Bronx Kill facts for kids
The Bronx Kill is a narrow waterway in New York City. It marks the southern edge of the Bronx and separates it from Randalls Island in Manhattan. This strait connects the Harlem River to the East River.
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History of the Bronx Kill
Originally, the Bronx Kill was a much wider waterway, about 600 feet (183 meters) across. In the early 1900s, there were plans to make it even deeper and wider. The War Department wanted to dig a 24-foot (7.3-meter) deep channel. This would have been 480 feet (146 meters) wide. The goal was to make it easier for boats to travel and to reduce strong ocean currents.
Because of these plans, the New York Connecting Railroad built a special bridge across the Bronx Kill. This bridge, part of the approach to the Hell Gate Bridge, was designed to move. The Triborough Bridge also has a section over the Bronx Kill that was meant to be changed into a lift bridge. However, a lot of the Bronx Kill was later filled in. This was done to make Randalls Island bigger and create more parkland.
The Bronx Kill is a great place for people who enjoy kayaking and canoeing. It's a good spot because there aren't any large commercial ships to worry about. Canoe and kayak trips often start on the Harlem River, close to the Third Avenue Bridge.
It's important to plan your trip carefully based on the tides. You need to make sure the water is deep enough and the current is flowing in the right direction. At low tide, some parts of the Bronx Kill can become very shallow. You might even see muddy areas and old junk. Also, the Randalls Island Connector bridge is quite low, so taller boats cannot pass under it. Because of these reasons, large commercial ships do not use the Bronx Kill. Local businesses usually use roads and trains for transport instead.
Modern Developments (21st Century)
In 2001, the New York Power Authority offered to build a bridge for walkers and bikers. This bridge would connect the Bronx to Randalls Island. This was part of a deal for building two new power plants in the South Bronx. However, local leaders decided that improving the existing path on the Triborough Bridge would be enough. Instead, the power authority paid for ways to save energy in the Bronx. This included adding a special "green roof" to the Bronx County Courthouse.
Before 2015, getting to Randalls Island from the Bronx side of the Triborough Bridge was tricky. The two sidewalks of the bridge's Bronx Kill section connected to one long ramp on the island. After many years of talks, the Randalls Island Connector bridge was built. This $6 million bridge is located under Amtrak's Hell Gate Bridge. It allows people to walk or bike between Randalls Island and the Port Morris neighborhood in the Bronx. It also connects to the South Bronx Greenway. The connector opened in November 2015.
In 2006, there was a plan to build a water park on Randalls Island. This would have been the first water park of its kind in a big city. The plan started as a $48 million project covering 15 acres (61,000 square meters). It grew to cover 26 acres (105,000 square meters) with a cost of $168 million. However, the project was cancelled in 2007.
Images for kids
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Looking west from the Triborough Bridge.
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Looking east from under the Hell Gate Bridge viaduct during low tide.
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Looking east from the Triborough Bridge walkway towards the Hell Gate Bridge viaduct.
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The Randalls Island Connector.
