A list of natural and human-induced problems make swimming at the park at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake undesirable and prohibitive.

The problems -- which range from high coliform bacteria counts to prevailing winds dumping debris on the shore -- are very expensive to fix, according to city Planning and Development Director Matthys Van Cort.

Other physical aspects also make the park undesirable --a muddy lake bottom, a murky quality to the water and a shallow swimming area that doesn't drop off for hundreds of feet.

"It's possible to fix," Van Cort said. "We would have to reconstruct the bottom, do something with the shoreline -- reconstruct it to divert the debris floating in -- and reduce the sediment to decrease the turbidity. It's a matter of money and the city can't afford it."

The exact cost remains unknown, although Van Cort said he has periodically suggested that the city conduct a study to find out if it is possible to make Stewart Park swimmable and how much it would cost.

"But those suggestions have not been carried out because of the cost of the study," Van Cort said. "It may be possible to have swimming on the west side of the foot of the lake, where the state marina is located. The bottom conditions and prevailing winds are different."

But using the west side of the lake involves getting the state to give up part of its park land, reconstruct it into a swimming area and provide the requisite personnel and equipment. Neither situation is likely to happen quickly or easily, Van Cort said.

For the time being, residents will have to be content with the following places for aquatic activities.

Swimming spots

Local swimming spots, on and off Cayuga Lake:

City of Ithaca: