Shorewalkers

News and Events

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ARCHIVED NEWS:

HUNDREDS ENJOY THE GREAT SAUNTER OF 2007

Roughly 600 enthusiastic walkers took part in the Great Saunter of 2007, and more than 175 completed the entire route. We were pleased that the Taiwanese government recognized this as a way to demonstrate its interest in physical fitness and global health issues, and registered 150 participants. Also, in a program that we hope will expand in the future, the Humanities Prep High School participated with a number of walkers, and 11 students, plus their principal, walked the entire route. We thank all the many volunteers and sponsors who contributed to the success of this event.

It is a great art to saunter. - Henry David Thoreau, 1841

Great Saunterers approaching Inwood Hill Park.

THE HISTORY AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SHOREWALKERS

The following is from the current draft of the history of Shorewalkers, being written in celebration of our 25^th Anniversary celebration. Pick up your copy at the party on December 1!

BEGINNINGS: PIONEERING WALKS ALONG A CHANGING URBAN WATERFRONT

The Shorewalkers was formed in 1982 after a few curious New Yorkers set out to explore the waterfronts and shorelines in the greater New York Metropolitan region. In the 1980's, large sections of the shoreline were inaccessible and several piers were inhabited by homeless people who set up shacks in their darkened recesses. To Shorewalkers, the City’s waterfront was, and is, a breath of fresh salt air, exciting, scary at times, and ever-changing.

"The Shorewalkers intend to hike the entire coast of NYC..." read the introduction in the first, brief Shorewalkers’ newsletter. The Village Voice and other local weeklies listed our first monthly walks. A few brave, curious souls came along to explore the virtually unknown waterfront.

Since its founding, Shorewalkers has led some 2500 year-round walks and hikes exploring extensive shore areas throughout the greater New York metropolitan region.

Shorewalkers’ first hike took place Sunday, December 12, 1982 along the west coast of Manhattan. Our announcement read:

"Explore the changing Hudson River Coast, Battery Park, the Westway Route, active piers, through Penn-Central railroad yards and into Riverside Park. Lunch stop in Harlem. Wilderness above the George Washigton Bridge, wind up in an Irish pub in Inwood"

We walked through Penn Central Yards, which then were active railroad freight lines between 59^th St. and 72^nd St. The rail yards have since been converted to blocks of dull condominiums and a strip of green called Riverside Park South. And it really was wilderness north of the George Washington Bridge along the deteriorating waterfront through little used parks, one of which is still unnamed. At the time, Irish Inwood bars dispensed beer at 15 cents a glass, a price that shocked several lawyers who walked with us. "Westway" was the highly-debated proposed highway in a tunnel from 42^nd St. to the Battery, built on landfill. It would have added at least 300 acres of parkland to the Hudson River Park. It was never built, alas.

Since 1982, Shorewalkers has been a leading advocate of environmental and other quality-of-life projects in the New York City Metropolitan Region, emphasizing the opening to the public of waterfront property. Some of Shorewalkers’ projects are to:

Increase shore access for walkers and others; encourage youth to walk.

Expand shore trails in-and-around the New York archipelago.

Pedestrianize all New York City bridges.

Create the Grand Harlem River Park Recreation Area by integrating the parks and playgrounds around the Harlem River, connecting them with a greenway, and forming a unique urban park surrounding the six-mile, 250-acre salt water strait.

Establish and popularize the Great Saunter Walking Trail around Manhattan.

Dedicate and Popularize the unique, historic 56-mile Batt-to-Bear Trail from the Battery to Bear Mountain, which has been developed by Shorewalkers.

New York Times: The Saunterer Tries the Bronx (August 28, 2005)
by Francis X. Clines

(Click on image to read)

HISTORY AND VISION

During the past 22 years, Shorewalkers created waterfront hiking around the NY area, and in the process, improved the health and stamina of thousands of walkers, as we led them where they had never been before – sometimes cul-de-sacs and dusty dead end paths.

Shorewalkers is dedicated to protecting open space and scenic trails for all to enjoy. We lead over 100 free, guided hikes each year. Volunteers have donated over 10,000 hours to improving the environment and showing people where to walk in nature.

Our map of the 56-mile Batt-To-Bear Trail (Battery to Bear Mountain) is free on our website. Two guide books by Shorewalkers' President Cy Adler, Walking Manhattan’s Rim, & Walking the Hudson, Batt-To-Bear are acknowledged as unique, and in demand.

