Nicely done, G-Girl!
If you can get a small group together to show up early and save tables, it's definitely easier to stake your claim -- it's hard to justify saying "that one's mine, too" to the 4th or 5th table as families start showing up and looking for a place to set up.
Love the folding tables idea -- it could cut down on the # of picnic tables you need to claim, and it keeps the group in a smaller area, much more sociable. Another thing that could help things from getting too spread out: I'm pretty sure that when I was talking to some of the Water Dept. people about park regs (yes, because Lake Rensselaer is under their auspices, it's the only Albany park run by the Water Dept. instead of Parks & Rec -- keep that in mind if you need to contact them about anything) they told me that folks were welcome to bring in their own charcoal grills, only gas is prohibited.
If people have the means to transport extra charcoal grills in their trucks or even car trunks, you could consolidate the food prep/cooking area (and be assured of at least some grills not encrusted in crud). If you'd like me to call the city to doublecheck on the grill regulations, I'd be happy to.
And if I could manage to get you folks the loan of a large half-drum type grill, would someone be able to travel within a 15 mile radius of UAlbany to pick it up and return it? Some of the local volunteer fire depts. have them here and I could ask around.
Webster's right about the parking, they've closed off a small but handy overflow lot that we used to use and are apparently letting it go back to nature -- maybe more picnic space eventually, but fewer places for cars. It's not a bad idea for people to leave some cars at the college and car-pool over to the park. (The other drawback is that it's a bit of a stroll to the restrooms, especially for Lenn, Drake, Weeze and any other elderly members.)
Sorry I'm going to miss this one, I think it's only my second absence in the 'modern era' of Albany gatherings.
If you need any Albany-area info, feel free to shoot me a note here or to get my email address from one of the many regulars who has it.
If you can get a small group together to show up early and save tables, it's definitely easier to stake your claim -- it's hard to justify saying "that one's mine, too" to the 4th or 5th table as families start showing up and looking for a place to set up.
Love the folding tables idea -- it could cut down on the # of picnic tables you need to claim, and it keeps the group in a smaller area, much more sociable. Another thing that could help things from getting too spread out: I'm pretty sure that when I was talking to some of the Water Dept. people about park regs (yes, because Lake Rensselaer is under their auspices, it's the only Albany park run by the Water Dept. instead of Parks & Rec -- keep that in mind if you need to contact them about anything) they told me that folks were welcome to bring in their own charcoal grills, only gas is prohibited.
If people have the means to transport extra charcoal grills in their trucks or even car trunks, you could consolidate the food prep/cooking area (and be assured of at least some grills not encrusted in crud). If you'd like me to call the city to doublecheck on the grill regulations, I'd be happy to.
And if I could manage to get you folks the loan of a large half-drum type grill, would someone be able to travel within a 15 mile radius of UAlbany to pick it up and return it? Some of the local volunteer fire depts. have them here and I could ask around.
Webster's right about the parking, they've closed off a small but handy overflow lot that we used to use and are apparently letting it go back to nature -- maybe more picnic space eventually, but fewer places for cars. It's not a bad idea for people to leave some cars at the college and car-pool over to the park. (The other drawback is that it's a bit of a stroll to the restrooms, especially for Lenn, Drake, Weeze and any other elderly members.)
Sorry I'm going to miss this one, I think it's only my second absence in the 'modern era' of Albany gatherings.
If you need any Albany-area info, feel free to shoot me a note here or to get my email address from one of the many regulars who has it.
