Jersey City Reservoir No. 3 facts for kids
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Jersey City Reservoir 2 and 3
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 Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
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| Location | Central Avenue & Summit Avenue Jersey City, New Jersey, USA |
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| Area | 13.8 acres (5.6 ha) |
| Built | 1870 |
| Architectural style | Egyptian Revival Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000569 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 27, 2012 |
The Jersey City Reservoir No. 3 is a really cool and historic spot in Jersey City. It's located on top of a big hill called Bergen Hill, in an area known as the "Heights." This large area, about 13.8 acres (that's like 10 football fields!), used to be a giant tank holding drinking water for the city.
Today, it's no longer used for water. Instead, it has become a secret nature preserve right in the middle of the city! It's a special place where plants and animals thrive, and it's even listed on both the state and national lists of historic places.
Contents
Discovering Jersey City Reservoir No. 3
A Historic Water Supply
The Jersey City Reservoir No. 3 was built a long time ago, between 1871 and 1874. It was a very important part of Jersey City's system for getting clean drinking water. This reservoir supplied water not only to the people of Jersey City but also to Ellis Island, which was a busy entry point for immigrants coming to the United States.
The design of the reservoir is quite interesting. Its tall, thick stone walls, which are about 20 feet high, are built in a style called Egyptian Revival. This means they look a bit like ancient Egyptian buildings. The buildings that housed the pumps are in a Romanesque Revival style, similar to old Roman architecture.
The reservoir provided drinking water for over 100 years, until the 1980s. At that time, a bigger reservoir was built at the Boonton Gorge, so Reservoir No. 3 was emptied and no longer used.
Nature's Comeback
After the reservoir was drained, something amazing happened. Nature started to take over! A whole new mini-ecosystem began to grow inside the old reservoir walls. It's like a hidden world where plants and animals can live safely.
Today, you can find all sorts of things there. There are trees and wildflowers growing, and a beautiful 6-acre lake has formed in the center. This urban wildlife preserve is home to many different animal and plant species that you usually wouldn't see in a busy city. You might spot graceful swans, tall great blue herons, or even speedy peregrine falcons flying overhead. It's a true natural oasis!
Protecting the Reservoir
To help take care of this special place, a group called the Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance was started in 2002. This group works hard to maintain the reservoir and keep it open for people to visit.
They run programs to keep the park clean and safe. You can usually visit the reservoir every Saturday from May through October. The Alliance also organizes fun activities like arts, music, and recreation events during the summer. These events help bring people from the community to enjoy this unique space. The Alliance even won an award in 2005 for their great work in preserving the reservoir.