HARLEM RIVER VALLEY MAP/GUIDE PUBLISHED JANUARY 2007. We have created a 4-color map guide which gives details of the parks, historic sights and schools and bridges in the area. Now we seek help with printing and distribution of the map. Help distribute the map and develop support for the Grand Harlem River Park.

Join Shorewalkers; explore the city around its edges, meet new friends; help us conserve our parks and greenways; help develop new places to walk in nature.

Membership is still only $20 per year.

WALKING MANHATTAN'S RIM, THE GREAT SAUNTER

If you plan on doing The Great Saunter of 2005, be sure to get a copy of Cy A Adler's most recent book about the Great Saunter and Manhattan's waterfront. "Exploring our great City at 3 M.P.H. is just the right speed for me!"-Mayor Mike Bloomberg. "One of the most informative books on Manhattan, a masterpiece of info"-C. Virginia Fields, Manhattan Borough Pres. "This book is an extraordinary tour de force. The consummate guide for walking the shore of Manhattan."-Ruth Messinger, Manhattan Borough President in the 90s. "Thought-provoking, always interesting, on the waterfront Cy is king of the road."-Dave Lutz, NOSC. "This treasure is an invaluable resource for energetic visitors and tourists to NYC eager to master its secrets." -Malcolm Spector, NY-NJ Trail Conference.

Shorewalkers who renew can order a copy for $10. Send checks to: Shorewalkers, Box 20748 NY, NY 10025, or visit www.shorewalkers.org/join.html to order online.

WALKING IS GOOD FOR YOU

Older adults, who regularly walk, improve significantly on tests of high-level “executive” functions. Aerobic exercises appear to increase neurotrophic functions which protect nerve cells from damage.

MORE GREENWAYS/FEWER CARS

Mayor Mike Bloomberg and a bipartisan coalition of U.S. mayors have committed to accomplishing the goals the Kyoto Protocol. This coalition includes over 132 mayors from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Denver, New Orleans, Austin, Portland, and Providence. Combined, these cities represent roughly 30 million citizens. Each mayor pledges to have his/her city meet the U.S. Protocol requirements, i.e. a 7% reduction in Green House Gas emissions by 2012. The Bloomberg Administration plans to reduce NYC’s emissions by investing in hybrid electric-gasoline powered vehicles…. We would also like to see all cross- town buses powered by quiet battery power. Electric buses could be assembled in the city to create jobs as well as clean, quiet power. We commend our mayor’s efforts to improve our town’s environment.

HARLEM RIVER VALLEY MAP/GUIDE

In January 2007 Shorewalkers published a map and guide to the Harlem River Valley. This four-color map/guide displays the many attractions along the six-mile stretch of the Harlem River. It features a trail, charted by Shorewalkers, that takes the walker under and over the spectacular bridges spanning the River and to the many cultural, recreational, educational and other attractions in Upper Manhattan and the West Bronx. Shorewalkers’ HRV MAP/GUIDE will be of great interest to educators, developers, environmentalists, walkers, businesses, visitors, and government. The HRV MAP/GUIDE will encourage people to visit the area, frequent its businesses, and enjoy its recreational opportunities.

Among the letters of Letters of Support we have received for the map are those from Hon. Adrian Benepe, NYC Parks Commissioner; Hon. Adolfo Carrion, Bronx B.P.; Hon. Helen Foster, Chair of Parks Committee of the NY City Council.

We thank the Littauer Foundation, NYC Councilperson Helen Foster, NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, and NYC Environmental Fund for grants supporting this project. We welcome other persons and groups who would like to help print and distribute the HRV Map/Guide.

Copies of the Harlem River Valley Map/Guide are available at $4.00 each, plus $1.50 per copy for shipping and handling. Shorewalkers also has a small number of complimentary copies available to nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE WALKS —BECOME A HIKE LEADER!!

Many of us have hikes we think of as our own. Introduce other hikers to some of your favorite places by volunteering to co-lead a hike. We welcome new hike leaders—not that there’s anything wrong with our current ones—we just need more of them! Members interested in co-leading or leading hikes, and have attended at least two hikes, please call 212-663- 2167, or e-mail us at mail@shorewalkers.org. Speak to current hike leaders.

For more complete information join Shorewalkers.

Send only $20 for a year's membership and free access to all Shorewalkers events.

Help us develop Shorewalkers projects.