The CNY Folksmarch is celebrating 40 years! Our celebration will be Saturday, October 16, 2021 at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, located at 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse NY. For this Folksmarch we ask that walkers arrive between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM to register. We will kick off our 40th Anniversary walk at 10:00 AM. Participants can choose to either walk the Burnet Park area or enter the Zoo at a discounted rate to walk the Zoo area, both routes returning back to the Folksmarch registration table at the Zoo entrance around 11-11:30 AM. The program will begin at 11:30 AM with special guest, County Executive, Ryan McMahon to commemorate the event. Lunch will be served at 12 noon followed by dessert. The event will end at 1:00 PM.

Our August walk takes us west to Baldwinsville, NY. Community Park is a nice suburban park on the Seneca River in B’ville. It has paved bike and running paths that go to the bridge and downtown B’ville. This park’s boat, canoe and kayak ramp, picnic tables, and ball fields are all supported by the Lions Club. A quiet place that says “open until dark” and is being upgraded consistently.

Directions

From the east, take 690 west to Van Buren Rd., go right off the exit, Take it to the end and then turn right onto Route 48 and the park is your 2nd left. From the north or west, Take 690 east to Van Buren Rd., go left off the exit, Take it to the end and then turn right onto Route 48 and the park is your 2nd left.

From the south, Take 81 north to 690 west to Van Buren Rd., go right off the exit, Take it to the end and then turn right onto Route 48 and the park is your 2nd left.

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On July 10 & 11 we’ll try a new spot, Labrador Hollow Unique Area located on Labrador Road (no road number) in Tully, NY. Maintained by the Department of Environmental Conservation, the 1,474-acre conservation area is located in both Onondaga and Cortland Counties. Dogs on a leash are permitted. The area also allows hunting, fishing– they have a boat launch on the west end of the pond–and almost 5 miles of trails. The DEC website states: “Labrador Hollow’s topography is responsible for its unique character. The area is located in the middle of a valley running north to south that was dug out by glacial movement….Massive ice sheets from the last glaciation episode…retreated from the area approximately ten thousand years ago. They left behind numerous sedimentary deposits and superficial features, some of which filled with water and are now called the Finger Lakes, while others became known as valleys. The floor of Labrador Hollow’s valley is only about one-half mile wide, but its walls rise abruptly for several hundred feet.”

We check in next to Labrador Pond, a shallow pond that supports several warm-water fish species and aquatic vegetation. There is a very nice handicapped-accessible boardwalk of about one-quarter mile that is well worth a visit, as is Tinker Falls which is down Rt. 91 about 1.2 miles and which has a small parking lot opposite the entrance to the Falls – 2nd parking pull-off with room for about 15 cars, after you see the Cortland County sign. There is also a small lot for handicapped parking on the left (Tinker Falls) side of the road. The parking lot next to the Cortland County sign is a bit larger and is close to the Tinker Falls lot (in case the Tinker Falls lot is full).

There is no shelter, but we will have a sign-in table at the far end of the parking lot close to the portapotty enclosure and the path to the boardwalk. Another option for bathroom facilities could be the Burger King at the end of the Tully exit ramp, or the Circle K which is located on the left side of the road shortly after you turn onto Rt. 80, next to the entrance ramp to 81 N.

Directions From Syracuse, take Rt. 81 S to exit 14 (Tully), then go left onto Rt. 80 E for about 12 miles (past Apulia Station) to Apulia, right onto Rt. 91 S for about 2.7 miles, right onto the road into the Unique Area (no sign stating it’s Labrador Crossing Rd.) at the 2nd sign for Labrador Hollow, and the 1st left into the parking lot. From the other direction on Rt. 80 W, it would be a left turn onto Labrador Crossing Rd. not far after the sign for Onondaga County.

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Our May walk brings us to the beautiful shoreline of Lake Ontario. Breitbeck Park in Oswego NY. 91 Lake Street Oswego, NY 13126. This lakefront community park offers a playground, green open space, a picnic area, the notable bell tower and the most spectacular sunsets. It is also host to Oswego’s yearly Harborfest that usually runs from mid to late July. The “In Memory” plaques on the benches throughout the park are impressive.

