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Van Cortlandt Park

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Van Cortlandt Park, one of the largest parks in New York City, spans over 1,000 acres in the northwest Bronx, covering hills and mountains. The park’s woodland core, fed by Tibbets Brook, is surrounded by sports fields and recreational areas. Among its notable features are the oldest mansion in the Bronx, the largest freshwater lake in the borough, and the first national golf course in the country.

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History

Van Cortlandt Park has a long history of serving as a center for bird research since its establishment as a public park in 1888. Early 20th-century ornithologists, including Allan D. Cruickshank and Roger Tory Peterson, frequently conducted surveys of the park’s bird populations on foot.

In 1998, the park was recognized as an Important Bird Area by National Audubon, and a total of 230 species of birds have been observed there. The park is divided into five sections, and the Northern Woods, Croton Forest, and Southern Zone are particularly good spots for birdwatching. All of these areas can be easily accessed via public transportation.

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Attractions

Van Cortlandt Park is a popular stop for many species of migratory finches, egrets, and raptors each spring and fall, and it is home to owls, accipiter, and rare waterfowl throughout the winter.

In 2006, New York City Audubon conducted a census and recorded the presence of more than 60 different bird species, including the Northern Rough-winged, Great Horned Owl, Rose-breasted, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Grosbeak.

The park’s Croton Woods, covering 158 acres, is home to a rare oak and tulip poplar forest and some scattered sugar maple trees. These woods are home to the same kinds of nesting birds as the Northeast Woods, and it is possible to spot an Indigo Bunting or Ruby-throated Hummingbird there. There are paid and unpaid parking spots in municipal lots within walking distance of the Van Cortlandt Club House, which overlooks Van Cortlandt Lake. During the warmer months, the Golf House is open to the public and offers snacks, a deck with views of the lake, and the opportunity to watch exotic birds hunt for insects. All of which makes it the perfect spot to unwind over the weekend.

Interesting Facts

  • The park protects almost 500 acres of New York City’s most environmentally significant area as part of the Forever Wild Preserve program. Van Cortlandt park’s woods, marshes, and fields are all labeled as Forever Wild to preserve them for future generations.
  • The state protects wetlands covering 97.8 acres in the Bronx. Eighty-six and a half of these preserved acres are located within the park, with another sixty-three and a half located along Tibbetts Brook.
  • The garden is full of small bee butts in the morning because the bees spent the night inside the squash blooms.
  • The Iroquois referred to the White Pine as the "Tree of Peace." White pinecones include five needles, representing the five countries.
  • The tall, straight growth of tulip trees made them ideal for the construction of boats by Native Americans.
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