1) The pathway begins in Lincoln Park which is located in Albany, NY. This park has pools that are seasonally used for the public and also for private swimming instruction. It is a short walk away from the Empire State Plaza as well as Washington Park. It is not quite as big as Washington Park, but it still has lots of land and it also has a playground for the kids. The second location is just outside of Lincoln Park and it is Hudson-Jay Park. This is a small community park that does not have things like a playgrounds or fields for sports. It is just a small grassland and it can be used by the public to hang out and relax with family and friends and enjoy the company of others. The third location is Washington Park. This is a large park that has handball courts, basketball courts, a lake and sitting benches so people can stop and enjoy the view. Washington Park is a great place for any audience because it has something for everyone. It is great to get some exercise via running or sports, big events or gatherings like tulipfest and it is also a great place to relax and enjoy life all while in a natural setting. My fourth location is also within Washington Park but it is more specifically the Park Playhouse. This structure is used free of charge for performances like dramas, plays and even musical acts. It is a seasonal venue, being open for the summer while there is nice weather. My fifth location is the lake in Washington Park. It is a large lake and has a bridge that can be walked across in order to get a better view of the lake and even the rest of the park.
“Lincoln Park.” – Albany, NY. Accessed February 29, 2016. http://www.albany.org/listings/Lincoln-Park/486/.
The Official Site of the City of Albany, NY.” Parks & Facilities. 2013. Accessed February 29, 2016. http://www.albanyny.org/Government/Departments/Recreation/ParksandFacilities.aspx
“Downtown Albany BID.” Search | Downtown Albany BID. Accessed February 29, 2016. http://www.downtownalbany.org/search/node/washington park.
Washington Park Lake.” Wikipedia. February 10, 2016. Accessed February 29, 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Park_Lake.
2) Google estimates that my walking tour will last approximately 39 minutes.
3) The theme of my walking tour is to visit the public parks of Albany, mainly Washington Park. I choose this theme because the parks of Albany should be exploited by the public. It is free of charge to go for a walk there or bring your family and friends for a day outside. This walking tour can suit all ages of people and all different kinds of groups of people, whether it be an immediate family or just a bunch of friends that want to enjoy a nice day outside. People who go on these tours will be exposed to three different parks and these parks vary a lot from each other so everyone gets to experience a different environment in each of the parks. Some people may want to be active and play sports with others meanwhile others will be just as happy with sitting on a picnic blanket with a few loved ones. Parents can bring their children with them and all of them will have a great time together. There are many different aspects of these parks that almost anyone and everyone of all demographic groups will find something they see as enjoyable or interesting while walking on this path.
5) What other popular events take place at parks?
What dates do the seasonal venues or activities begin/open and end/close?
What historical events took place pre-1860 in these parks?
This tour I see as connecting to my own in the sense that you’re talking about all these public places in Albany where children, teens, adults and parents alike could get together. On my own tour I discuss how women went to certain areas either by themselves, with girlfriends or their children. The places you mentioned such as Washington and Lincoln Park are places that I can picture women from the community area could go regularly. It’d be interesting to perhaps see how much time was spent by friends and families alike in highly populated areas such as the ones you mentioned. Perhaps even as you stated, if there were any type of popular events that occurred yearly.
Washington Park was a cemetery up until 1866! http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2014/10/27/washington-parks-former-role https://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/dead.html Gives a little different twist to the Halloween Carnival 😉 https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/albums/72157650016552695
I think your main challenge with this tour is going to be figuring out what you’re going to say for each park–your theme ties all your stops together well, but how are you going to have something different to say at each stop? All your stops are so similar that you’re going to have to do some digging for what’s interesting about each. The Tulip Fest and the Cemetery get you part way there, but what about the rest? I’d suggest looking through the Flickr group’s album for each park (https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/sets/72157634203707381, https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/albums/72157634728333922, https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/albums/72157634728367618, https://www.flickr.com/photos/albanygroup/albums/72157634201926599) and figuring out what’s going to be unique about each stop.