From Syracuse and areas East Take 481 north, turn left onto W. Bridge St., turn right onto W. 1st St., turn left onto Lake St. to the top of the hill; parking lot will be on the right. You can also take 690 west to Route 48 north through Fulton, Minetto and Oswego and turn left onto Lake St. to the top of the hill; parking lot will be on the right.

Our April Folksmarch takes us to a 52-acre park in the Village of Marcellus, NY.

There are over 2 miles of trails with Nine Mile Creek running through the lower section of the park. It is a great place to walk, play fetch with your dog, go for a jog, play tennis or baseball, and enjoy butterflies and wildlife. The park has been managed by the Town of Marcellus since obtaining it from Onondaga County in 1995. About 10 years later, a dedicated group of volunteers formed to help the town maintain and care for the park. Working together, the Parks Department and the Friends of Marcellus Park have provided upgrades to the playground, more electricity at the pavilions, replaced trees, provided a new concession stand and have made improvements to the Welcome Center. They have also arranged several events throughout the years including Olde Home Days, Summer Concerts, an Art Show, and a Fall Festival. Sounds like there is something for every season at Marcellus Park.

Enter at the Upper Entrance to the park, and check-in will be at the Playground Pavilion to the left. There is ample parking available. The park is dog friendly as long as dogs are on a leash, and please pick up after your pet. The walk is also stroller friendly and families are welcome. Most trails are gravel paths with a few slight inclines throughout the 5K route.

For more information, read our April 2021 Footnotes!

Winter is still hanging on, so we’ll be walking at the Great Northern Mall.

Date: Saturday, March 13, 8:00—11:00 AM or Sunday, March 14, 1:00—3:00 PM

Address: 4155 NY Rt. 31, Clay, NY 13041.

Use one of the entrances at the back of the mall near the Movie Theaters – either on the right of the Theaters or the Mall Office entrance to the left of the Movie Theaters. The Great Northern Mall opened on October 5, 1988 with 80 stores, a food court, and a 10-screen Regal Cinemas multiplex. As with many other malls in Central New York, Great Northern has lost some of its stores over the last several years but is working towards a come-back. Because there is only one level, walking around the inside 4 times, or as many as you want, will be easy to do. Stopping to shop and snack, of course, may hold you up a bit! If the sun deigns to shine and the temperature warms up, one can always make 3 circuits around the outside of the mall. Enter through the rear of the mall near the Movie Theaters on the right or the Mall Office entrances to the left of the Movie Theaters. We will be set up in the Food Court.

Directions:

From the North or South, take Rt. 481 to Exit 12. If from the North, turn left onto Rt. 31 / if from the South, turn right onto Rt. 31, then left into the mall entrance where you see the Regal Cinemas 10 sign. Go to the rear of the mall near the Movie Theaters and enter using either the entrance on the right of the Theaters or the Mall Office entrance to the left of the Theaters.

From the East or West, follow Rt. 31 to the Regal Cinemas 10 sign to enter the mall and proceed to the rear where the entrances near the Theaters are located as stated above.

If you would like to write about your walk or submit pictures, please submit one week following the walk to the newsletter editor, Erin Cunia, ecbcunia@gmail.com. The deadline to get content into the newsletter is the 15th of every month in order to have time to print and mail copies. Thank you!

NOTE: COVID19 precautions: We will practice social distancing and wear masks when necessary and have sanitizer available at the sign-in table.

Fingerlakes Mall is the location for the February Folksmarch on Saturday February 13, 8:00 – 11:00 AM and Sunday February 14, 1:00 – 3:00 PM.

The Footnotes Newsletter provides additional details about this month’s walk and more.

For more information about things to do in Auburn, please visit: Top 15 Things To Do In Auburn, NY

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Destiny Mall is the location for the January Folksmarch on Saturday January 9, 8:00 – 11:00 AM and Sunday January 10, 1:00 – 3:00 PM.

The Footnotes provides additional details about this month’s walk and more.