ANSWER:THE HIGH BRIDGE!

QUESTION:WHAT IS NEW YORK CITY’S

OLDEST STANDING BRIDGE?

Opened in 1848, the High Bridge was an essential part of the Old Croton Aqueduct. The aqueduct brought fresh drinking water to Manhattan from the Croton River in Westchester, traveling a total of 41 miles to its final destination at 42nd Street. Modeled after Roman aqueduct bridges, the High Bridge was an engineering marvel of its time; an elegant stroll on the bridge quickly became a popular weekend activity.

While New Yorkers continue to enjoy park activities and dramatic views, the High Bridge itself has been closed since the 1970’s. Connecting two boroughs and two scenic parks, the High Bridge is linked to some of the city’s most beautiful trails and greenways. The Highbridge Parks in the Bronx and Manhattan, comprising more than 120 acres of parkland, host a variety of activities and events, from swimming and cycling to tree lightings and tours of the historic Highbridge Water Tower.

Historic Print: Harper’s Weekly, 1867

The High Bridge

LINKING THE BRONX AND MANHATTAN FOR OVER 150 YEARS

& Highbridge Parks

Created byText

MapsCover Photograph

Engineering drawings

Additional PhotographsDesignPrinter

Special thanks

Partnerships for Parks © 2005 Julia SchafferGeorge ColbertBenjamin Swett, 2001from T. Schramke, Description of the New York Croton Aqueduct in English, German and French, New York and Berlin, 1846 Maria Luisa Cipriano, Joseph SanchezAnne LaFondMarx Myles, Inc.High Bridge Community Development Corporation

Printed through the generosity of The J.M. Kaplan Fund. Support for the High Bridge Catalyst Project provided by

Altman Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the J.M. Kaplan Fund,New York Community Trust, New York State Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, Scherman Foundation, and State Senator David Paterson.

www.partnershipsforparks.org

HIGH BRIDGE COALITIONConnecting the Past – Creating the Future

www.thehighbridge.org

Members of the growing High Bridge Coalition include City Parks Foundation, Cocolart, East River C.R.E.W., Friends of Highbridge Park, Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct, Highbridge Community Development Corporation, National Park Service, New York Restoration Project, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, NYC Department of Transportation, Partnerships for Parks, Samaritan Village, Standing by Water, and Transportation Alternatives.

For more information, call 718-430-1803.

Now, a campaign to restore the parks and reopen the bridge is gaining momentum. When the High Bridge is reopened, it

will be the city’s only interborough bridge that is exclusively for pedestrians and bicyclists.

ACROSS THE HIGH BRIDGE? WOULD YOU LIKE TO STROLL

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arper’s Weekly, 1885

In the Bronx, read a good book on a shady bench, or challenge a friend to a game of chess. Enjoy the spectacular views across the river. Shoot some hoops in nearby basketball courts. Wind your way down the historic stone steps to the future Regatta Park Greenway along the Harlem River.

HIGHBRIDGE PARKS WELCOME YOU!

In Manhattan, hike through 119 acres of woodland, fields and playgrounds. Climb to the top of Highbridge Water Tower and learn about its unique history. Log onto a computer or takea dance class in the Highbridge Recreation Center. Splash in the outdoor swimming pool,where a reservoir for drinking water once stood.

Today, New Yorkers around the city are working to reopen the High Bridge and restore this exciting public space and historic link between the Bronx and Manhattan. Join Us!

Highbridge Park, the Bronx

Recreation Center with new gymSwimming poolBaseball fi eldsBasketballTower toursSightseeing, bird-watching, and scenic viewsConcerts and dance performancesPlaygroundsOld Croton Aqueduct Trail and activitiesBiking and hiking

These are just some of the many ways to enjoy the Highbridge Parks!

BUILDING THE MOVEMENTThe High Bridge Coalition is committed to reopening the High Bridge for public use and restoring the parks at either end. When you enter the parks, and see the historic Highbridge Water Tower through the branches of the tulip trees, we hope that you too will be inspired to support our campaign.

We are residents and neighborhood leaders,walkers and bikers, historians and bridge enthusiasts. We plant daffodils, and cover park benches with a fresh coat of paint. We’re organizing concerts and community festivals to bring more neigh-bors into the parks.

We’re writing letters, organizing public programs, and working with local officialsto raise awareness about the High Bridge and its parks, and to build momentum and support for reopening the bridge.

Join us! Call us at 718-430-1803 to find out more about what we do and how you can get involved. We hope you’ll become a steward of the parks and the bridge. These New York City treasures are yours to enjoy and yours to protect.

The High Bridge was built from 1839 to 1848, the final link in the Old Croton Aqueduct. The supply of water carried through the aqueduct enabled the city to fight fires and prevent the spread of disease, essential for the growing metropolis. In 1862, the capacity of the bridge was enlarged; in 1872, the Highbridge Water Tower and reservoir were added to the system, supplying water to the neighborhoods of northern Manhattan, which are at a higherelevation than the aqueduct. The aqueduct was closed in the 1950s and in the 1970s public access to the High Bridge was discontinued.

On both sides of the bridge, enjoy neighborhood gatherings and performances — as well as cool breezes — on hot summer nights.

Highbridge Park, the Bronx

Pull out your picnic blanket and relax on a sunny afternoon.

SamaritanVillage

Step Street

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Artw

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Recreation sites and activities in the Highbridge Parks:

Laying large pipe across the High Bridge, 1861-62