Bensonhurst man on a mission to walk every street in Brooklyn
Each week, Burke finds a new blank spot on his map, charts his course and hits the streets.
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Christopher Burke is on a mission to walk every street in Brooklyn.
Since 2019, he has been steadily making progress, exploring new areas each week, starting around his home in Bensonhurst.
He says he was inspired when he saw the Williamsburg Bank when walking in the area one day and thought that despite it being far away, that it was worth the trek.
Since then, he's been walking at least 2 miles a week.
"I just kept filling in north to south and posted it online. People encouraged me to keep going, so I did," Burke said.
Each week, Burke finds a new blank spot on his map, charts his course and hits the streets.
He recalls his first significant walk from Bensonhurst to Coney Island, which seemed daunting at 2 miles. Now, 2 miles is just a walk in the park for him.
News 12 joined him on Eastern Parkway, where he walked 4 1/2 miles, making several stops along the way, to point out brownstones, photograph streets and gardens and look at community libraries.
He says stopping to look around is just as important as the walk itself.
"You start noticing the buildings, how old some of them are, but still well-kept. You see the neighborhoods changing. It's not about how fast you do it," Burke noted.
Burke says his biggest surprise was the beauty of Bed-Stuy, an area with many streets he was once advised to avoid, when he worked as a teacher there.
"Ten years ago I was told there were no go streets," he said adding "I've walked every street they are beautiful."
Looking ahead, Burke plans to explore Cypress Hills, the furthest point from his home. He never thought he would get that far, but he won't let anything stop him.
"I have not been frightened to walk down any block. I've had people look at me strange, and others give me a nod, wondering what I was doing there," Burke said. "Everyone's like, 'Why aren't you in East Flatbush yet?' I'm like, 'I'll get there. Give me time.'"
