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Friends of

Map & Guide Van Cortlandt Park

Van Cortlandt Park in the Northwest Bronx is City’s fourth largest The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park (FVCP) was founded in 1992 by park. Its 1,146 acres have many trails which allow a visitor access to the park’s ridges, a committed Bronx resident in response to a New York Times article describing the valleys, forests, wetlands, and . impacts of declining NYC Department of Parks & The first known inhabitants were the Weckquaesgeek Indians. Their village stood Recreation (NYC Parks) budgets on parks like Van on what is now the Parade Ground. In 1639, they sold much of what is now the park Cortlandt that lacked wealthy benefactors or an to the . The property passed through several private organized network of local support. She brought landowners including the Van Cortlandt family. It was eventually purchased by the City together neighbors and friends, and from a small of New York in 1888. beginning, FVCP has grown to play an increasing With approximately 2.5 million visitors a year, Van Cortlandt Park needs friends. role in maintenance of natural areas and Home to many of ’s wildest and most rugged natural areas, 14 miles community programming for Van Cortlandt Park. of hiking trails, the country’s oldest municipal course, a cross-country running Each year FVCP generates thousands of hours of course, a horse stable, a house where really did sleep, and volunteer support for forest and trail maintenance, bike and pedestrian paths that connect to other NYC parks and to the Westchester trains thousands of young people in environmental County trail system, Van Cortlandt Park holds a special place in the city’s world-class stewardship, and offers community programs to constellation of parks and open spaces. promote fitness and environmental action.

From an initial project involving a small group of students who helped pick up litter Forest & Trails and clear brush, FVCP now provides a wide variety of educational, stewardship and community benefit programs. Approximately half of Van Cortlandt Park Nature Trail (1.25 miles) is forested. Urban forests are important is named for the famed naturalists and because they help reduce air and noise newspaperman. This trail begins and ends Over the next several years, FVCP will be pollution, provide habitat for wildlife, and near the Van Cortlandt Golf House and dedicated to the implementation of our increase the quality of life. In urban areas, journeys through the park’s lake and Trails Plan which was completed by the the large numbers of vehicles increase the freshwater wetlands. New York-New Jersey Trails Conference. amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Because leaves absorb carbon dioxide and produce Old (1.1 miles) The plan, finalized in December 2009, oxygen, they help improve air quality. Leaves runs through the center of the Croton Woods. includes an assessment, analysis, and also absorb sound and reduce noise. When This segment is part of the 41-mile-long set of recommendations to improve the leaves fall to the ground, they enrich the soil, aqueduct that brought water from the Croton woodland trails in Van Cortlandt Park. conserve water, and provide a habitat for to New York City. Built in the 1830s wildlife. Trees provide shade which lowers as the city’s first extensive water supply, it In addition, FVCP’s community the temperature and also conserves moisture. was used until 1897 when the New Croton Urban forests provide areas for passive Aqueduct replaced it. The large stone building composting and gardening project recreation such as walking, bird watching along the route is a weir which maintained provides fresh local produce for a and nature study. Take a hike on the following the flow of water and controlled air pressure. neighborhood non-profit to use in their trails to visit our forests: meals program.

John Muir Nature Trail (1.5 miles) established in 1997 with the help of the FVCP offers the following Contact Friends of Friends of Van Cortlandt Park summer programs in the park: Van Cortlandt Park! interns, is the park’s only east-west . • Van Cortlandt Adventures This trail traverses steep terrain at the School Programs General information: 718.601.1460 park’s center. • Environmental Internship Programs Program information: 718.601.1553 for High School Students Cass Gallagher Nature Trail (1.4 miles) • Junior Naturalists: Afterschool Email: [email protected] serves the Northwest Forest. In 1984, Program for Middle School Students it was named in memory of a Bronx • Volunteer and Stewardship Programs Mailing address: environmentalist dedicated to the • Environmental Explorations Teacher 80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Suite E1 park’s protection. Workshop Series Bronx, NY 10463 • Community Programs Cross Country Running Course such as Hikes, EcoCrafts (3 & 6 miles) is a nationally renowned and Gardening activities www.vancortlandt.org course. It begins on the Parade Ground, winds through Vault Hill, and forms a loop through the Northwest Forest.

Bridle Path (1.6 miles) By Bus: forms the outer loop of the Northwest trail Safety & Remember Directions: The Bx9 travels along on the system. Along the western part of the forest, • Poison ivy is common throughout By Car: western edge of Van Cortlandt Park. The the trail follows a portion of the old Yonkers Van Cortlandt Park. Stay on the trails to The Major Deegan Expressway has two park BxM3, an express line serving , branch of the Putnam Division Railroad. minimize contact with poison ivy. exits: Van Cortlandt Park South, which serves also offers access to the park’s western Between 1888 and 1943, this commuter • Motorized vehicles are not allowed in the the south and west portions of the park, and rd border. The park’s is served by the route ran from High to . park as they destroy trails and vegetation East 233 Street, which serves the north and Bx16 and the Bx34. Westchester bus lines and disturb wildlife. east. The Henry Hudson ’s Broadway Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 20 and 21 also serve the park. Putnam Trail (1.5 miles) exits also serve the park. • Please stay on the trails, cyclists should links Van Cortlandt Park with River serves as a primary wildlife corridor as it stay on the Putnam Trail and the Bike Path. passes through wetlands and divides the and Pelham Parkways. Brochure produced by Van Cortland Golf Course. It is what remains • Don’t litter! Please carry out all that you of the New York Central Railroad’s Putnam carry in with you or use garbage cans. By Subway: Division. It ceased passenger operations in • Graffiti ruins the outdoor experience for The northern terminus of the IRT No. 1 train nd 1958, but carried occasional freight until 1981. others and is illegal. at W. 242 Street is just south of the Parade Ground. The IRT No. 4’s last stop This is the main bike path through the Park. • To preserve our natural surroundings for at Woodlawn serves the park’s south- © 2011 Design: Anne LaFond future generations to enjoy, please do not eastern area. Photos: Margot Guralnick, Enrique Ortiz, collect or disturb live plants and animals. Anne Marie Runfola, Christina Taylor ROCKWOOD CIRCLE

ROADS

PATHS

PARK LAND

NON-PARK LAND

FORESTED AREAS

BIKE PATH

BRIDLE TRAIL

CASS GALLAGHER NATURE TRAIL

CROSS COUNTRY COURSE

JOHN KIERAN NATURE TRAIL

JOHN MUIR NATURE TRAIL

PARKING

PLAYGROUND

PICNIC AREA

RESTROOM

WHEELCHAIR ACCESIBLE

BUS STOP

SUBWAY STOP

MOSHOLU STAIRS GOLF HOUSE

N

SACHKERAH WOODS PLAYGROUND

V AN CO R TLAND DICKINSON RD

T A VE W

AVE SEDGWICK ©Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy

Phone Numbers Administrator’s Office Riverdale Equestrian Center Van Cortlandt House Museum Events and General Information & Van Cortlandt Park Conservancy 718.548.4848 718.543.3344 311 718.430.1890 Rangers Permits – Special Events Mosholu Golf Center & Nature Center 718.430.1890 718.655.9164 718.548.0912 City of New York Permits – Sports Department of Parks & Recreation Park Enforcement Patrol Van Cortlandt Golf Course 718.430.1840 Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor 718.430.1815 718.543.4595 Adrian Benepe, Commissioner