Jerome Park Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Jerome Park Reservoir
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Goulden, Reservoir and Sedgwick Aves., Bronx, New York |
|---|---|
| Built | 1906 |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001014 |
| Added to NRHP | September 7, 2000 |
The Jerome Park Reservoir is a large reservoir (a place where water is stored) located in the Jerome Park neighborhood. This area is in the North Bronx part of New York City. The reservoir is surrounded by several schools and colleges. These include DeWitt Clinton High School, the Bronx High School of Science, Lehman College, and Walton High School.
Building the Reservoir
_-_re-tinted_Marble_Hill_detail.png)
The Jerome Park Reservoir was finished in 1906. It was built to be a key part of New York City's water system. The reservoir helps store and supply water from the New Croton aqueduct to the city.
The reservoir gets its name from the Jerome Park Racetrack. This famous racetrack used to be on the same land. It opened in 1866 and even hosted the very first Belmont Stakes horse race in 1867. The racetrack was owned by Leonard Walter Jerome, who was Winston Churchill's grandfather. New York City bought the land and closed the racetrack in 1889 to build the reservoir.
Protecting the Reservoir
In 1996, people living nearby formed a group called the Jerome Park Conservancy. They worked together to stop the city from building a water treatment plant right at the reservoir site. Residents were worried about noise, chemicals, and construction. They felt these things would make life worse for them and affect the students at nearby schools.
Their efforts were successful! The reservoir was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. This listing helps protect important historical sites. A related building, the High Pumping Station, was listed even earlier in 1983.
Water Flow and Public Access
The water treatment plant was eventually built in a different spot. It was placed underground in another part of the North Bronx, beneath Van Cortlandt Park. Because of this construction, the Croton water system was temporarily shut down. The reservoir was emptied in December 2008.
However, the reservoir was refilled and started working again in early 2014. In November 2015, the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) tried something new. They opened the area around the reservoir to the public for special tours. This allowed people to see this important part of the city's history and water supply up close.
