CITY OF KINGSTON
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY HALL
420 BROADWAY
KINGSTON, NEW YORK 12401
Phone (845) 334-3902
Fax (845) 334-3904
SHAYNE R. GALLO
MAYOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, DECEMBER 27, 2013
5th ANNUAL WINTERFEST SCHEDULED
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Mayor Shayne Gallo announced today that the City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department and Friends of Forsyth Nature Center will host the 5th Annual WinterFest on Saturday, January 11th from 10am-2pm at Kingston’s Hasbrouck Park on Delaware Avenue.
“Winter is a wonderful time of year in Kingston and we are lucky to be able to offer WinterFest to our residents and visitors. This family- friendly event showcases what our Parks and Recreation Department offers, even in the colder winter months and further promotes outdoor recreation and fitness, which is all part of my Live Well Kingston campaign", Mayor Gallo commented.
“This event began as a way to get the community outside and active during the winter, and has grown in popularity each year. In 2013, over 80 people learned how to snowshoe and took a winter hike, many for the first time,” said Kevin Gilfeather, Director of the Kingston Parks and Recreation Department.
During WinterFest, participants will be able to attend one of three snowshoe instructional classes and hike through Kingston’s Hasbrouck Park. The guided snowshoeing hikes will include a lesson on the history of snowshoeing, basics of learning the sport, animal tracking, winter survival and fun. Guided hikes will take place at 11am, 12 noon and 1pm, led by Parks and Recreation Department Environmental Educators Julie and Steve Noble. Snowshoes will be provided to those interested in participating. Classes are first come, first serve and are appropriate for youth and adults, novices or advanced snowshoers. All participants should wear warm clothes and winter footwear.
The hikes through Hasbrouck Park will lead the participant on trails built decades ago and recently refurbished with the help of Creating Healthy Places to Live Work and Play. These rustic trails lead us through a journey, literally, up a hill. Hasbrouck Park, Kingston’s largest, is home to a variety of animals including deer, fox, squirrels, chipmunks, birds and even a bear once in a while! While on the hike, participants will watch for signs of wildlife including tracks, scat, fur, rubbings and other telltale signs of winter.
After spending sometime outside, everyone will need a place to warm up and all are welcome to join the fun inside the Hasbrouck Park Stone Building. Built in 1919, this location will have a variety of children’s arts and crafts as well as warm beverages and food to munch on.
Admission to this event is free. However, certain crafts and food have nominal fees which will help support the Friends of Forsyth Nature Center, a not- for- profit organization which supports the mission of the Forsyth Nature Center.
This year, Kenco Outfitters, a generous supporter and partner with the Kingston Parks and Recreation Department, has provided a pair of snowshoes, poles and bag ($139 MSRP) which will be given away at WinterFest so please stop by and enter the free drawing!
In the event of no snow or poor snow conditions, a Winter Hike without snowshoes will be held. This event is rain or shine. For directions to Hasbrouck Park, please visit www.kingstonparksandrec.org. This event is part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s “Use Your Parks Campaign,” sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s “Creating Healthy Places Program.”
For further information on this event call 481 7336.
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