Steve Oakes is the Park Manager of the Old Croton Aqueduct
Did you know? The Old Croton Aqueduct is a linear New York State park that runs from the Croton Dam to the Yonkers border with the Bronx. Almost six miles of the park are in the City of Yonkers, including 2.25 miles at the eastern edge of Tibbetts Brook Park. A project is underway to make some improvements in the trail throughout its 26-mile length.
As Park Manager, I am happy to announce that maintenance staff has been increased for 2025 with the addition of two Park employees. Their principal role will be identifying and remedying the sort of maintenance issues that have been overlooked for decades.
Grass mowing and trimming
In the past, grass mowing and trimming has been accomplished by just two staff over the entire length of the trail. This task is performed with a tractor-based mower deck and a handheld line trimmer and takes anywhere from three weeks to more than a month to complete the full 26 miles. The same staff is called on to complete other tasks such as filling washouts, clearing fallen or hazard trees, as well as removing dumped objects, and is also responsible for equipment maintenance. This basic trail maintenance will continue in 2025 as before. The additional full-time staff members will work independently to make visible improvements to the trail in Yonkers and elsewhere, more notably as the weather warms. Their mission is to resolve the backlog of maintenance issues that the mowing staff simply doesn’t have the time to take on.
Backlogged maintenance issues
Among those backlogged maintenance issues are:
- cutting back vegetation on the sides of the trail, as well as pruning tree branches that hang over the pathway and threaten cyclists
- cutting vines where accessible and clearing invasive vegetation
- clearing fallen trees and removing many of those trees that in the past have been cut and tossed to the side
- completing preventative drainage projects with the hope that future damage will be reduced
- visually improving street intersections with enhanced trimming of grass
- tidying of sidewalks, and
- repairing or even removing unnecessary fencing.
See the maps below to find out how close you live to the Old Croton State Park.
Trash on the trail
Trash along the length of the Aqueduct trail is an ongoing issue and one which rightly elicits complaints from users. In places, the Aqueduct appears to be little more than an alley instead of a historic site of national significance. Trash ranges from litter thoughtlessly tossed by a trail walker to a truckload of cleanout or construction debris deposited in the dead of night. Managers of some nearby apartment buildings are among the worst offenders; a pile containing the contents of an apartment is not an unusual feature. The new staff will remove trash as a portion of their role, but with improved maintenance, park staff hope that dumping and littering will be greatly reduced. State Parks recommends that those witnessing dumping gather all the information they can about the incident and call the Park Police at 845-889-8866. Photographs are ideal.
Trail neighbors make the trail
Trail walkers, take a moment to talk with the maintenance crews. Trail workers truly enjoy hearing from park patrons, and park management is always appreciative of the information patrons provide about concerns and conditions. With some good fortune, hard work, and help from you, our park patrons, the Aqueduct trail in Yonkers will improve notably in 2025.
Comment below with your story of the Old Croton Aqueduct. Do you have a favorite spot on the trail?
Link to Old Croton Aqueduct Details and History
Link to Previous Yonkers Ledger Story about the Old Croton Aqueduct
