The visitor center at Philipsburg, located on Rt. 9 in the village of Sleepy Hollow, offers a wide range of services and changing exhibitions, and also serves as the visitor center for Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate.

Philipsburg Manor is a late 17th/early 18th-century milling, farming, and trading complex owned by an Anglo-Dutch family of merchants. Philipsburg Manor was tenanted by farmers of diverse European backgrounds, and operated by enslaved Africans. In 1693, Frederick Philipse, a carpenter who rose to become the richest man in the colony of New York, was granted a charter for 52,000 acres along the Hudson River by William and Mary of England. Historically, the site is of particular interest because of the size of the enslaved community and the highly developed nature of this 18th-century commercial property.

Featuring a stone manor house filled with a handsome collection of 17th-and 18th-century period furnishings, this famous house also includes a working water-powered gristmill and millpond, an 18th-century barn, a slave garden, and a reconstructed tenant farm house. The grounds are home to historic breeds of cattle, sheep, and chickens.

Points of Interest: Philipsburg Manor is a living history museum. Guides in 18th-century costume conduct tours of the site and numerous special events are held throughout the year. One of many fun things to do with children in the Hudson River Valley.

Things To Do at Philipsburg Manor
Birthday Parties at Philipsburg Manor
Greenhouse Cafe
Picnic grounds
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery located next to Philipsburg Manor
Tour Philipsburg Manor Historic Site
Tours of Kykuit that originate at the Philipsburg Manor Visitor Tourist Center

The natural pond, at one time known as Wampus Lake Reservoir, was once part of the New York City water supply. In 1963 the County bought Wampus pond and 93-acres from the City of New York.

Things To Do
Boating
Boat Rental (summer weekends)
Fishing
Ice-Skating
Nature Study
Picnicking

Things To Do at Bedford Hill Park
Baseball
Basketball
Fishing
Nature Area
Playground
Picnicking
Shelter
Soccer
Softball
Swimming Pools
Tennis
Walking Trails

Winter Activities
Ice Skating

Things To Do
Baseball
Softball
Picnicking
Walking Trails

Things To Do at Bedford Park
Baseball
Basketball
Fishing
Football
Ice Skating
Paddle Tennis
Picnicking
Playground
Shelter
Soccer
Softball
Summer Day Camp
Swimming Pools
Tennis

Winter Activities
Ice Skating

Click to enlarge picture of "Croton Gorge Spillway"

Croton Gorge Park, a 97-acre property, is located at Route 129, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10520 in Westchester County. The Park is located at the base of the New Croton Dam, and affords impressive views of the dam and spillway. The Croton River begins here. The bridge that spans the Croton River offers beautiful views of the spectacular spillway.

Click to enlarge picture of "Croton Gorge Park - Water Views".

"The Old Croton Dam, built to supply New York City with water, was the first large masonry dam in the United States. Completed in 1842, it was the prototype for many municipal water supply dams in the east during the mid-nineteenth century. The city’s needs, however, soon outgrew the Croton Dam water supply. "Consequently, work began on the New Croton Dam, also called the Cornell Dam because of its location on land purchased from A.B. Cornell, in 1893. Completed in 1907, the Cornell Dam stands over 200 feet high. The Croton Reservoir has a capacity of about 34 billion gallons of water with a watershed covering 177 square miles." Source: Westchestergov.com

Click to enlarge picture of "Croton Dam Plaza Lookout".

Visit Croton Gorge Park. The park offers many activities such as fishing, picnicking, biking, and hiking trails (with direct trail access to New York State’s Old Croton Aqueduct). Croton Gorge Park is also available for winter activities such as cross-country skiing and sledding.

Click to enlarge picture of the falls at Croton Dam Plaza

Enjoy walking, picnicking, ball fields, and spectacular views of the spillway from the base of Croton Dam Plaza. A playground for small children is available just a short walk from this spot.

Press blue button for more information about the New Croton Dam at Croton Gorge Park. Learn more about the history of the Old Croton Dam.

Things To Do at Croton Gorge Park
Ball Fields
Biking Trails
Fishing
Hiking Trails / Walking
Nature Study
Picnicking
Playground
Restrooms

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Sledding

Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

Click to enlarge pictures of "Ward Pound Ridge - Biodiversity Reserve Area" sign.

The sign reads:
On February 15, 2001
The Westchester County Parks Board designated
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
a Biodiversity Reserve Area for the
protection of wildlife habitat.

Click to enlarge pictures of "Important Bird Area" sign.

The sign reads:
Important Bird Area
This site is part of a global
network of places recognized
for their outstanding value
to bird conservation
Audubon

"The museum exhibits specimen birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, minerals, American Indian artifacts, and also houses the Delaware Indian Resource Center. Nature interpretive programs are offered weekly.

"The museum hosts thousands of school children and scouts each year for a variety of educational programs including stream study, American Indian culture, maple sugaring, and badge work. Family-oriented nature programs are scheduled for the general public on nearly every weekend.

"The Trailside Nature Museum is also the home of the Delaware Indian Research Center, a vast collection of books and artifacts concerning American Indians, especially the Delaware. The Research Center is well utilized by both students and educators and has assisted several authors in researching their publications. The Research Center is open to the public by appointment.

"During the summer months, butterfly and moth hatcheries are maintained inside the museum for a close look at the miracle of metamorphosis. Be sure to go butterflying at the outside demonstration butterfly garden which attracts parades of butterflies. The brochure Butterflies of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation lists 83 species that have been seen on the grounds.

