Year of Water - City of Ithaca Tour

“Out of sight, out of mind” - this describes how the American public thinks – or rather, doesn’t think -- about water infrastructure. In a national survey investigating how Americans relate to water, infrastructure was rarely mentioned by participants as something they had seen in the media or discussed with others. This is despite reports that $472 billion in investment is required over the next 20 years to keep our drinking- and waste-water infrastructure operational.

The goal of the “Year of Water” project is to raise awareness of our local water infrastructure and governance by engaging Cornell students, Ithacans, and visitors in a series of free-choice learning installations as part of the New York State Water Resources Institute (WRI)- led campaign at Cornell. More information on the Year of Water can be found on the NY Water Resource Institute website.

This tour seeks to Locations 1 through 7 will lead you on a beautiful 4 mile tour through the Botanic Gardens down to Ithaca Falls with stops by Beebe Lake and Fall Creek Gorge. Locations 8-12 leads you along about 3 miles along the Cayuga Waterfront Trail starting at Stewart Park and ending at the Ithaca Farmers’ Market. For on-campus parking information learn more here.