ICG Board Appoints Leigh MacDonald as Executive Director
ITHACA, NY — August 6, 2026 — The Ithaca Children’s Garden (ICG) Board of Directors has appointed Leigh MacDonald as the organization’s new Executive Director following her four-month tenure as Interim Executive Director. MacDonald has helped shape the Garden for more than two decades through leadership in education, programming, events, and organizational growth.
“We have been incredibly impressed with Leigh’s interim leadership,” said Liz Kinast, President of the ICG Board of Directors. “She is extremely thoughtful, creative, and has deep knowledge and care for the Garden, staff, and the community.”
MacDonald first joined the Garden in 1999 as a program assistant while pursuing graduate studies in environmental education. What began as an opportunity to explore the connections between plants, people, and community evolved into a long career dedicated to growing the Garden’s programs, staff, and physical landscape.
Over more than a decade as Education Director, MacDonald developed and expanded many of the Garden’s signature educational offerings, including Summer Camp and Playful Nature Explorers. She led teams of educators, secured grants, managed budgets, and cultivated community partnerships that helped shape the Garden’s growth. After returning to ICG in 2023 as Event Coordinator, she stepped into the Interim Executive Director role this spring.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Leigh since the days when the Garden’s entire staff consisted of just the two of us,” shared Erin Marteal, Development Director. “Over the years, I’ve watched her lead with extraordinary thoughtfulness, creativity, and unwavering commitment to children, families, and this community. Few people know the Garden as deeply or care for it as wholeheartedly as she does, and I couldn’t be more excited to see her step into this role.”
As Executive Director, MacDonald says her focus remains on the people and mission that have guided her throughout her career at ICG.
“It has been such a joy and privilege to be part of the collaboration, hard work, creativity, and play that have shaped ICG into the amazing place and program it is today,” said MacDonald. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue working alongside such a dynamic, inclusive, and mission-driven team, and I look forward to guiding Ithaca Children’s Garden through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
As Executive Director, MacDonald will focus on advancing the Garden’s mission of connecting children with nature, supporting staff, strengthening community partnerships, and ensuring that the Garden remains a welcoming, inclusive space where all children can experience the wonder of nature.
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About Ithaca Children’s Garden:
Ithaca Children’s Garden is a three-acre public children’s garden located on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. With a mission to inspire and connect children to nature, the Garden offers dynamic programs and welcoming spaces for children of all ages to learn, grow, and play.
As a nonprofit organization, ICG depends on the support of the community to provide children with opportunities to connect with nature, nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards. For those interested in supporting ICG’s mission, gifts can be made by visiting https://www.ithacachildrensgarden.org/support/
For more information, please visit: https://www.ithacachildrensgarden.org/