"Birds of field and forest abound throughout the year. Birds of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation contain a checklist of the 184 species recorded in the park to date.

"In addition, there is a one-half acre wildflower garden containing more than 80 different kinds of labeled wildflowers. There are several self-guided nature trails – directions and pamphlets are available in the museum."

Press blue button for hours, programs and activities, Wildflower Garden, Delaware Indian Center, Biodiversity Research, Arts in the Park, and more about the Trailside Nature Museum in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation at The Friends of the Trailside Nature Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

Things To Do at Trailside Nature Museum
Art Gallery (Located in historic Benedict Homestead)
Biodiversity Research
Bird Watching
Birthday Parties (Educational programs offered as birthday parties for any age.)
Educational Programs
Fishing (Catch & Release - Artificial lures only)
Hiking Trails (35 miles of hiking trails)
Nature Programs
Picnicking (
Self Guided Nature Trails
Souvenir Shop
Trailside Nature Museum
Wildflower Garden

See attractions and more things to do at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

Ward Pound Ridge Park offers different landscapes and scenic views throughout its 4,315 acres. You'll find open terrain, woods, meadows of open fields sprinkled with wild flowers, fallen trees, old barns, and open space.

Click to enlarge picture of the main road in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

The park offers different landscapes during the seasons. Whether you visit the park in spring, summer, fall, or winter, you will experience the natural landscape and beauty of Ward Pound Ridge with its wetlands, wooded areas, places to cross-country ski, and fabulous fishing spots. Park attractions also include camping sites, playgrounds for younger kids, the Trailside Nature Museum and more.

Click to enlarge picture of "Kimberly Bridge Picnic Area".

Kimberly Bridge Picnic Area is the perfect spot to go bird watching, fishing, hiking, or relax with a picnic as you enjoy the serenity of the brook.

Ward Pound Ridge is also home to the Trailside Nature Museum, that hosts weekend nature interpretive programs, and the Art in Parks program, where exhibitions of work by accomplished regional artists are held throughout the year.

Ward Pound Ridge offers hiking trails, fishing spots (catch & release), birding, nature trails, and vistas for the photographer, painter, and nature lover. Depending on where you are in the park, given the large size of Ward Pound Ridge, you can experience the park in many different ways.

With its varied terrain, landscapes and miles of wooded trails, the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation provides a variety of activities in all seasons. There are areas for picnicking, lean-to camping, fishing, cross-country skiing, and two playgrounds for younger children. The park is also home to the Trailside Nature Museum, which hosts weekend nature interpretive programs year-round.

Hiking Trails
Ward Pound Ridge offers approximately 35 miles of hiking trails among meadows, woods, wetlands, and cross-country ski areas. Hiking trails are available for beginners, intermediate, or advanced hikers.

"You could easily while away a couple of days on the trails here and still not see the entire park. Its sublime scenery is a marvelous medley of hardwood forests, glacial ridges, lowland bogs, granite outcroppings and high-rising bluffs, with a couple of ravines, a river, and a far-reaching viewpoint as added attractions. The main trails are wide and very popular with family groups, while many narrower routes provide a more rugged experience. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is the largest preserve in the Westchester County Parks system . . . It is also the most beautiful of the county's parks, where litter on the ground is as rare as candy in a dentist's office, and the camping shelters (stone lean-tos constructed by the CCC more than 60 years ago) are raked clean by park personnel. Scenery: Swamps, hemlock, laurel, and hardwood forests, impressive rock outcroppings, scenic overlook of Cross River Reservoir, and historic cave." Visit www.trails.com for more about the Ward Pound Ridge Main Loop.

Audubon Society of Westchester
"Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a mixture of streams, woodland and open fields. Bluebirds can be common here and the park offers good birding even in the middle of summer due to large list of breeding birds. They include: Cooper's and Goshawks, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-throated , Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, Brown Creeper, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 14 species of warblers including Black-throated Green, Worm-eating and Pine Warblers." Ward Pound Ridge is also the best park to watch butterflies in New York. Visit Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester for more about bird watching at Ward Pound Ridge.

Please remember: "Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a Biodiversity Reserve Area. Help to take care of this unique and beautiful space by following our simple stewardship rules."

Press blue button for location of Ward Pound Ridge, map (or pick-up a map at the tool booth park office) and reservation trails and facilities, parking, restrooms, and more about Westchester County's largest park.

Things To Do at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Art Gallery (Located in historic Benedict Homestead)
Biking on roads only (no biking on trails)
Bird Watching
Butterfly Watching
Camping (Lean-to and Tent sites)
Equestrian Trails & Horseback Riding
Fishing (Catch & Release - Artificial lures only)
Family oriented nature programs at Trailside Museum
Hiking Trails (35 miles of walking & hiking)
Map Available
Picnicking (
Playgrounds in two areas of the park
Restrooms and Porta-toilets
Trailside Nature Museum
Wildflower Garden

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Skiing on open fields
Sledding on Pell Hill
Snow-Shoeing

"This park offers year-round events and activities and has facilities for camping, hiking and swimming. The park, rich in natural and human history, is also the site of historic wine cellars that are thought of be the oldest in New York State and the Croton Point Nature Center.

"The oldest oyster shell middens on the North Atlantic Coast uncovered by archeologists on Croton Point confirm that the peninsula was inhabited by Native Americans as early as 7,000 years ago. Croton is in fact named for the Indian sachem, Kenoten, which means "wild wind.” In the 17th century, Indians of the Kitchawank tribe on the Wappinger Confederacy occupied a large fortified village on the high flat at the neck of Croton Point, which they called Navish. This was one of the most ancient and formidable Indian fortresses south of the Hudson Highlands.

