2010-08-01 - Saratoga 5K Loop (Broadway-Lincoln-Union)

Since Saratoga Springs is the August Place to be I decided to post this in August. Actually, Saratoga Springs is a great place to walk year round.

On the way to Saratoga for a walk you can drive into the Saratoga Springs State Park and visit the Joe Bruno Pavilion to re-fill your water bottles. There's often a line of people filling multiple gallon (plus) jugs, but they usually allow someone to jump in to fill a single water bottle.

There are quite a few interesting route variations in Saratoga. This walk starts at one of the downtown lots (or the garage) just past Congress St. Park. There is a two hour limit on many of these lots. The walk goes north on Putman Street, over to Broadway, then to Lincoln Avenue. On Lincoln you pass the entrance to Green Ridge Cemetery. Continuing north on Lincoln you come to 5 points, and eventually to Siro's. Lincoln Avenue and Union Ave basically form the apex of a triangle (but you have a short walk on Nelson Ave to get to Union Ave).

On Union Ave, 1st walk east to the National Museum of Racing. At this point I retrace my steps and walk west on Union Ave, looping back to Congress Park. Earlier this year I detailed a 1 mile walk around Congress Park.

Wikipedia Links:

• Saratoga Springs
• Saratoga Race Track
• National Museum of Racing
• Broadway Historical District
  

Parking Info:

• Interactive Parking Map
• Downtown Parking Map
• Saratoga Downtown Association - Parking Map
• Tip Guide on Track Parking
  

Other Links:

• Saratoga Springs Visitor Center
  
• Union Avenue Historical District
• Saratoga Springs - in 1872
• Saratoga Springs Convention & Tourist Bureau
• Saratoga Springs Chamber of Commerce
• City of Saratoga Springs
• Saratoga Springs Public Library
• Saratoga Racetrack - FAQ
• Saratogian Newspaper
  

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2010-05-05 - Congress Park

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Congress Park and Canfield Casino lies in the heart of Saratoga Springs. The Casino was built in 1870 by John Morrissey, a very famous boxer and congressman (check the link for an interesting story). In 1894 it was bought by Richard Canfield (like Morrissey, Canfield was also famous). He bought up much of the property around the Casino to construct Congress park. Anti-gambling pressure forced him to close the doors in 1907. A few years later the property was sold to the city of Saratoga Springs. He died in 1914 (here's a link to his obit). Some people credit the invention of the Club Sandwich to the Canfield Casino.

The Carousel in the park was carved by a noted carver - Marcus Charles Illions. The park contains a statute (Spirit of Life) by Daniel Chester French. There is also a Civil War Memorial, for the locally organized 77th NY Regiment (Bemis Heights Regiment). This regiment left Saratoga Springs in November, 1861 and fought in many of the major battles of the war (Antietam, Gettysburg and Appomattox).

The walk that I outlined here is approximately one mile long. It covers all the major sites in the park. This short walk is a great prelude or post script to a longer walk around Saratoga Springs. There are plenty of great eating establishments in very close proximity. There is limited on the street parking within the park, but ample spaces on the north boundary of the park (across Spring Street). Across Broadway, from the park entrance is the Saratoga Springs visitor center.

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MapMyWalk.com | Congress Park - Saratoga Springs, New York

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Related Links:

• Wikipedia - Saratoga Springs
• Wikipedia - Congress Park & Canfield Casino
• Saratoga Springs History Museum
• Saratoga Springs Visitor Center
• Saratoga Springs Parking
• More on John Morrissey - Builder of Canfield Casino