Gallivanting through Green-Wood's Greenery

Time change: We're starting an hour early!

Green-Wood's green as can be this year, so we'll be taking advantage of the greenery and the relatively mild temperatures forecast for Wedensday to enjoy the trees, plants, and flowers as we walk through the the 478-acre Green-Wood Cemetery. This being Pride Month, we will be stopping by the graves of some of the notables, such as Leonard Bernstein, Emmas Stebbins, and Paul Jabara. We will also be honoring pioneers associated with Juneteenth, in addition to actresses, activists, artists, enterpreneurs, politicians, and scientists who are interred here. We will be walking approximately 4-5 miles on uneven terrain and uphill paths.

We will start at the Gothic arches, make our way up Battle Hill, and then zigzag our way through the cemetery, making frequents stops to talk about the lives of the people along our route, as well as the art and architecture of the monuments, several of which are historic landmarks. Please note that this is a "stop and look" walk, rather than a fast-paced steady walk.

Green-Wood is charging us a fee of $1 per person instead of their normal $5 per person rate for outside groups such as ours. I will be collecting your dollar bills at the beginning of the walk.

Meeting place and time: Our meeting place is just past the Gothic arches.

Meet at 11:50 AM just past the left arch. The restrooms and water fountain wil be on your left. The walk starts promptly at 12 noon and should end around 4 PM. Note that the end time is approximate and will depend on how much time we spend looking at each of the monuments on our list.

Directions to the Cemetery: Take the R train to 25th St (and 4th Ave.) and walk uphill on 25th St to the cemetery gates on 5th Ave. Continue to walk uphill through the gothic arches. You can also take the D or the N train to the 36th Street station and either transfer to the R or walk a block to Fifth Avenue, and then uphill to the entrance at 25th Street. Restrooms are to the left of the arches. Drivers can park inside the cemetery, on the right side of the road, unless otherwise noted. Please do not park on the grass.

Drop-off points: We'll stop at the Fort Hamilton Parkway entrance half-way into our walk from where you can walk a few blocks for the F and G trains.

Note: Green-Wood is an active cemetery, so please be respectful of funerals in progress and people visiting gravesites. The cemetery also cautions visitors against leaning on gravestones and other funeral-related structures. Please note that there are no places to sit down during our walk, so participants should be prepared to be on their feet. The leader will, however, look for spots where you can sit down for short periods, but not picnic.

Bring water, snacks, a hat, and/or rain gear, depending on the forecast for Wednesday afternoon, and insect repellent. Green-Wood does not permit picnicking on the grounds so bring food you can eat while walking. We will be stopping for short breaks where we can sit on the stone steps or other dry spots. You can pick up lunch or snack items from the bakery across the street from the cemetery. Walk up the street from the subway station and turn right for the bakery.

Wear footwear appropriate for paths with cobblestones, tree roots, and other obstructions. Hiking poles would be helpful. Please note that this is a slow and leisurely walk; leader sets the pace.

RSVPs open today, Sunday June 15, at 6 PM, and close at 10 AM on Thursday. Please check your schedule, your availability, the subway schedule, and the weather forecast before registering for this walk. I will be monitoring the weather and reschedule if there is a chance of rain after noon time on Wednesday.

Guests are welcome; please make sure that they sign the waiver and release through this link.

Leader: Prathima Christdas, christdasp@yahoo.com