"The oldest oyster shell middens on the North Atlantic Coast uncovered by archeologists on Croton Point confirm that the peninsula was inhabited by Native Americans as early as 7,000 years ago. Croton is, in fact, named for the Indian sachem, Kenoten, which means "wild wind.” In the 17th century, Indians of the Kitchawank tribe on the Wappinger Confederacy occupied a large fortified village on the high flat at the neck of Croton Point, which they called Navish. This was one of the most ancient and formidable Indian fortresses south of the Hudson Highlands. A marsh known by the Indians as “Senasqua” separates the Point from Croton Neck, and a plaque marks the spot where a peace treaty was signed with the Kitchawank tribe.

"Cornelius Van Bursum was the first to purchase Croton Point from the Indians in 1682. A few years later William and Sara Teller were given permission to live on the point and operate an Indian trading post. In the 18th century the area came to be known as Teller’s Point. Soon after, Stephanus Van Cortlandt incorporated the property into his Cortlandt Manor. By the end of the 18th century the Tellers, who married into the Van Cortlandt family, were in full possession of Croton Point. The Van Cortlandt Manor House still stands on the Croton River east of Croton Point Park."

Croton Point Park and the Revolutionary War
"Although several military actions took place here, many involving invasions by the British, the most notorious was connected with the attempted betrayal of West Point by Benedict Arnold and the capture of his British confederate, Major John Andre." Learn more about Benedict Arnold in the American Revolution.

Press blue button for more history and information about Croton Point Park

Things To Do at Croton Point Park
Beach access
Boat Launch
Camping
Fishing
Food Service
Hiking Trails /Walking
Museum (Historic features)
Nature centers & study
Picnicking
Playground
Restrooms
Swimming

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Sledding

Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

Things To Do at Chester Heights Park
Basketball Court
Picnic Tables and Benches
Playgrounds (2)
Softball Field

Things to Do at Garth Road Park
Baseball Little League field
Basketball Courts (2)
Checker Tables
Picnic Tables
Playground

Haindl Recreation Park features a professional quality Field Turf field with lights and bleachers for Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, Baseball and Softball on four and half acres of parkland. The field house has bathrooms, snack bar and a large recreation room used by the Recreation Department for summer and Winter Camps and Teen Scene game nights. All youth leagues use the facility for meetings, practices and parties. A generator runs the facility for night games with no electrical costs. The field house also serves as an Emergency Center.

Things To Do at Haindl Recreation Park
Professional quality Field Turf field with lights and bleachers:

Baseball
Football
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball

Summer and Winter Camps
Teen Scene game nights

Things To Do at Labriola Park
Children's Ballfield (small)
Little League size Ballfields (2)
Nature Area with Tot Lots
Picnic Tables (stone fireplaces)
Playground

Things To Do at Oakridge Park
Benches
Gazebo
Picnic Tables
Play area (grass)

Miracle Field for children and adults with disabilities.
Miracle Field is a custom-designed field with a cushioned, rubberized turf to help prevent injuries, wheelchair-accessible dugouts and a completely flat, barrier-free surface to provide accessibility for visually impaired players or players in wheelchairs.

Things To Do at Ridge Road Park
Miracle Field (For children and adults with disabilities.)
Nature Study
Pavilions
Playgrounds
Playing Fields

Click to enlarge photo of Matthiessen Park in Irvington.

Matthiessen Park is set along the Hudson River in the Village of Irvington-on-Hudson, New York. Relax, wade in the water (small beachfront), picnic, look out at the Tappan Zee Bridge, or bring the children to play in the park. Matthiessen Park is also the location of Irvington's Riverside Concerts and Movies held in the summer.

Things To Do at Matthiessen Park
Bocce Court
Horse Shoe Pits
Picnic Tables, Barbecue Pits
Playground
Shuffle Board Courts
Spray Pool
Volleyball Net

Stroll in the park, look out over the Hudson and enjoy the scenic view, watch the kids play in the playground, try some shuffle board. When it's time to eat, have lunch or dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in Irvington, a charming River Town in Westchester County.

Directions
Matthiessen Park can be reached by going south on Main Street and making a right onto North Astor Street. At the end of North Astor Street, make a left turn onto Bridge Street.

Things To Do at Memorial Park
Ballfields (2)
Fitness Par Course
Multi-use Field
Picnic Tables
Playground
Spray Pool
Tennis Courts (Three Illuminated Tennis Courts)
Walking

The Great Hunger Memorial “A section of V. E. Macy Park has been renamed so that the history of the Irish who fled to Westchester in the 1840s to escape poverty and famine will never be forgotten".

Point of Interest: The Great Hunger Memorial

Things To Do
Fishing
Great Hunger Memorial
Picnicking
Playground

Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing
Ice Skating

History of Chief Justice John Jay
"Nestled in the rolling Westchester countryside is the gracious home and farm of John Jay (1745-1829), one of America's principal Founding Fathers. Jay co-authored the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Revolutionary War, and the Federalist Papers, which aided ratification of the U.S. Constitution. He served as President of the Continental Congress, U.S. Secretary for Foreign Affairs, first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the second governor of New York State.

"During many years of devoted service to the State and the Nation, he looked forward to the day when he would retire with his wife and children to "the house on my farm in Westchester County. The land where John Jay lived his later years was purchased in 1703 by his maternal grandfather, Jacobus Van Cortlandt. By 1800 Jay had acquired, by inheritance and by purchase, 750 acres of property near Bedford, New York. In 1799 he began construction of a comfortable 24-room farmhouse. He moved there in 1801, after his retirement from politics. Tragically, Jay's wife Sarah died only months after moving to their new home. John Jay never remarried and lived as a gentleman farmer until his death in 1829.

