SYRACUSE -- Occupy Syracuse participants are buckling down for the winter.

According to an Occupy Syracuse spokesperson, Occupy Syracuse has pitched a communal tent to continue occupying through the winter.

Occupy Syracuse campers have set up a portable 18 x 18 ft military surplus tent in Perseverance Park in downtown Syracuse. The tent is meant to protect the safety of campers and pedestrians alike.

The tent allows pedestrians to move through the park easier by reducing the footprint of the occupation site. Occupy Syracuse says the tent will provide a central location for all campers, making it easier to maintain the health and security of all participants.

With a cold Syracuse winter around the corner, the tent will allow occupiers to remain downtown through the winter months. Occupy Syracuse says the tent is designed for adverse weather conditions.

According to their website, Occupy Syracuse began occupying Perseverance Park on South Salina Street in downtown Syracuse on October 2. The demonstration is in solidarity with the now national movement, Occupy Wall Street.