Governor Cuomo recently stated that New York has fortunately passed the Covid-19 infection apex and that the infection rate continues to decline. All of our efforts at social distancing and taking other precautions have paid off, so keep up the good work! A few new updates have come out from our state and local governments that park goers should be aware of:
- As of April 15, Governor Cuomo signed an executive order requiring masks to be worn in public whenever social distancing is not possible. Although, just to be safe, it’s always a good idea to wear a mask whenever leaving your home.
- Mayor de Blasio announced that NYC Parks public pools will not open this summer due to Covid-19
For a full list of information, impacts, and updates about Covid-19 on NYC Parks, click here
For more information about the virus and guidance on how to stay safe visit NYC’s Covid-19 portal here
And now for some good news from Westchester County….
The Bronx River Greenway runs the full length of the Bronx River from Soundview Park in the Bronx to the Kensico Dam in Valhalla, Westchester. We often write about capital improvements to the Greenway in the Bronx but today we bring you some exciting news from Westchester.
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Cyclists on the Bronx River Greenway (Bronx River Reservation) in Westchester
The Westchester portion of the trail, known as the Bronx River Reservation, has two critical gaps: one from Mount Vernon to Bronxville and the other from Hartsdale to Scarsdale. Two capital projects are currently underway to construct these missing links.
The southern project will extend the existing Oak Point Loop, which currently runs in a loop heading north from Oak Street in Mount Vernon, to Midland Avenue in Bronxville to join the existing portion of the greenway. This project is still in its early stages of bidding and procurement. Construction is expected to last approximately one year once it begins, making the estimated completion date 2022.
Missing link from Mt Vernon to Bronxville. The current onstreet route, marked in red, will be replaced by an off-street trail extending from the Oak St Loop
The northern project is already underway and will bridge the gap from Scarsdale to Hartsdale. Riders currently have to exit the greenway in Hartsdale and ride along Fox Meadow Road until they reach the next section of the trail on Greenacres Avenue. This 1.6 mile link is currently underway and will be completed before the end of the year.
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Missing link from Scarsdale to Hartsdale. The current onstreet route, marked in red, will be replaced by an off-street trail adjacent to the Bronx River
These two projects bring the Bronx River Greenway closer to its goal of a continuous uninterrupted multi use trail from the river’s headwaters to its mouth.
While these two projects are still underway we encourage you to check out the existing portion of the greenway in Westchester and participate in Bicycle Sundays, where the Bronx River Parkway closes down to cars to allow cyclists to take over the road. For more information about this year’s Bicyle Sunday’s click here
