Bronx Residents Seek Expanded Waterfront Access Along The Hudson River

Although The Bronx is on the mainland, as a peninsula, we are surrounded by water yet access to our waterfront is limited especially in the West Bronx.

Now a group is pushing for greater access to the Hudson River in Riverdale by expanding a small 600 foot park by 2 miles all the way north through the Westchester County border into the City of Yonkers.

The Kingsbridge Riverdale Van Cortlandt Development Corporation is seeking to use Riverdale Station Park as the spot along the Hudson to expand access.

After years of wrangling with various government agencies and rail lines, the park opened in 2005.

I was pleasantly surprised when the tiny park was opened. For years I would go to the Riverdale Metro North station and walk along the river (not something that’s recommended and also trespassing) and soaked up the beauty of being along the Hudson River with stunning views of the Palisades in New Jersey.

KRVC Build It Now! from KRVC on Vimeo.

Unlike the noise of traffic along the Hudson in Manhattan, this The Bronx section of the river is relatively quiet with the exception of the roar of Metro North and Amtrak zooming by.

But in between the trains there is a tranquility to be enjoyed.

It isn’t right that so much of our waterfront is cut off from our residents by rail and industry. Our waterfront are a precious resource and The Bronx is lucky to have lots of it—we just need to continue fighting to obtain access which is a given in the other 4 boroughs.

Call me an optimist but one day I forsee our residents to be able to enjoy our waterfront from Riverdale down to Port Morris and wrapping around our beautiful borough.

Maybe KRVC can join hands with South Bronx Unite and their Mott Haven-Port Morris Waterfront Plan as well as the Harlem River Waterfront Working Group.

Let’s get it done so we can enjoy it.