CNY Folksmarch kicks off 2024 on heatlhy note
Start the New Year with a Walk
JANUARY 13, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM AND JANUARY 14, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Destiny USA, Syracuse, New York. Find a First Day Hike at a local NYS Park
Once again, we will hold our first Folksmarch of the year at the centrally located mall: Destiny USA. January weather is unpredictable in our area. We may have a relatively warm winter day for Folksmarchers to walk outside along the Inner Harbor and a portion of the Creek Walk which is a short distance from the mall entrance on Hiawatha Blvd. Others may choose to see what’s new inside the mall by walking the perimeter of the 4 retail floors in order to complete a 5k.
Find out more in our January 2024 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.
A Holiday Walk for the History Books
DECEMBER 9, 9:00 AM-NOON AND DECEMBER 10, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – Onondaga Historical Association, 321 Montgomery St., Syracuse.
Find out more in our December 2023 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.
A Central Village
NOVEMBER 11, 9:00 AM-NOON AND NOVEMBER 12, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – Central Square.
The First Universalist Society of Central Square will be our sign-in location, there is an ample parking lot adjacent to the church. The walk includes a stop at the Central Square Station Museum to view their rolling stock in the train yard, a walk-through Crossroads Park and Goettel Park and the Central Square cemetery. This 5k walk is divided into three roughly equal parts for those who don’t want to walk 5k. There are sidewalks along all the roads and the parks are easy to navigate on grass and driveways.
Fall Into Forest Park
OCTOBER 14, 9:00 AM – NOON AND OCTOBER 15, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Forest Park, 10 Ripley Road, Camden, NY.
This month’s walk is at Forest Park, 10 Ripley Road, Camden, NY 13316. After leaving your car at the parking lot, follow the roadway about 200 feet into the park to register at the Fireman’s Memorial Pavilion.
Find out more in our October 2023 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.
Explore Reed Webster Park and the Empire State Trail
SEPTEMBER 9, 9:00 AM-NOON AND SEPTEMBER 10, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – Reed Webster Park in Camillus.
This month’s Folksmarch starts at Reed Webster Park in Camillus. This park is located on Warners Road and features 2 baseball fields, a pavilion, a restroom facility, tennis courts, and a playground. Dogs are NOT allowed at the park (but are allowed along the Empire State Trail). We will sign in at the pavilion and have access to the restrooms.
Then, it’s a short walk to the starting point of one of the newer sections of the Empire State Trail/Erie Canalway Trail. The paved trail begins with a slight uphill slope heading east, but soon levels off. A marker will indicate when Folksmarchers have reached the 1.5-mile turn-around point. With the walk back that equals just about a 5k.
For any who want a much greater challenge, they can continue along this section of the trail to the New York State Fairgrounds which is about 3.5 miles from our starting point (and of course, back again to Reed Webster would be a total of 7 miles.)
Find out more in our September 2023 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.
August Walk at Dwyer Memorial Park and Annual Picnic
AUGUST 12, 9:00 AM-NOON (followed by picnic) AND AUGUST 13, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – Dwyer Memorial Park in Preble. Prior to the 1930s there were legends galore regarding Little York Lake and its surrounding peaceful rural setting. The land was purchased by Cortland County in the 1950s and became Dwyer Park in 1959 – named for William Dwyer, a well-respected county official.
Probably more well-known than the park itself is the Cortland Repertory Theatre situated directly in front of, and seems to now be a part of, Dwyer Park. It is located on ancestral land of the Onondaga and Tuscarora nations. The summer theatre house opened in 1972 and usually produces 3 musicals and 3 non-musicals per season.
As you enter the park grounds, go past the theatre that will be on your right; go straight down the road for a very short distance and over the bridge. You will see a playground on your left and Pavilion 1 will be kitty-corner on your right. 
The pavilion does not have electricity, but has grills, picnic tables, trash cans and nearby restrooms. Cars can be parked on the edge of the ball field just across the road. Besides the nature trails, visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, the wading pool and more. The trails throughout the park are mostly paved or hard-packed dirt. There could be a couple of muddy spots if we have a lot of rain prior to our Folksmarch. Well behaved, leashed dogs are allowed with clean-up from the owner, of course.
After your walk on Saturday, we hope you will stay for the annual Folksmarch picnic which will start at Noon. We plan to have some great food and friendly conversations. We will provide the hotdogs and rolls. Please bring a dish to pass. RSVP at cnyfolksmarch@gmail.com and let us know what you will be bringing.
Find out more in our August 2023 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter. Park Map
Griffiss International Sculpture Garden
JULY 8, 9:00 AM-NOON AND JULY 9, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – NOTE OUR LOCATION CHANGE: Griffiss International Sculpture Garden and Nature Trail (Starting at the Stewart’s Shop, 1373 Floyd Ave., Rome NY 13440)
Griffiss Business and Technology Park in Rome, NY includes a lovely trail and sculpture garden that will be the focus of this month’s Folksmarch. Griffiss was a well-known Air Force base that provided maintenance and repairs for aircraft throughout WWII and beyond. It was reorganized for public use in 1995 and is now considered an economic hub in CNY. The artwork was added in 2008 and now includes 20 sculptures, benches, birdhouses and recently a group has erected a very moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the park.
Get Your Annual Membership Pass
Annual Membership Pass: Our 2023 Annual Pass includes the 12-monthly walks across CNY to meet other walk enthusiasts! Regularly priced at $40.
But wait….
HALF-YEAR HALF-PRICE SPECIAL! Just $20 includes the Yearly Passport Membership card and 6-monthly walks (July-December, normally $4 per month without Annual Membership Pass). It’s like getting free Folksmarches! You can even purchase online and pay by credit card. PURCHASE ONLINE
Find out more in our July 2023 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.
Peaceful Swamp
Our June walk at The Great Swamp Conservancy did not disappoint. The view from the bird blind showed over a dozen heron nests.
Great Swamp Conservancy
JUNE 10, 9:00 AM-NOON AND JUNE 11, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM – Great Swamp Conservancy https://www.greatswampconservancy.org
A restored farmhouse will be our sign-in location for the June Folksmarch at the Great Swamp Conservancy in Canastota. The staff maintains seven miles of trails that go through fields, beaver ponds, forested lands and flooded wooded swamps.
Get Your Annual Membership Pass
Annual Membership Pass: Our 2023 Annual Pass includes the 12-monthly walks across CNY to meet other walk enthusiasts! Regularly priced at $40.
But wait….
HALF-YEAR HALF-PRICE SPECIAL! Just $20 includes the Yearly Passport Membership card and 7-monthly walks (June-December, normally $4 per month without Annual Membership Pass). Savings of $8–it’s like getting 2 free Folksmarches! You can even purchase online and pay by credit card.
Find out more in our June 2023 Folksmarch Footnotes newsletter.
CNY FOLKSMARCH 