Ithaca moms know that the baby swing at the Auburn Street Park is one of the best in town because it’s high enough to safely push your child without aggravating your back. But what happens when those infants and toddlers become teens? What does the park have to offer them?

Ithaca-area teens participating in the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) spent two weekends this fall identifying opportunities and solutions for making three City of Ithaca parks, located at Auburn, Thompson and Wood Streets, more accessible for older youth and young adults.

Cornell’s STEP mission is to support students as they prepare for college and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). STEP aims to increase the number of marginalized students represented in these career fields by providing opportunities to explore STEM-related careers and prepare for the college admissions process. The program is funded by the New York State Education Department and hosted at Cornell University.

Read the full story on the College of Human Ecology website.