Explore the Hudson Valley

Walkway Hopes to Handshake its Way to World’s Record

The following is reprinted from The Poughkeepsie Journal as a way of extending a hand to you to sign up and participate.

It’s a chance to cross breaking a Guinness World Record off your bucket list.

Organizers of this year’s attempt to break a Guinness World Record at the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park hope to shatter the current record for the world’s longest handshake relay come June 1.

The plan is to bring 3,000 people to the Walkway that day, to form a line more than a mile long from Dutchess to Ulster County, and have participants turn and shake each others’ hands consecutively, down the line, said Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart, executive director of Walkway Over the Hudson.

“This year we’re going to do something very simple, but symbolic,” Waldstein-Hart said.

Other than a spot in the record book, the program is a major fundraiser for the Walkway.

Proceeds from this year’s event will fund new park amenities, training for volunteer staff and the waterfront elevator, according to officials.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Ulster County Executive Michael Hein plan to meet in the center of the line during the relay, to shake hands, joining the counties.

“Not only have we created a physical connection, and one that is a real attraction worldwide, but we’ve created a community connection,” Molinaro said, at Tuesday’s kickoff event at the Walkway.

“Handshake Across the Hudson” is the 3rd annual world record attempt at the Walkway. The current record for the world’s longest handshake relay is 1,238 participants.

To register for the event online, visit www.walkway.org.

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