News Archive

A new pedestrian bridge connecting the Shandler Recreation Area and Croton Woods in Van Cortlandt Park will reconnect two large parts of the park that were cut apart by the 1950s construction of the Major Deegan Expressway. The bridge, if not directly on the Old Croton Aqueduct, will be so close to it that in effect it will also reconnect the trail, eliminating the detour to 233rd St. that has bedeviled Aqueduct walkers for decades.

Join Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct to

Register in advance at www.ptny.org/ilovemypark
Walk-ins also welcome

We’re hoping for a big turnout of volunteers, like our wonderful group from last year. It’s satisfying and fun, See you there!

Join Mayor Mike Spano and local volunteers in beautifying our section of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail.

Please pre-register by emailing laura.boatswain@yonkersny.gov or by calling (914) 377-6429. Volunteers may also sign up at the event.

WHEN - Saturday April 18

9:30 AM Registration – Parks Department
285 Nepperhan Avenue
9:45 AM – Press Conference

Left to right: Steven Oakes, Historic Site Manager; Tony Failla and Jeff Litwinowicz. Photo: Linda Cooper

If you’ve walked or skied by the Keeper’s House on these cold winter days, you may be wondering what progress is being made. You can see that the gaping east wall is being filled with appropriate bricks. You may be aware that every effort is being made to use the original bricks for repairs to keep the integrity of the house. If we run short of old bricks, some can be rescued from an unnecessary chimney. The other worrisome exterior problem is the southwest corner. You’ll see the scaffolding – a good sign of work in progress.

Our latest newsletter is out and on its way to you, with articles about our Miler program, a surprising story about The Bethesda Fountain in New York City, photos of the Keeper's House restoration and more. Please note that the mailing label has the date of your membership expiration on it. We have extended our grace period, but if your membership expired in 2013 you will not receive our next newsletter. Please renew today!

Friends Board member Laura Compagni-Sabella gave a terrific tour of the Croton Dam on Saturday September 6th, complete with pictures and samples of tools used by workers on the Croton Dam. To many people, the New Croton Dam in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, represents the ingenuity of American engineers of the late nineteenth century. At completion, it stood as the tallest masonry dam in the world. People compared it to the pyramids and to the Great Wall of China as a testament to human genius. The Dam is also a central feature in a dramatic labor story.

The official groundbreaking for the Keeper's House Restoration project drew happy crowds on Friday June 27th, 2014!

On hand to shovel some ceremonial dirt were:

Top pic, left to right: FOCA Board member Douglas Emilio; Linda Cooper, Regional Director at New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation ; Dobbs Ferry Mayor's representative Liz Dreaper; State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins; FOCA President Mavis Cain; project contractor David Furaro.

On a glorious sunny morning in Yonkers, scores of volunteers – students, staff of the City of Yonkers, the Green Task Force, Habitat, and of course the Friends – worked valiantly to clear away litter and large pieces of debris from the trail in Yonkers primarily south of Summit Street.