Alliance For Progress

COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
HOME     About Us     Advocacy     Contact Us      
Highbridge Jr. High
Highbridge Park
Housing Links
Local Links
Social Service Links
The Highbridge Park 

 

 © Partnership for the Parks

AFP supports the reopening of the pedestrian “wonderland” – the High Bridge, which was completed in 1848 and altered in 1928 providing the current structure.  We are seeking to open a recreational gem of this city, Highbridge Park, located on both Manhattan and the West Bronx.  We are greatly interested in attracting a kayak or crew facility, a city cruise line stop, or a NYC marathon stop to this simple yet impressive park with a serene vista of northern Manhattan and an enticing view of the West Bronx.  In addition, we are interested in getting various kinds of flowers planted for the enjoyment of neighborhood residents.

Highbridge Park: The Most Recent

 

On August 26, 2008 the pedestrian bridge within the Highbridge Park was open by Mayor Bloomberg and local area politicians from upper Manhattan, in a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the opening of the bridge which is expected to be fully functional  in the  near future.

 

Media Coverage 

HB Park - August 26, 2008

Pause Stop Previous Next View full-sized photos

The Highbridge Park History

 

The Highbridge Park is NYC’s oldest standing bridge connecting the boroughs of the Manhattan and the Bronx.  It is part of the Old Croton Aqueduct which brought NYC its earliest supply of clean water.  The Croton Aqueduct served the NYC from 1842 until 1958.  The Highbridge was designed on principles of Roman aqueduct architecture, the granite bridge is 116 feet in height and 1,200 feet wide, with the undersides of its arches 138 feet above the 620 foot wide Harlem River.  In 1928 the City of New York decided to replace five of the original 15 arches of the High Bridge, with a central steel span to ease the passage of large ships.  The rest of the majestic stone arches still stand, mainly on the Bronx side of the river.  The bridge has never carried vehicular traffic – only pedestrians! The High Bridge was begun in 1839 and was completed in 1848; the Highbridge tower was completed in 1870.  The Highbridge tower was rehabilitated and outfitted with a five-octave carillon in memory of Benjamin Altman in 1958.  The High Bridge is a National Historic Landmark.1

Highbridge Park: A Closer look

 

• HB Park Overview 

• HB Park Brochure

• HB Park on Wikipedia