Ithaca, N.Y., July 8, 2008—Outside magazine has confirmed

something most Ithacans already know: Ithaca is one of the

best towns in America.


The magazine ranked Ithaca sixth in its list of “The 20

Best Towns in America.” The article appears in the

magazine’s August issue which goes on sale today.


In compiling the list, Outside magazine editors spent more

than two months reviewing cities that had overcome

adversity and were "riding on a wave of civic reinvention

and fresh ideas."


The top 10 cities on the list best exemplified places that

were reinventing themselves and working towards

progressive change. Editors looked at how each city

invested in itself, rated the natural beauty available to

residents, looked at cultural amenities and tried to

identify which towns were truly reinvesting in their own

best assets.


Washington, D.C., was first on the list, followed by

Chattanooga, Tenn.; Ogden, Utah; Portsmouth, N.H.; Tacoma,

Wash.; Ithaca, N.Y.; Louisville, Ky.; Eureka, Calif., and

Columbia, Mo.


In its coverage of Ithaca, Outside noted the creation of

the downtown Commons, new investment in several downtown

residential and commercial projects, creation of the

Cayuga Waterfront Trail, rehabilitation of the abandoned

Ithaca Gun factory and growth of the town’s sustainable

EcoVillage community.


The Outside article is the most recent in a long string of

media accolades for the Ithaca community. Since 2001,

Ithaca has been featured in at least 30 “best cities”

lists.


—30—