"His son William (1789-1858) inherited the house and farm; he later became a leading figure in the struggle to end slavery. William's son John Jay II (1817-1894) inherited the property and upon his death it was given to his son Colonel William Jay (1841-1915). The Colonels' daughter, Eleanor Jay Iselin (1882-1953) was the last of the family to use the property as a full time residence. In 1958 the house and thirty of the original acres were purchased from Eleanor Jay Iselin's heirs by Westchester County and transferred to the State of New York, which opened it to the public in 1964 as John Jay Homestead State Historic Site."

John Jay: First Chief-Justice of the United States
The annexed sketch of his life is from Blake's Biographical Dictionary: "John Jay, LL.D., first chief-justice of the United States under the constitution of 1789, graduated at Kings, (now Columbia College) in 1764 and in 1768 was admitted to the bar. He was appointed to the first American congress in 1774. Being on the committee with Lee and Livingston to draft an address to the people of Great Britain, he was the writer of the eloquent production. In the congress of 1775, he was on various important committees, performing more service perhaps than any other member except Franklin and John Adams."

In May, 1776, he was recalled to assist in forming the government of New York, and in consequence his name is not attached to the Declaration of Independence . . . Though not a member of the convention, which formed the constitution of the United States, he was present at Annapolis and aided by his advice. He also assisted Madison and Hamilton in writing the Federalist. In the convention of New York he contributed to the adoption of the constitution. He was appointed chief justice by Washington, December 26, 1789. In 1794, he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to Great Britain, and succeeded in negotiating the treaty that still goes by his name. Chief-Justice John Jay was governor of the state of New York from 1795 to 1801.

Anti-Slavery Movement
John Jay and his family retired to his farm in Bedford. Upon John Jay's death in 1829, the farm and home were inherited by William Jay, John's second son. William Jay became a prominent leader of abolitionists, and the Homestead became a center in the anti-slavery movement.

Press blue button to learn more about attractions and the history of the John Jay Homestead.

Things To Do at John Jay Homestead
Audio-Visual Programs*
Birthday Parties
Bridle Paths
Demonstrations*
Educational Programs K-12*
Gardens
Gift Shop*
Group Tours*
Hiking
Historic House
Interpretive Sign
Picnic Area
Scenic Views
Special Exhibitions

* Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

Things To Do
Baseball
Basketball
Paddle Tennis
Picnicking
Playground
Sledding
Soccer
Softball
Summer Day Camp
Swimming Pool
Tennis
Walking Trails

• The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Little League and Babe Ruth League, as well as the Larchmont Junior Soccer League, Lacrosse, and MHS teams use the fields in Flint Park for games and practices.
• On Thursday evenings in July, you can enjoy concerts in the park. Bring the kids, a picnic supper, and enjoy listening to the music under the stars.

Things To Do
Baseball Fields (3)
Basketball Courts
Concerts (summer)
Paddle Tennis
Picnic Area
Playgrounds (toddlers and young children)
Soccer Fields
Summer Day Camp
Tennis

• The Larchmont-Mamaroneck Little League and Babe Ruth League, as well as the Larchmont Junior Soccer League, Lacrosse, and MHS teams use the fields in Flint Park for games and practices.
• On Thursday evenings in July, you can enjoy concerts in the park. Bring the kids, a picnic supper, and enjoy listening to the music under the stars.

Things To Do
Baseball Fields (3)
Basketball Courts
Concerts (summer)
Paddle Tennis
Picnic Area
Playgrounds (toddlers and young children)
Soccer Fields
Summer Day Camp
Tennis

For great summer fun bring your boat to the marina and boat launching area. Also available are docks, fishing floats, tennis club, picnic tables, benches, swing benches, ball fields, play fields, parking, concerts and special events. In the hot days of summer, cool off and go swimming at the 700 ft. salt water beach, or have fun at the spray ground. Press blue button for more about Harbor Island Park and Harbor Island Conservancy.

Things To Do
Boat Launch
Concerts
Fishing
Marina
Picnicking
Playground
Playing Fields
Salt Water Beach (700 feet)
Showers
Spray Ground
Tennis Club

Things To Do
Boat Launch
Fishing
Hiking Trails
Nature Study
Picnicking
Playground
Playing Fields

Press blue button for more about Leonard Park in Mount Kisco.

Park Attractions
Japanese Pagoda brought "piece by piece" to Mount Kisco from Japan
Marsh Memorial Sanctuary

Things To Do
Basketball Courts (outdoors)
Disc (Frisbee) Golf Course (*course description)
Gymnasium (located in Memorial Chapel)
Hiking / Walking Trails
Indoor Recreation Bldg.
Picnic Areas
Playground
Playing fields (2 little league fields)
- Softball field
- Hardball field
Swimming pools (toddler pool, main pool, diving tank)
Tea House (may be rented)
Tennis Courts (4)

* Disc Golf Course
Long wooded holes through a mature eastern hardwood forest. Many elevation changes. A 600 ft. par 4 hole.

Winter Activities
Ice Skating
Sledding behind the baseball fields

Point of Interest: A special park feature is "Willson's Waves" where you can body surf on 3-foot waves in the county's first-ever wave pool. Splash downward on an 18-foot-high water slide, wander through cascades and fountains in the water playground or just cool off on the spray deck.

