Shorewalkers, an environmental and hiking organization, will hold its 26th annual Great Saunter, a 32-mile walk around the rim of Manhattan, on Saturday, May 7, rain or shine beginning at the South Street Seaport.
The event, which is expected to attract as many as 100 walkers, starts with registration at 93 South St. at Fulton Street. at 7 a.m. and steps off at 7:30 a.m. The long march moves clockwise down to the Battery, up the Hudson River Park esplanade and Riverside Park to Inwood, then down along the Harlem and East River shore through Carl Schurz Park, East River Park, ending at the Seaport about 12 hours later.
Walkers may join or leave the route anywhere along the route. At 9:30 a.m. the saunter arrives at West 42nd Street. near the Circle Line for a brief break and a news conference. There is another rest stop at 11 a.m. at Riverbank State Park atop the North River Pollution Control plant at 139th Street and a lunch break at 1 p.m. at the flagpole in Inwood Park before crossing to the East Side. At 4 p.m. there is a rest stop on the East River Promenade in Carl Schurz Park at East 84th Street. The celebration rendezvous takes place at the Heartland Brewery in the Seaport, 93 South St. at Fulton Street.
Sponsors of the event include Con Edison, Time-Warner Books, The River Project, Stuyvesant Cove, New York Water Taxi, New York Restoration Project, Roma Wines and Spirits, Friends of Hudson River Park, the Durst Organization, Riverside South Planning Corp., Riverside Printing Service, Dive Bar and Heartland Brewery.
Supporters include Mayor Bloomberg, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
A program guide and map for the Great Saunter with information on the route will be available at the beginning of the walk.
— Albert Amateau
