By Albert Amateau
Shorewalkers, an environmental and hiking organization, will hold its 26th annual Great Saunter, a 32-mile walk around the rim of Manhattan, on Sat., May 7, rain or shine beginning at the South St. Seaport.
The event, which is expected to attract as many as 100 walkers, starts with registration at 93 South St. at Fulton St. 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 shore of the Harlem and East rivers through Carl Schurz Park and East River Park and ends at the Seaport about 12 hours later.
Walkers may join or leave anywhere along the route. At 9:30 a.m. the Saunter arrives at W. 42nd St. 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 Wastewater Treatment Plant at W. 139th St., 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 E. 84th St. The celebration rendezvous takes place at the Heartland Brewery in the Seaport at 93 South St. at Fulton St.
Supporters include Mayor Bloomberg, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Borough President Scott Stringer. A program guide and map for the Great Saunter, with information on the route, will be available at the walk’s start.