Things To Do
Birthday Parties at Willson's Waves Pool
Fishing
Hiking Trails
Nature Study
Picnicking
Playground
Refreshments
Swimming
Willson's Waves

Winter Activities
Ice Skating


Birthday Parties for Kids
At Willson's Waves, you can body surf on three-foot waves, splash down on an 18-foot-high water slide, or wander through cascades and fountains in the water playground. For more information or to book a birthday party, call Willson's Waves at (914) 813-6990.

Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

Things To Do
Ball Fields
Picnicking
Playground

Things To Do
Amphitheater Outdoors
Fishing on Dock
Horseshoe Courts
Large grassy area
Nature walks
Pavilion
Picnicking
Playground
Shuffleboard
Sunbather's Beach

Things To Do
Ball Fields (3)
Basketball Court
Playground
Picnicking
Skate Park

"Glen Island Park also offers picnic pavilions, and open picnic areas, boat launching, pathways, a catering hall and a restaurant, formerly Glen Island Casino of Big Band era fame. Cannons, sculptures and castles with coursed rubble stone, arched openings and round towers still remain from the days of John Starin’s resort. The castles, reminiscent of those in Germany's Rhineland, were constructed on their present site in the late 19th century for use as a beer garden and restaurant.

"The boat ramp handles 65-70 launchings per weekend. The bathhouse was originally built in a Neo-Georgian style with a cupola marking the center of the front façade. A courtyard looks out to the beach and is completed by a colonnade. The bridge, bridge house, seawall and castles are all eligible for listing on the Register of Historic Places."

Press blue button for more about activities and attractions at Glen Island Park."

Things To Do at Glen Island Park
Beach
Birthday Parties at Glen Island
Boating (canoes, motor boats, kayaking, sailing)
Boat Launch
Fishing
Hiking Trails / Walking
Nature Study
Picnicking | Picnic Shelters
Playground
Refreshments
Swimming Beach

Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

Things To Do at Joe Bohrdrum Town Park
Baseball Fields (2)
Basketball Court
Picnic Area
Playground
Soccer Field (regulation size)
Tennis Courts (2)

The park offers many types of recreational activities including boating, group and self-reliant camping. Rowboat rentals are available on Hemlock Lake or Spruce Lake depending on time of year and availability. Mountain Lakes Park offers the total outdoor experience including camping, fishing, ice skating, hiking, nature exploration, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, picnicking, rowboat rental and a high/low ropes challenge course.

Press blue button for information about boat rentals, camping, and more about the activities and attractions offered at Mountain Lakes Park.

Things To Do
Adventure (high/low ropes challenge course)
Boating
Camping
Fishing
Hiking Trails
Mt. Bailey (Westchester's Highest Point)
Nature Study
Picnicking
Rowboat Rentals

Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing
Ice Skating

Blue Mountain features more than 30 miles of trails . . . Experts enjoy the trails for their challenging topography and novices like the pure natural beauty of the park.

Things To Do on Blue Mountain Bike Trail
Biking Trails
Hiking Trails
Nature Path

Blue Mountain offers challenging hikes to the top of two large peaks: Mt. Spitzenberg and Blue Mountain. The park contains a bathhouse and Trail Lodge, as well as two historically significant comfort stations. These comfort stations were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and are reminiscent of early 20th century National Park structures.

Things To Do at Blue Mountain Reservation
Biking (Mountain biking)
Birding | Bird Watching
Camping
Equestrian Trails
Fishing
Hiking / Walking
Nature Study
Playground
Picnicking
Sportsman Center Target Shooting Range

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Ice Fishing
Ice Skating

Things To Do
Picnicking
Scenic views

Things To Do
Baseball Fields (2)
Basketball Court
Biking Trails
Bocce Ball Court
Fishing
Hiking / Walking
Horseback Riding
Horseshoes
Picnicking (view of Lake Mitchell)
Playgrounds
Swimming (Olympic-sized Pool and a Baby Pool)
Tennis Courts
Tracks (2)

Winter Activities
Ice Skating

Things To Do
Picnicking
Playground
Scenic Views

Things To Do at Abendroth Park
Adult Softball Field
Bathroom Facilities available
Picnic Pavilion
Playground (Includes younger children’s play structure, motorcycle swing rider, fire engines, older children’s play structure, supernova (merry-go-round) and tire swing.

Columbus Park offers a basketball court, two volleyball courts, two playgrounds - one small and one large playground, picnic pavilion, Water Spray playground, and soccer facility.

Things To Do
Basketball and two Volleyball Courts
Bathroom Facilities
*Picnic Pavilion with two (2) picnic grills
Playground - one large and one small play structure with small rock climbing wall
*Soccer Facility with Artificial Turf
Water Spray Playground- Open Summer Only 11 am – 5 pm

* Permit needed

Things To Do
Bathroom Facilities
*Little League Fields (2)
*Pavilions (2) with Picnic Grills
Playground

* Permit needed

Press blue button for season permit fees, activities, and more about the park in Pound Ridge.

Things To Do
Ball Fields
Hiking Trails / Walking
Picnicking
Playgrounds (Toddler and older children's playgrounds)
Showers
Snack Bar
Swimming Pools (Toddler, mid-size, and Olympic size pool)
Tennis

Winter Activities
Fishing
Ice Hockey
Ice Skating

Click to enlarge pictures of "Ward Pound Ridge - Biodiversity Reserve Area" sign.

The sign reads:
On February 15, 2001
The Westchester County Parks Board designated
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
a Biodiversity Reserve Area for the
protection of wildlife habitat.

Click to enlarge pictures of "Important Bird Area" sign.

