Annual 'Hike the Heights' Provides a Breath of Fresh Air for Northern Manhattan Residents

 

Slideshow

Throngs of children and families climb along the trail.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Crowds (and giraffes) gathered at the Sunken Playground in Highbridge Park.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Crowd walks into Sunken Playground at Highbridge Park.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Yes We Can member laughs while hiking Giraffe Path.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Inwood community group Yes We Can group heads downtown on the subway to begin the hike.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

The Harlem Children's Zone organized a dance contest after the hike.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Mom at event dances during Harlem Children's Zone dance contest.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Even those with short legs took to the hike.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Several families brought along their dogs along for the hike.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

A puppy takes a break in the shade.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Child at arts and crafts station at teh Sunken playground.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Butterfly found on the ground in Highbridge Park.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

One of approximately 150 giraffes that accompanied hikers at event.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Inwood Hoops provided free hoops for kids to try out.

DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

Kids and parents gave hula hooping a twirl.

DNAinfo/ Jill Sharpe

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Throngs of children and families climb along the trail.

Photo Credit: DNAinfo/ Yes We Can

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By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter/ Producer

INWOOD — Hundreds of children and families took to the streets, parks and trails of northern Manhattan on Saturday for the sixth annual Hike the Heights — a day of exercise, art and food.

The event, presented by City Life Is Moving Bodies (CLIMB), a program of the Columbia Center for Youth Violence Prevention, attracted families from Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood.

“We think about event as a way to reintroduce neighbors to areas of parks they may not frequent with the intent of bringing a diversity of users to parks,” chief organizer of the Lourdes Hernández-Cordero said. “It increases use around the clock and makes the parks safer. And it’s a way to have folks more physically active, but also provides an opportunity to be more civically active and socially active.”

The walk took place along a trail called Giraffe Path, festooned with approximately 150 paper-mâché giraffe sculptures made by children and families. The trail connects Central Park North to the Cloisters through the northern Manhattan Cliffside Parks.

The giraffe represents the shape of the trail along the Northern Manhattan parks and symbolizes the “unique vantage point from which to view their worlds, as do children,” according to the organizers' website.

After the hike, participants gathered at the Sunken Playground in Highbridge Park at West 168th Street and Edgecombe Avenue, where they ate potluck meals, participated in arts and crafts, practiced yoga, watched dance and cheerleading performances and hula-hooped.

“I really enjoyed experiencing Hike the Heights, it was a beautiful example of community,” said Jill Sharpe of Inwood Hoops, who helped lead the hula-hooping. “Everyone was all smiles.”