Givans Creek Woods facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Givans Creek Woods |
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| Location | The Bronx, New York, United States |
| Area | 10.73 acres (4.34 ha) |
| Authorized | 1995 |
| Owned by | NYC Parks |
| Hiking trails | no |
| Terrain | wooded |
| Connecting transport | Bx23, Bx28, Bx30, Bx38, Q50 buses |
Givans Creek Woods is a 10.73-acre (4.34 ha) wooded area. It is located near Co-op City in The Bronx, New York City. This natural space offers a quiet escape in a busy urban area.
History of Givans Creek Woods
A man named Robert Givan moved to this area in 1795. At that time, it was part of Westchester County. He came from Kelso, Scotland.
Givan bought land along the Hutchinson River and Eastchester Bay. This land used to belong to the Bartow family. Givans Creek was a tidal creek that flowed into the Hutchinson River. Robert Givan used the creek's water to power a mill.
When Givan passed away in 1830, his land went to his family. These included the Palmer, LeRoy, and Morgan families. You can still find local streets named after them today. In 1881, the large estate was divided into smaller lots for houses.
In 1921, people advertised building lots in the area. They highlighted that the lots had "considerable frontage on Givans Creek." Later, in 1940, plans were made to extend the Hutchinson River Parkway. This plan included building a bridge over Givans Creek.
How Givans Creek Woods Became a Park
By the 1980s, there was not much undeveloped land left. Local environmental groups wanted to protect the remaining natural areas. In 1994, developers planned to build on the Givans Creek Woods lot.
However, the NYC Department of City Planning stepped in. They agreed to turn the area into a park instead. In 1995, Givans Creek Woods was officially made a "passive parkland." This means it is a natural area for quiet enjoyment. A group of local residents formed the Friends of Givan Creek Woods. They help to preserve and care for the area.
By 1999, the park area had a problem. It had been used to dump construction waste. An invasive plant called mugwort (Artemisia vularis L.) took over. To fix this, parts of the woods were replanted with new trees. The soil was also treated to get rid of the mugwort.
What Givans Creek Woods Looks Like Today
A survey in 2007 described the woods as a 12.31-acre (4.98 ha) natural forest. It is bordered by the New England Thruway and Tillotson Avenue to the west. Rombouts Avenue is to the north. Co-op City Boulevard is to the south and east.
More than 150 types of plants grow in the woods. The most common trees are oak and hickory. Some plants found here are protected by New York State. These include Flowering Dogwood, Wild Pink, and native ferns.
The park also has a low-lying wooded wetland area. There are also meadows and mosses and lichens growing on rocks. During the survey, 45 different animal species were found. The area is also known for woodcocks, which are unique birds.
NYC Parks describes Givans Creek Woods as a 10.73-acre (4.34 ha) naturally diverse area. Givans Creek itself now flows underground beneath Co-op City.
