Sarah Cummings will be leading the group, and those interested in joining should contact her at [email protected]. Tunes for the Scandinavian processional: Vigel Lake walking tune (G Major); Ganglåt fran Äppelbo (G Major); Two-line bridemarch (D Major); Gift-Giving tune from Orsa (d minor); Wandering in the world (D Major). After the ribbon cutting, water music will be held from 6:30 to 8 pm with acoustic music played all along the trail to paddlers in canoes and kayaks and to those using the trail. More musicians are urged to join in the fun on Sunday evening. “Come and enjoy this celebration of walking, biking, a new transportation corridor along our waterfront, and commitment by this community for 15 years,” said former Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce President Jean McPheeters. “It’s been a great pleasure to see this completed.”The Cayuga Waterfront Trail Initiative is a project of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 not for profit charitable trust of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce. *********** About the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Foundation:The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Inc., is dedicated to improving the quality of life for Tompkins County residents and businesses, and has initiated or supported such projects as the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Sustainable Tompkins, Ithaca Carshare, Friends of Stewart Park, and co-sponsors the Leadership Tompkins program with Tompkins Cortland Community College.