Highbridge Reservoir facts for kids
The Highbridge Reservoir was a large reservoir (a place to store water) in New York City. It was an important part of the city's water supply system. This reservoir received water from a section of the Croton Aqueduct, which was a system of pipes and channels that brought fresh water to the city.
The reservoir was located in Upper Manhattan, on Amsterdam Avenue. It was right next to the famous High Bridge and its water tower, overlooking the Harlem River. The reservoir was quite big, covering about 7 acres. It was about 16 feet deep and could hold over 10 million gallons of water.
Building the Highbridge Reservoir
The idea for the Highbridge Reservoir started in 1863. The New York State Legislature (the state's law-making group) approved its construction. The main goal was to provide enough water pressure for buildings on higher ground nearby.
The project was designed by John B. Jervis, a chief engineer for the Croton Aqueduct. Building the reservoir began in 1866 and finished in 1872. Large steam engines were used to pump water from the aqueduct up into the reservoir. Then, more powerful pumps sent water even higher to a tank at the top of the water tower. This tank could hold about 47,000 gallons of water.
From Reservoir to Park
By 1934, the Highbridge Reservoir had not been used for about fifteen years. Robert Moses, who was in charge of New York State Parks at the time, suggested a new idea for the site. He proposed turning the old reservoir into a new park for the community.
In the spring of 1934, the Office of Parks took over the reservoir. They began building the Highbridge Play Center as part of Highbridge Park. This new play center included a large outdoor swimming pool, giving local kids and families a fun place to cool off and play.
Notes