The sign reads:
Important Bird Area
This site is part of a global
network of places recognized
for their outstanding value
to bird conservation
Audubon

"The museum exhibits specimen birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, minerals, American Indian artifacts, and also houses the Delaware Indian Resource Center. Nature interpretive programs are offered weekly.

"The museum hosts thousands of school children and scouts each year for a variety of educational programs including stream study, American Indian culture, maple sugaring, and badge work. Family-oriented nature programs are scheduled for the general public on nearly every weekend.

"The Trailside Nature Museum is also the home of the Delaware Indian Research Center, a vast collection of books and artifacts concerning American Indians, especially the Delaware. The Research Center is well utilized by both students and educators and has assisted several authors in researching their publications. The Research Center is open to the public by appointment.

"During the summer months, butterfly and moth hatcheries are maintained inside the museum for a close look at the miracle of metamorphosis. Be sure to go butterflying at the outside demonstration butterfly garden which attracts parades of butterflies. The brochure Butterflies of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation lists 83 species that have been seen on the grounds.

"Birds of field and forest abound throughout the year. Birds of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation contain a checklist of the 184 species recorded in the park to date.

"In addition, there is a one-half acre wildflower garden containing more than 80 different kinds of labeled wildflowers. There are several self-guided nature trails – directions and pamphlets are available in the museum."

Press blue button for hours, programs and activities, Wildflower Garden, Delaware Indian Center, Biodiversity Research, Arts in the Park, and more about the Trailside Nature Museum in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation at The Friends of the Trailside Nature Museum and Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

Things To Do at Trailside Nature Museum
Art Gallery (Located in historic Benedict Homestead)
Biodiversity Research
Bird Watching
Birthday Parties (Educational programs offered as birthday parties for any age.)
Educational Programs
Fishing (Catch & Release - Artificial lures only)
Hiking Trails (35 miles of hiking trails)
Nature Programs
Picnicking (
Self Guided Nature Trails
Souvenir Shop
Trailside Nature Museum
Wildflower Garden

See attractions and more things to do at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

Ward Pound Ridge Park offers different landscapes and scenic views throughout its 4,315 acres. You'll find open terrain, woods, meadows of open fields sprinkled with wild flowers, fallen trees, old barns, and open space.

Click to enlarge picture of the main road in Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.

The park offers different landscapes during the seasons. Whether you visit the park in spring, summer, fall, or winter, you will experience the natural landscape and beauty of Ward Pound Ridge with its wetlands, wooded areas, places to cross-country ski, and fabulous fishing spots. Park attractions also include camping sites, playgrounds for younger kids, the Trailside Nature Museum and more.

Click to enlarge picture of "Kimberly Bridge Picnic Area".

Kimberly Bridge Picnic Area is the perfect spot to go bird watching, fishing, hiking, or relax with a picnic as you enjoy the serenity of the brook.

Ward Pound Ridge is also home to the Trailside Nature Museum, that hosts weekend nature interpretive programs, and the Art in Parks program, where exhibitions of work by accomplished regional artists are held throughout the year.

Ward Pound Ridge offers hiking trails, fishing spots (catch & release), birding, nature trails, and vistas for the photographer, painter, and nature lover. Depending on where you are in the park, given the large size of Ward Pound Ridge, you can experience the park in many different ways.

With its varied terrain, landscapes and miles of wooded trails, the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation provides a variety of activities in all seasons. There are areas for picnicking, lean-to camping, fishing, cross-country skiing, and two playgrounds for younger children. The park is also home to the Trailside Nature Museum, which hosts weekend nature interpretive programs year-round.

Hiking Trails
Ward Pound Ridge offers approximately 35 miles of hiking trails among meadows, woods, wetlands, and cross-country ski areas. Hiking trails are available for beginners, intermediate, or advanced hikers.

"You could easily while away a couple of days on the trails here and still not see the entire park. Its sublime scenery is a marvelous medley of hardwood forests, glacial ridges, lowland bogs, granite outcroppings and high-rising bluffs, with a couple of ravines, a river, and a far-reaching viewpoint as added attractions. The main trails are wide and very popular with family groups, while many narrower routes provide a more rugged experience. Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is the largest preserve in the Westchester County Parks system . . . It is also the most beautiful of the county's parks, where litter on the ground is as rare as candy in a dentist's office, and the camping shelters (stone lean-tos constructed by the CCC more than 60 years ago) are raked clean by park personnel. Scenery: Swamps, hemlock, laurel, and hardwood forests, impressive rock outcroppings, scenic overlook of Cross River Reservoir, and historic cave." Visit www.trails.com for more about the Ward Pound Ridge Main Loop.

Audubon Society of Westchester
"Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a mixture of streams, woodland and open fields. Bluebirds can be common here and the park offers good birding even in the middle of summer due to large list of breeding birds. They include: Cooper's and Goshawks, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-throated , Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, Brown Creeper, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 14 species of warblers including Black-throated Green, Worm-eating and Pine Warblers." Ward Pound Ridge is also the best park to watch butterflies in New York. Visit Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester for more about bird watching at Ward Pound Ridge.

Please remember: "Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a Biodiversity Reserve Area. Help to take care of this unique and beautiful space by following our simple stewardship rules."

Press blue button for location of Ward Pound Ridge, map (or pick-up a map at the tool booth park office) and reservation trails and facilities, parking, restrooms, and more about Westchester County's largest park.

