Access and Recreation Along the Saw Mill River |
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Over the last couple of years, the COVID-19 Pandemic and the increasing impacts of climate change on our environment continue to show us how invaluable our natural green spaces are for both our physical and mental health. This issue of the Saw Mill River Coalition Newsletter is celebrating the different access and recreation opportunities along our beloved river and its uniqueness as a natural feature offering a true sense of wilderness which traverses through urban and suburban landscapes. These parks easily allow people to access the wilderness of the river, its beautiful natural sounds, and the cool climate around it. We encourage you to connect to the local environment, learn more about the risks of pollution and intense weather events, and work with us to take action and support the effort of restoring the natural habitat of the Saw Mill River. |
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| Join Us for the 2022 Great Saw Mill River Cleanup Groundwork Hudson Valley will be hosting its annual GSMRC. Click here to register for the Cleanup. We hope to see you there!
River Rally 2022 Groundwork Hudson Valley's Youth Leadership program will be awarded the Urban Water Learning Network's Signature award for its exemplary contributions to the urban waterways' movement. We wanted to thank all of the wonderful stewardship groups who submitted comments on our behalf. |
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The Saw Mill River Coalition would like to invite you to access and recreate along our wonderful river. We will start at the mouth of the river in Downtown Yonkers where the Saw Mill meets the Hudson, and work our way north to highlight several river parks and trails. The Daylighting of the Saw Mill River in Yonkers and the creation of the three parks has been an ongoing process since 2012, with tentative plans for future development in the works. At these parks, residents can see the protected American eel amongst other animal and plant species. We invite you to check out these parks, as well as Stefanik, War Memorial, and Doyle parks which also have access to our beautiful river. |
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| Chauncey Park has been a growing collaboration between local stakeholders to create a vast park with historical roots, several trail-ways, and river access. The park is located behind Danforth Apartments in Dobbs Ferry. The dirt path to the right of The Danforth Apartments will lead you to the different trails throughout Chauncey Park. |
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The park has undergone significant change in recent years with several rounds of tree plantings pictured to the right, the construction of a bridge pictured above, and trail-way construction for pedestrian use. The park has a pollinator garden, with plans for more gardens in the future. The park is also home to a historic carriage path that stakeholders hope to expand and maintain further for the community. |
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| The South County Trail is a popular place for walking and cycling, running through Hastings-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, and Ardsley. It is a main artery for recreation in NY as a part of the Empire State Trail network, connecting NYC to the Adirondacks. Click on the video to your left or here to tour the Trail and hear more about the amazing stewardship work happening there. |
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River stewards focus their work on a 2.5 mile stretch of the trail with over 13 signature locations that invite people to slow down, take your time in nature, and perhaps dream a little while there. The South County Trail has exciting plans for the upcoming spring season, including trail paving starting March 1st, new tree plantings to improve the tree canopy, and invasive species removal to maintain this beautiful natural resource. |
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| The park, located between two major highways, is an amazing river front green space in Ardsley. In the wake of flooding events, it became clear to county engineers and planners that V.E. Macy Park needed improvements. The park currently is under construction with plans to improve green infrastructure elements by reducing impervious surfaces and planting more native trees and shrubs to help restore the floodplain. Their improvements are also working to strengthen access to the Saw Mill River, to create a better park for all residents. |
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Broadway Field has been a gem in Hawthorne for several years. A new plan for the park involves clearing invasive species and opening up the view-shed to the Saw Mill River with a picnic area. In fall 2021, there was a corporate volunteer event clearing invasive species, which is pictured to the right. Be sure to visit this park and access the many amenities it has to offer the community. |
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A Call To Action, A Call To Recreate |
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The Saw Mill River has been hidden and neglected for the last century, but we want to encourage you all to access this amazing natural resource and continue the effort to steward it. While the Hudson River is getting busier, the Saw Mill is a great opportunity for river access without the same crowding as on the Hudson.
To spur action in our communities, as well as our state and local governments— action that will care for and invest in the River's continued maintenance and restoration—we ask you all to visit these parks and trails, see their inherent and immeasurable value in our lives, and empower your families, friends, and neighbors to do the same.
A great way to steward this River is to participate in our annual Cleanup. Don't forget to register for the Great Saw Mill River Cleanup here! |
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