Mill Pond Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mill Pond Park |
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The Power house at Mill Pond Park
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| Type | Municipal park |
| Location | Concourse, The Bronx, New York |
| Area | 11.57 acres (4.68 ha) |
| Owned by | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Status | open all year |
| Water | Harlem River |
| Public transit access | New York City Subway:    at 161st Street – Yankee StadiumNew York City Bus: Bx1, Bx2, Bx6, Bx6 SBS, Bx13 Metro-North Railroad: Hudson Line at Yankees – East 153rd Street |
Mill Pond Park is a fun public park located in the Bronx, New York City. It was built between 2006 and 2009. The park helped make up for land used to build the new Yankee Stadium. Its name comes from a dam that used to be near a creek that flowed into the Harlem River.
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Park History
The Story of Cromwell Creek
Long ago, a creek called Cromwell Creek flowed through this area. The Lenape Native Americans knew it as Mentipathe. It started in Morris Heights and flowed south to the Harlem River. In the late 1800s, parts of Cromwell Creek were filled in. This created land for Mullally Park and Macombs Dam Park. The famous old Yankee Stadium was built on this filled-in land in 1923.
The Old Dam and Bridge
In 1813, a man named Robert Macomb built a dam on the Harlem River. This dam was meant to use the creek's water flow. However, it only allowed small boats to pass through a special lock. People living along the river were not happy about this dam. They felt it blocked a public waterway. After many years, the dam was torn down in 1858. In its place, the Macombs Dam Bridge was built. This bridge still connects 161st Street in the Bronx with 155th Street in Manhattan.
From Market to Park
The area where Mill Pond Park now stands was once very different. In the 1920s, Mayor John F. Hylan wanted to build a large market here. It would be a central place for all farm produce coming into the Bronx. This project, called the Bronx Terminal Market, was finished in 1935. It happened during the time of Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia. Railroad barges brought food to the market along the Harlem River. They docked at four piers that are now part of the park. You can still see the Oak Point Link railroad line running along the park's western side.
What You Can Do at the Park
Mill Pond Park opened in 2009 and offers many cool things to do. You can have a picnic or relax on the grassy areas. There's an outdoor classroom, perfect for learning outside. Kids can cool off in the spray showers or play in the sand area. The park also has two water channels and a newly fixed seawall along the river.
Tennis Courts and the Power House
If you love tennis, Mill Pond Park has 16 Deco Turf tennis courts. They are open from April to November. In the colder winter months, 12 of these courts are covered by a large bubble. This means you can play tennis all year!
At the north end of the park, you'll find a historic building called the Power House. It was built in 1923 to keep food cold for the Bronx Terminal Market. Today, this building is very energy efficient and has a green roof. Inside, you'll find offices, public restrooms, an indoor café, and a tennis clubhouse with locker rooms. The second floor of the Power House will soon be the permanent home of the Bronx Children's Museum.
