Bronx River Greenway Walking Tour on Saturday in Bronxville

On Saturday, May 19, dozens of walkers will explore a missing link along the Bronx River Greenway between the New York City/Westchester border and Bronxville.

This walk—part of an on-going series of Bronx River Rambles—will highlight the gap in the Bronx River Greenway trail system, which seperates Westchester County and New York City residents alike of easy, non-motorized access to the woodland trails of the Bronx River Reservation and to the new and improved parks and trails along the Bronx River in the Bronx. 

On this day, walkers will explore some disconnected links of the Bronx River Pathway, and ponder how they may eventually be joined together.  When complete, the Bronx River Greenway, a bicycle and pedestrian trail system, will run along the full 23 miles of the Bronx River.

Currently there is a three-mile gap in the park and trial system between the New York City – Westchester County line and Bronxville and in 2002, the City of Yonkers and Westchester County received a $1,051,140 Transportation Enhancements grant to complete this critical NYC- Bronxville link in the Bronx River Greenway.

However, the City of Yonkers and Westchester County have had a difficult time raising the required 20% local match ($262,787) for this Federal money and without it, the project cannot move forward and the City of Yonkers is slated to raise 75% of this match; the remaining 25% is to come from Westchester County.

This walking tour will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 19 at the Fleetwood Metro-North station and from there, the tour will head north to Bronxville.

Tour leader, Stephen DeVillo will point out Laurel Brook, a Bronx River tributary, and follow it into Scout Field, a Westchester County park that lies along the Bronx River.

Continuing north from Scout Field, the tour will examine another disconnected River pathway just before they reach Bronxville at Palmer Rd. 

Also along the way, the tour will visit a nineteenth century suburban development founded on patent medicines, learn of a onetime artist colony with a curious link to Custer’s Last Stand, and see where a youthful future president first learned his ballroom dance steps.

This is a free event and all who enjoy the Bronx River Pathway are encouraged to attend.