Tibbetts Brook Park

Tibbetts Brook Park is a 161-acre (65 ha) park located in the Lincoln Park section of 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]

Tibbetts Brook Park
Tibbetts Brook Park, waterfall on the brook and facing admin. building.
TypeMunicipal
LocationYonkers, NY, United States
Coordinates40°55′33″N 73°52′40″W
Area161 acres (65 ha)
Created1927
Operated byWestchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation
StatusHome of the New York Magpies

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 Tibbetts Brook crosses north-south through the park on its way to the Harlem River.

The park is the home ground of the New York Magpies in the USAFL.

History

In 1668, Georger Tippett 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.[2] The park was partially the site of the Battle of Tibbett's Brook or Battle of Kingsbridge in 1778. Sachem (Chief) Daniel Nimham, a Native American chief, and Ethan Allen joined with other Americans and fought the Queen's Rangers commanded by John Graves Simcoe. Ninham led the Stockbridge Militia, consisting of members of the Mahican and Wappinger tribes. The battle lasted from August 30 to 31. The British were victorious, while Ninham and other members of the militia died during the battle. They were buried in an area now known as Indian Field in nearby Van Cortlandt Park. Four British soldiers were killed and three were wounded including Simcoe.[3][4][5]

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.

In 1872, the site of Tibbetts Brook Park was purchased by Leonard W. Jerome, which became part of "Valley Farms".[6][7] By the 20th Century, a garbage dump was located on the north side of Yonkers Avenue near the site, with a lake created by the overflow of Tibbetts Brook. This lake, called Peckham's Lake, was used as a swimming hole in spite of high levels of pollution and disease, due to the brook water passing through the garbage dump.[6][8][9][10][11] The area immediately south had been a swamp which was a haven for mosquitoes.[6][8][9] The entire site was referred to as "The Jungle".[12] In 1923, the Westchester County Park Commission proposed constructing a park on the site,[8][13][14] purchasing the land from Valley Farms in October of that year.[15] Construction on the park began in September 1924, which included removing "fourteen feet of garbage" from the site.[7][15] The park opened on June 25, 1927.[2][16][9][3]

Upon opening, the park was rather undeveloped, containing a boat dock. The park's pool was soon built and commissioned because children still swam in Tibbetts Brook.[17] 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.

Wildlife

Many species of birds and mammals have been reported at the park Tibbetts Brook Park

List of species
Species Highest Count
Waterfowl
Canada Goose 875[18]
Mute Swan 3[18]
Wood Duck 31[18]
Northern Shoveler 10[18]
Gadwall 3[18]
Mallard 168[18]
Domestic Mallards 20[18]
American Black Duck 20[18]
Ruddy Duck 4[18]
Pigeon/Doves
Rock Pigeon 43[18]
Mourning Dove 80[18]

References
  1. "Tibbetts Brook Park". Westchester County Department of Parks. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  2. "Tibbetts Brook Park North" (PDF). Ward Associates, P.C. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-01. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  3. "NEW PARK OPENED BY WESTCHESTER; 15,000 Attend Exercises on 411-Acre Tippett's Brook Tract in Yonkers" (PDF). The New York Times. June 26, 1927. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  4. Hiking Tibbets Brook
  5. Battle of Kingsbridge
  6. "Tibbetts Brook Park An Outing Paradise". The Yonkers Statesman. Fultonhistory.com. June 12, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  7. "Tibbetts Brook Park: Big Boon for Yonkers". Ossining Citizen-Register. Fultonhistory.com. May 14, 1960. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  8. Landau, Frank E. (November 30, 1923). "New County Park To Be Great Boon To City In Year". The Yonkers Statesman. Fultonhistory.com. p. 3. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  9. "Tibbetts Brook Park To Open Tomorrow". The Hastings News. Fultonhistory.com. June 24, 1927. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  10. "Report of Westchester County Park Commission: 1924". Westchester County Park Commission. April 30, 1924. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  11. "Report of the Westchester County Park Commission: 1927". Westchester County Park Commission. April 30, 1927. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  12. "To Build New 46 Acre Yonkers Park: Country Will Convert "Jungle" On Central Ave. Into Play Area". The Yonkers Statesman. Fultonhistory.com. May 18, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  13. Landau, Frank E. (November 30, 1923). "New County Park To Be Great Boon To City In Year". The Yonkers Statesman. Fultonhistory.com. p. 1. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  14. Landau, Frank E. (November 30, 1923). "New County Park To Be Great Boon To City In Year". The Yonkers Statesman. Fultonhistory.com. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  15. "To Build New 46 Acre Yonkers Park: Country Will Convert "Jungle" On Central Ave. Into Play Area". The Yonkers Statesman. Fultonhistory.com. May 18, 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  16. Yonkers Historical Society; Blue Door Artist Association (2008). Yonkers. Arcadia Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-7385-5760-1. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  17. Westchester's New Park
  18. "Recent visits - Tibbetts Brook Park, Westchester County, NY, US - eBird Hotspot". ebird.org. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
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