Things To Do at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
Art Gallery (Located in historic Benedict Homestead)
Biking on roads only (no biking on trails)
Bird Watching
Butterfly Watching
Camping (Lean-to and Tent sites)
Equestrian Trails & Horseback Riding
Fishing (Catch & Release - Artificial lures only)
Family oriented nature programs at Trailside Museum
Hiking Trails (35 miles of walking & hiking)
Map Available
Picnicking (
Playgrounds in two areas of the park
Restrooms and Porta-toilets
Trailside Nature Museum
Wildflower Garden

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Skiing on open fields
Sledding on Pell Hill
Snow-Shoeing

Point of Interest
Playland has the distinction of being America's first totally planned amusement park and prototype for today's successful theme parks. Dedicated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987, Playland has provided family fun since 1928. Often referred to as "Rye Playland", it is America's only government owned and operated amusement park.

Activities and Attractions
Kiddyland
Family rides
Thrill rides

Note Kiddyland, Family rides, and Thrill rides offer many handicap accessible rides.

Concerts
Press blue button for Playland website and season concerts.

Summer Activities
Beach
Birthday Parties at Playland Beach & Pool
Swimming pool

Winter Activities
Ice Rentals
Party Nights
Playland Skating School
Public Skating

Ice Skating
Adult Skate
Family Skate Nights
Figure Skating Lessons
Freestyle Skating

Ice Hockey
Child Puck Time
Hockey Lessons

The visitor center at Philipsburg, located on Rt. 9 in the village of Sleepy Hollow, offers a wide range of services and changing exhibitions, and also serves as the visitor center for Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate.

Philipsburg Manor is a late 17th/early 18th-century milling, farming, and trading complex owned by an Anglo-Dutch family of merchants. Philipsburg Manor was tenanted by farmers of diverse European backgrounds, and operated by enslaved Africans. In 1693, Frederick Philipse, a carpenter who rose to become the richest man in the colony of New York, was granted a charter for 52,000 acres along the Hudson River by William and Mary of England. Historically, the site is of particular interest because of the size of the enslaved community and the highly developed nature of this 18th-century commercial property.

Featuring a stone manor house filled with a handsome collection of 17th-and 18th-century period furnishings, this famous house also includes a working water-powered gristmill and millpond, an 18th-century barn, a slave garden, and a reconstructed tenant farm house. The grounds are home to historic breeds of cattle, sheep, and chickens.

Points of Interest: Philipsburg Manor is a living history museum. Guides in 18th-century costume conduct tours of the site and numerous special events are held throughout the year. One of many fun things to do with children in the Hudson River Valley.

Things To Do at Philipsburg Manor
Birthday Parties at Philipsburg Manor
Greenhouse Cafe
Picnic grounds
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery located next to Philipsburg Manor
Tour Philipsburg Manor Historic Site
Tours of Kykuit that originate at the Philipsburg Manor Visitor Tourist Center

Washington Irving was born in New York City on April 3, 1783 (1783 - 1859) as the youngest of 11 children. His father was a wealthy merchant, and his mother, an English woman, was the granddaughter of a clergyman. Early in his life Irving developed a passion for books. He studied law privately but practiced only briefly. From 1804 to 1806 he travelled widely in Europe. After returning to the United States, Irving was admitted to the New York bar in 1806.

Washington Irving was a short story writer, essayist, poet, travel book writer, biographer, and columnist. He is best known for the short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle". Washington Irving also held diplomatic posts in Great Britain and Spain.

Sunnyside is one of the most famous historic landmarks in the Hudson Valley. This important house and landscape enjoys a quiet and unspoiled riverside setting in Tarrytown, New York. Sunnyside is adjacent to Lyndhurst, a historic landmark of distinction open to the public, to which it is possible to walk via the Croton Aqueduct Trail.

Sunnyside and its Romantic landscape are presented to visitors by guides dressed in the costume of the mid-Victorian period. You may take a guided tour of the house and grounds, or purchase a grounds-only ticket for a self-guided experience.

Point of Interest: For children, Sunnyside offers "Irving's Traveling Totes" that come stuffed with five to seven engaging family activities, a brief guide, a Talk Back card for feedback related to the activities, and a blank book for visitor responses. Visitors can learn about Washington Irving by reading The Legend of Sleepy Hollow picture book and It Looks Like Spilt Milk, which, though not written by Irving, celebrates the life of the imagination, something Irving aspired to do. Children can play the Sunnyside Matching Card game and join in for a Scavenger Hunt. Dominoes, a 19th-century game, rounds out the experience. If you are a tourist or local resident exploring the Hudson River Valley, be sure to include this landmark in your list of places to see.

Attractions include: Seasonal Café, Sunnyside Tours, Museum Shop, Picnic Grounds.

Kensico dam was completed in 1915. It is 300 feet high and 1830 feet long, and forms the reservoir that contains 29,000 million gallons of water per day. It was acquired as parkland in 1963 from the New York City Watershed Commission and remains the property of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Bronx River Parkway Reservation.

Kensico gets its name from the Siwanoy sachem, "Cokenseko". It is 300 feet high and 1830 feet long. It forms the reservoir that contains 29,000 million gallons of water per day. The dam was built under the old dam that formed Lake Kensico, using stone taken from the adjacent Cranberry Lake Park. The park provides a unique setting for a wide variety of activities including ethnic celebrations, concerts, antiques shows, arts and craft shows, and nature study.

Things To Do at Kensico Dam Plaza
Biking
Fishing
Hiking / Walking
In-line Skating
Nature Study
Outdoor Film Festival
Picnicking
Playground
Refreshments

Winter Activities
Ice Skating

Things to Do at Baldwin Farm
Gardening
Picnic tables (No alcohol, No fires, No pets, No smoking)

Press blue button for more information about activities and parks in the City of White Plains.

