Cornell Cooperative Extension

Tompkins County
summer planters on the Commons with Canna, petunias, sweet potato vine
Image by Janine Willis

More than 70 of these planters beautify the Commons.

City Hall angle
Image by Janine Willis

City Hall full of color

More than 70 of these containers beautify the Commons
Image by Janine Willis

Commons Planters Summer 2021

Ithaca Public Plantings

Each day, hundreds of people pass the plantings maintained by the Community Beautification program, and we receive many questions about the types of plants that are growing in them. These pages will present photos and descriptions of some of the plants we grow and information about what goes into the plants we choose.

Aurora Triangle Summer 2022

East State Street Triangles

Three traffic islands around East State Street provide colorful garden displays that are planted with a combination of perennials and annuals. Learn more here!

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Commons planters

Ithaca Commons

These planters were installed on The Ithaca Commons following the renovation of this popular public space in 2016.

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Daylilies at Purity

Purity Point

One of the largest and most visible sites of the Beautification Program, Purity Point is a mixed planting just past Purity Ice Cream on Rt. 13.

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Van Horn Park

Van Horn Park

Van Horn Park is a pocket-sized park on Taughannock Blvd. between Seneca St. and W. State St. with the Cayuga Lake Inlet at its back.

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Contact

Janine Willis
Community Beautification Coordinator
beautification@cornell.edu
(607) 272-2292

Last updated August 16, 2026

Ithaca Public Plantings

Download A Map!

2017 map of Community Beautification sites in Ithaca NY
DOWNLOAD A MAP of Community Beautification planting sites in Ithaca, NY

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