Tibbetts Brook Park
| Tibbetts Brook Park | |
|---|---|
|
Tibbetts Brook Park, waterfall on the brook and facing admin. building. | |
| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Yonkers, New York, NY, United States |
| Coordinates | 40°55′33″N 73°52′40″W / 40.92583°N 73.87778°WCoordinates: 40°55′33″N 73°52′40″W / 40.92583°N 73.87778°W |
| Area | 161 acres (65 ha) |
| Created | 1927 |
| Operated by | Westchester Country Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation |
| Status | Home of the New York Magpies |
Tibbetts Brook Park is a 161-acre (65 ha) park located in Yonkers in Westchester County, New York. Opened in 1927, it was one of the first developed parks in Westchester County and currently serves residents with activities that include swimming, hiking, sports, nature watching and fishing.[1]
The park is the home ground of the New York Magpies in the USAFL
The park was named for George Tibbetts, a Briton who had settled the land in 1668.
Tibbetts is bordered by the Cross County Parkway to the north, Saw Mill River Parkway to the west, McLean Avenue to the south and Midland Avenue to the East. Tibbetts Brook Park is .6 miles (1 km) north of Van Cortlandt Park along South County Trailway, and Tibbets Brook crosses north-south through the park on its way to the Harlem River.
History
In 1668, Georger Tibbetts purchased the land from Elias Doughty who had owned a large estate that encompassed much of the land from the Hudson River through the Bronx River and Saw Mill River. George's descendants were removed from the land after the American Revolution for their loyalty to the Crown. Their land was subsequently confiscated and sold. Westchester County purchased 161 acres (0.65 km2) of this undeveloped land in 1927 and entered it into the park system.[2]
The park was partially the site of the Battle of Tibbett's Brook or Battle of Kingsbridge in 1778. Sachem (Chief) Daniel Nimham, an American Indian chief and Ethan Allen joined with other Americans and fought the Queen's Rangers commanded by John Graves Simcoe. Ninham led the Stockbridge Indians and an Indian company from the Wappinger Tribe. The battle lasted from August 30 to 31. The British won and Ninham along with 40 other Indians died during the battle and were buried in an area now known as Indian Field. Four British soldiers were killed and three were wounded including Simcoe.[3][4]
Part of the Old Croton Aqueduct runs through Tibbetts Brook Park. The aqueduct was built between 1837 and 1842 in order to supply fresh clean water for New York City which was suffering water-borne disease outbreaks. In 1890, the Old Croton Aqueduct was decommissioned to make way for the new, improved and higher capacity New Croton Aqueduct.
On July 1, 1927, Tibbetts Brook Park was officially opened but was rather undeveloped, containing a boat dock. The park's pool was soon built and commissioned because children still swam in Tibbetts Brook. The lower western part of the park was once used as a refuse dump site which polluted the local water.[5] In 1931, the Saw Mill River Parkway from Yonkers to Elmsford was completed and in 1940, a pedestrian bridge over the Saw Mill River Parkway and the railroad was finished, allowing people from a western, yet undeveloped portion of the park to walk in. In June, 2007, Tibbetts Brook Park North, a complex of three sports fields were opened.[2]
Attractions
Tibbetts was known for its 412 x 125-foot (38 m) pool which in June 2011 reopened as a state of the art saline water park featuring a river, various sprays and waterfalls and a small lap pool enclosed amist the rest of the water park. The numerous walking/hiking trails include part of the 14-mile (23 km) South County Trailway which runs near the western side of the park, and part of the Croton Aqueduct Trail. Tibbets also has a miniature golf course, ice skating/skiing (winter), two artificial lakes for fishing, playgrounds and camp sites along with tennis, soccer, football, and baseball facilities.[1]
The park is open 7-days a week from 8 am until dusk.