Things To Do at Delfino Memorial Park
Baseball fields
Handball Courts
Har-Tru Courts (six supervised, lighted Har-Tru courts)
Picnicking (Tables and grills are available.)
Platform Tennis Courts (3 tennis courts)
Playground
Softball Fields

Winter Activities
Ice Skating (Indoor ice skating at Ebersole Ice Rink open during winter season)

Things to Do in Druss Park
Picnicking
Playground
Outdoor Events

Call for more information about activities available at Liberty Park in White Plains.

Things To Do at Liberty Park
Hiking/Walking Trails
Picnic Area

A trail system connects the southern section to the upland wooded northern part of the park, characterized by mature hardwood forests. The trails are very popular with hikers, cross country skiers and horseback riders. The entire system extends along the Hutchinson River Parkway to Twin Lakes Park and north to Maple Moor Golf Course. It also links to the Leatherstocking Trail and Colonial Greenway and contains archeologically sensitive areas.

Things To Do
18-hole Mini Golf Course
Birthday Parties at Saxon Woods Pool
Equestrian trails
Fishing
Hiking & walking
Nature study
Picnicking
Playground (Accessible)
Refreshments
Swimming in Westchester's largest swimming pool

Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing


Birthday Parties for Kids
Saxon Woods has a large pool with a kiddy pool and aquatic playground with spray features. It is home to the only handicapped-accessible playground in Westchester, fun for kids of all ages. Call Saxon Woods Pool at (914) 995-4480 to arrange a birthday party.

Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

The five miles of mountain bike trails at Sprain Ridge offer challenges to cyclists at every level of ability. The trails wind their way through 278-acres of varied terrain that offers challenges for beginner, intermediate and advanced cyclists. The beginner trail provides cyclists with challenging curves but a relatively level topography.

The intermediate and advanced trails provide experienced cyclists with more of a challenge with trails of increasing grades and challenging topography. There are picnic areas available near all three parking lots and a snack bar is open in season near the swimming pool

The five miles of mountain bike trails at Sprain Ridge offer challenges to cyclists at every level of ability. The trails wind their way through 278-acres of varied terrain that offers challenges for beginner, intermediate and advanced cyclists. The beginner trail provides cyclists with challenging curves but a relatively level topography. The intermediate and advanced trails provide experienced cyclists with more of a challenge with trails of increasing grades and challenging topography.

There are picnic areas available near all three parking lots and a snack bar is open in season near the swimming pool area.

Press blue button for locations and more about activities and attractions at Sprain Ridge Park."

Things To Do at Sprain Ridge Park
Birthday Parties at Sprain Ridge Pool
Hiking Trails / Walking
Mountain Biking (5 miles of mountain bike trails)
Nature Study
Picnicking
Playground
Refreshments
Swimming

Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

Things To Do
Ball Fields
Biking
Birthday Parties at Tibbetts Brook Park and Pool
Fishing
Hiking / Walking
In-line Skating
Miniature Golf Course
Picnicking
Playground
Refreshments
Swimming - Amazing Aquatic Complex

Winter Activities
Cross-country Skiing
Ice Skating


Birthday Parties for Kids
The Brook at Tibbetts has a lazy river, areas for water basketball, a spray playground and more, with extensive picnic areas poolside. Call The Brook at Tibbetts at (914) 231-2865 to arrange a birthday party.

Wheelchair Accessible
Accessible indicates that, to the extent practicable, this facility or activity meets the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards. It is strongly recommended that you contact the facility in advance for a full description of facilities.

The park's oasis of blue water, Mohansic Lake and Crom Pond, provide excellent freshwater fishing and boating. Popular catches include bass, perch, and sun fish. A New York State Freshwater Fishing License is required. Both rowboats and pedal boats are available for rental; however, a regional boating permit allows visitors to launch their own rowboats, canoes or kayaks. For an additional fee, rowboat owners may also store their boats. In wintertime, the water's tree lined border provides a winter wonderland backdrop for ice skaters and ice fisherman.

The park's picnic areas have volleyball nets and many have softball fields or basketball courts. There is also a soccer field. Sports enthusiasts may wish to try their hand at Disc golf, a short distance from the picnic areas. You can play either 9 or 18 holes. The rules and scorecards are located at the course and loaner Frisbees are available from the park office. The park’s hills and trails are perfect for winter sports.

Things To Do
Biking
Boat Launch Sites
Boat Rentals
Fishing
Food
Golf Course
Hiking Trails / Walking
Picnic Tables
Playground
Playing Fields
Pool
Recreation Programs

Winter Activities
Cross-Country Skiing
Ice Fishing
Ice Skating
Snowmobiling

"The farm features demonstration models for backyard farming, rainwater harvesting, composting, and greenroof technology. Visitors can hike the farm’s 3.5 miles of woodland trails, picnic on the farm grounds, purchase a CSA share, or produce from our farm stand or at U-Pick during the growing season, or attend any of our numerous classes and lectures. Hilltop Hanover Farm offers tours, classes and field trips to school groups, garden clubs, and scout troops."

"The farm was purchased in 2003 by Westchester County for watershed protection and agricultural education."

Press blue button for more about educational programs, farmstand, hours of Pick-Your-Own vegetables, CSA shares, and more about Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center.

Things To Do on the Farm
Adult programs
Classes & Field Trips
Group Visits
Hiking (3.5 miles of woodland trails)
Picnicking
Summer Camp
Youth programs

U-Pick
Vegetables