PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Trey Ramsey, Outreach and Inclusion Manager
Ithaca Children’s Garden
Email: trey@ithacachildrensgarden.org
Phone: (607) 319-4203

Ithaca Children’s Garden Releases New Statement Affirming Commitment to Inclusion and Access

ITHACA, NY — January 28, 2026 —  Ithaca Children’s Garden (ICG) has released its inaugural Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Statement, a guiding document that affirms the organization’s values and outlines priorities for creating a welcoming, accessible Garden for all children and families.

Developed by a joint committee of staff and Board members, the IDEA Statement charts a shared vision for this work, identifies the values at the core of ICG’s IDEA efforts, and communicates the organization’s current priorities. It has been in development since early 2025 and reflects extensive staff dialogue, committee work, and community engagement. To ensure it reflects lived experience, the committee met with families, community partners, and leaders from organizations including Ithaca Welcomes Refugees and Southside Community Center. 

“I am so proud of this work by ICG,” says Trey Ramsey, ICG’s Outreach and Inclusion Manager.  “We’re not only sharing our values of belonging, but also working to act on them — becoming more inclusive and safe for those who may face barriers to the joys of the outdoors.”

The release of the Statement comes at a time when conversations about equity and inclusion are evolving across institutions nationwide, underscoring ICG’s decision to publicly reaffirm — and deepen — this work.

“Every child deserves access to nature and to grow and play just as they are,” says Sarah Gunther, a program parent and member of the IDEA Statement Committee and ICG Board. “As many institutions pull back from IDEA work, I am proud that ICG is not only holding strong but actually deepening its work for equity and justice for all children, especially those who have been historically excluded from spaces like the Garden.”

ICG has long worked to ensure children and families can experience nature regardless of background or ability. The IDEA Statement builds on that foundation by making the organization’s values, expectations, and responsibilities explicit to the community.

“Our core mission remains unchanged: to connect children to nature,” explains Naomi Sukenik, ICG’s Executive Director. “This IDEA Statement strengthens that mission by establishing goals to ensure every child can access the Garden and feel welcome.”

The IDEA Statement highlights five key focus areas: accessibility and disability inclusion; BIPOC and immigrant inclusion; LGBTQ+ inclusion; hiring, training, and professional development; and community engagement and communication, with a special emphasis on accessibility in 2026.

“This Statement is a living document — a starting point, not an endpoint,” says Ramsey. “We’ll continue listening, learning, and evolving alongside our community so the Garden can be welcoming to every child and family.”

Read the full IDEA Statement on our website and learn how we’re putting it into action.

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 community support to provide children with opportunities to connect with nature and nurture the next generation of environmental stewards. Please consider supporting ICG’s mission by visiting https://www.ithacachildrensgarden.org/support/

For more information, please visit: https://www.ithacachildrensgarden.org/

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