News Archive

The above photo was taken as a screenshot by Eileen Charles during the live presentation

The Friends are thrilled that our President Mavis Cain has won a prestigious Westchester County Senior Citizen Hall of Fame Award.

Here is the text that accompanied her award:

Special Recognition:   Mavis Cain, Dobbs Ferry

(photo by Pilar Maschi)

Volunteers from the Friends of Aqueduct Walk and the University Heights community, led by Pilar Maschi, Partnership for Parks Catalyst facilitator, demonstrated their hard work and love for the Aqueduct trail by holding a clean-up event on Saturday, November 8. An article in the Norwood News' November 27 issue noted that the volunteers also planted crocuses. Aqueduct Walk, a New York City park, lies between Fordham Road and 183rd St. in The Bronx.

Congratulations from Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct!

Congratulations to Riverkeeper Sweep for successfully encouraging so many of us to get outside and improve our waterways and trails on October 17, 2020. The Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct accepted the invitation to participate, having missed our traditional I Love My Park Day in May 2020. We set up three separate sites, restricted registration, wore our masks, and managed our work while socially distancing. We had a very successful event with 39 participants.

Dionisio Cortes Ortega, a NYS Registered Architect, has created a sculpture entitled Croton Arch of Triumph (Croton Arch of Triumph), which can be found at the Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens, It is a monument to the Old Croton Aqueduct System. In her words, "The inspiration for the sculpture came from a book that Kevin Bone, a professor and architect from The Cooper Union, wrote called Water Works. The book has a great account of the entire NYC water system history.”

Fall offers us some of New York’s best weather. It is also a fine season to visit the High Bridge, the centerpiece of the original (“Old”) Croton Aqueduct, completed in 1848 and today the city’s oldest bridge. The High Bridge carried pure, plentiful Croton River water — the beginning of the city’s world-famed water supply — from the mainland, across the Harlem River, to Manhattan Island at a time when New York City existed only at the south tip of the island. The water pipes are still there, beneath the bridge’s deck where visitors stroll.

Friend Daniel Chazin writes: "Today, I visited the massive Croton Dam in Westchester County. On the roadway across the dam, there is a plaque to commemorate its construction. I was appalled to discover that, in the fifth line, the word "height" is misspelled. One would think that in preparing such a lasting memorial, greater care would have been taken to ensure that all words were correctly spelled. I sure hope that greater care was used in the actual construction of the dam!"

Our group of dedicated member gardeners (Linda, LIndsey, Barbe and Lesley) made good progress cleaning up the grounds and the new Pollinator Garden near the Keeper's House in preparation for next spring.  A sunny day and good weather made it all more enjoyable. Who says that gardening isn't good exercise?

Discover your next outdoor adventure with the NY State Parts Explorer App for info, updates and inspiration. Learn more about top destinations and stay connected to your favorite parks and historic sites.

Available for APPLE and ANDROID.

photo: Tom Tarnowsky

A Salute to the High Bridge on Fifth Anniversary of Its Re-opening

Time flies! June 9, 2015, was an unforgettable day for High Bridge and Croton Aqueduct fans. On that day five years ago a throng waited eagerly at the Manhattan end of the bridge for the signal to burst upon the gleaming, completely refurbished pedestrian bridge - the centerpiece of the original (“Old”) Croton Aqueduct. New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver presided over the joyous opening ceremonies.