News Archive

Talkin’ Bout Warburton - Teaming Up with Yonkers Historic James H Farrell Masonic Lodge #34

Author:

LWalter

Post date:

10/31/2022 - 9:11am

Warburton Avenue’s southern end is still one of Yonkers’ most charming streets, with old house rooftops low enough to catch long views of the Palisades cliffs. Girl Scouts, Scout Moms, Mason brothers and Friends volunteers tidied up Warburton on a sunny morning in late October, and caught the cliffs’ fiery color.

Explore the Old Croton Aqueduct Online!

Author:

David Windmueller

Post date:

09/27/2022 - 2:37pm

There is a new way to experience the Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park…virtually! Trail walker David Windmueller has traversed the 26 miles of the park from the dam to the Bronx border while recording with a GoPro 360 degree camera. Doing it in segments over the last few months, David’s videos were then uploaded using the Google Street View Studio which allows anyone to map out roads and trails for others.

May & June 2022 I Love My Park Day in the Northern section of the trail

Author:

DAlden

Post date:

08/04/2022 - 12:58pm

One Thing Leads to Another – how We Tended the Trail in So Many Different Ways on so Many Days

An amazing series of I Love My Park Day events took place in May and June of 2022 on the northern section of the Aqueduct trail, sponsored by Parks & Trails NY and hosted by the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct.

New York State historic markers highlight the Old Croton Aqueduct

Author:

LWalter

Post date:

08/02/2022 - 5:06pm

The Old Croton Aqueduct State Historic Park has been awarded three official New York State historic markers. They highlight designated points along the trail for their significant role in local Westchester and New York City history.

The Friends made a splash in Yonkers with a family fun festival

Author:

Mavis Cain

Post date:

07/26/2022 - 4:29pm

On July 16, a talented group of performers recruited by the Friends, told stories, sang songs, demonstrated martial arts, described their own group activities and told of their relationship with the Aqueduct. The event was attended by over a hundred local residents.

The festival was planned to expand the outreach of the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct and to encourage knowledge and appreciation of the Trail. “Aqueduct Day in Yonkers” was supported by funding from the New York Parks and Trails Partnership.

Lyndhurst Detour - Westminster Dog Show

Author:

FOCAAdmin

Post date:

06/14/2022 - 8:23am

Please be advised that the Lyndhurst section of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail will be closed for the 146th Westminster Dog Show from Saturday 6/18 until Wednesday 6/22. A slight detour will be in place that will direct patrons to Broadway before reconnecting with the trail on the far section of the property. We apologize for the inconvenience.

New Highbridge Park Brochures

Author:

FOCAAdmin

Post date:

06/13/2022 - 8:31am

FOCA wins Partnership Grant from PTNY!

Author:

FOCAAdmin

Post date:

05/20/2022 - 9:42am

Governor Hochul announced that Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct has been awarded ($26,427) to improve the exterior of the Keeper's House Visitor Center and the usability and attractiveness of the building's ADA compliant entrance as well as to install an arch and mechanical device from the Croton Dam to help visitors better understand the functioning of the Aqueduct.

I Love My Parks Day 2022: A Little Rain Makes Easy Weed Picking

Author:

LWalter

Post date:

05/18/2022 - 3:44pm

On a drizzly Spring morning in Yonkers, a hardy bunch of Wicker Street volunteers finished work by 12:30. These people got right down to picking up garbage and pulling invasives. Maybe they knew that weeds are easy to pull after it rains? The state parks’ crew joined us and pitched in, which is always inspiring for residents to see!

Girl Scouts visit the Keeper's House

Author:

Jim Beirne

Post date:

04/27/2022 - 8:27am

At the Keeper's House last Saturday, April 23, it was a gathering of pre-teen Brownies and the only centenarian they are likely to meet in their lives! Ellie Carran celebrated her 100th birthday to a Brownie led chorus of the Happy Birthday song. The Brownies, fresh off International Water Day, were eager to delve into the Keeper's House exhibits. Several future engineers tackled the blocks to create their own arches. They repeated the gravity ball exhibit until it was snack time.

Celebrate Trails Day on the OCA and Creation of a Pollinator Garden

Author:

FOCAAdmin

Post date:

04/25/2022 - 2:54pm

by Jasena Sareil on behalf of the GPTF

Over 30 volunteers (ranging from 3 year-olds to seniors) gathered to remove invasive plants and to create a pollinator garden along the wall of the Irvington Estates on the Aqueduct.

We worked from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Ellie Carren Celebrates 100th Birthday on the Trail

Author:

SaraKelsey

Post date:

04/25/2022 - 8:25am

Ellie Carren, longtime hike leader for Westchester Trails Association, Adirondack Mountain Club (Mohican Chapter) and the Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct invited her friends and family to join her on Saturday, April 23rd for a hike to celebrate her 100th birthday. The walk, a little shy of the 6-mile round trip between her home in Irvington and the Keepers House that she regularly travels these days, began and ended on the Aqueduct at Dows Lane in Irvington.

The New Croton Maid

Author:

TTarnowsky

Post date:

04/18/2022 - 8:02am

Photo from NYC Water Flickr page

This custom modified vehicle was used to traverse lengths of the recently concrete lined Delaware Aqueduct in 1949. It served much the same inspection purpose as the original "Croton Maid", a custom made flat bottom boat used to inspect the interior of the Old Croton Aqueduct in 1842 before it was put into service. The Delaware Aqueduct is the newest NYC aqueduct, delivering water to NYC from the western Catskill Mountains. The last reservoir in the Delaware system was completed in the early 1960's.

Twenty Years of the Friends' Printed Newletters

Author:

FOCAAdmin

Post date:

04/16/2022 - 11:44am

The Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct produced a print newsletter from 1998 to 2017. In the interests of preserving this resource and making it available to others, all issues are now posted on the Friends’ website, together with a Contents for each and a link to download the full PDF of individual issues.

"One Man's Journey: A Walk on the Croton Aqueduct Trail"

Author:

CFahn

Post date:

04/07/2022 - 11:53am

Aqueduct fans who enjoy strolling the trail, alternately enjoying the sights along the way and thinking about what’s going on in their life, will find a kindred spirit in Ed Perratore, author of the paperback titled One Man's Journey: A Walk on the Croton Aqueduct Trail. The book is a graceful account of Ed’s trek along the entire 26 miles of the Aqueduct trail in Westchester, made in segments over a period of years, from the New Croton Dam in Croton Gorge Park to the Yonkers-Bronx border.

"Exploring the Croton" Storymap

Author:

FOCAAdmin

Post date:

04/07/2022 - 10:53am

Our friends NYC H2O have partnered with the Watershed Agricultural Council in upstate NY to create a new series of StoryMaps: Agriculture and Water Quality. The Watershed Agricultural Council works with farmers to develop strategies that prevent agricultural runoff from flowing into our reservoirs. This partnership protects our city's water supply while also providing incentives and support to farmers.