Tibbetts Brook Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tibbetts Brook Park
Tibbetts Brook Park, waterfall on the brook and facing admin. building.
Type	Municipal
Location	Yonkers, NY, United States
Area	161 acres (65 ha)
Created	1927
Operated by	Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation
Status	Home of the New York Magpies

Tibbetts Brook Park is a big park, about 161-acre (65 ha) in size. It's located in the Lincoln Park area of Yonkers, which is in Westchester County, New York. The park first opened in 1927. It was one of the first parks built in Westchester County.

Today, Tibbetts Brook Park is a great place for many activities. You can go swimming, hiking, play sports, watch nature, and even go fishing there. The park got its name from George Tibbetts, a person from Britain who settled on this land way back in 1668.

The park is surrounded by different roads and natural features. To the north is the Cross County Parkway, and to the west is the Saw Mill River Parkway. McLean Avenue is to the south, and Midland Avenue is to the east. Tibbetts Brook Park is about 1 kilometer north of Van Cortlandt Park. A stream called Tibbetts Brook flows through the park from north to south, heading towards the Harlem River.

Did you know the park is also home to a sports team? It's the main practice and game spot for the New York Magpies. They play a sport called Australian rules football, which is part of the USAFL.

Exploring the Park's Past

Tibbetts Brook Park has a long and interesting history. Let's take a look at some key moments that shaped it.

Who Owned the Land Before the Park?

Back in 1668, a man named George Tippett bought this land. It was part of a much larger area owned by Elias Doughty. This big estate stretched from the Hudson River all the way to the Bronx River and Saw Mill River.

Later, during the American Revolution, George Tippett's family faced trouble. They were known as Loyalists, meaning they stayed loyal to the British King. Because of this, their land was taken away and sold after the war.

A Revolutionary War Battle at Tibbetts Brook

The park area was once the site of a battle during the American Revolution. This fight, sometimes called the Battle of Tibbett's Brook or Battle of Kingsbridge, happened in 1778.

Native American Chief Daniel Nimham and Ethan Allen, a famous American leader, joined forces with other Americans. They fought against a British group called the Queen's Rangers, led by John Graves Simcoe. Chief Nimham led the Stockbridge Militia, which included members of the Mahican and Wappinger tribes.

The battle lasted for two days, from August 30 to 31. The British won this battle. Sadly, Chief Nimham and other militia members died during the fight. They were buried in a place now called Indian Field, which is in nearby Van Cortlandt Park. Four British soldiers were killed, and three were hurt, including Simcoe.

Water for the City: The Old Croton Aqueduct

Part of the Old Croton Aqueduct runs right through Tibbetts Brook Park. This aqueduct was like a giant water pipe built between 1837 and 1842. Its main job was to bring fresh, clean water to New York City. At that time, New York City was having problems with diseases spread by dirty water.

By 1890, the Old Croton Aqueduct was no longer used. A newer, bigger, and better aqueduct, called the New Croton Aqueduct, was built to take its place.

From "The Jungle" to a Beautiful Park

In 1872, Leonard W. Jerome bought the land where the park is now. It became part of his "Valley Farms." By the early 1900s, the area looked very different. There was a garbage dump on the north side of Yonkers Avenue. Water from Tibbetts Brook would overflow and create a lake called Peckham's Lake. Even though this lake was very polluted and could cause diseases because of the garbage, people still used it for swimming.

The area just south of the lake was a swamp, full of mosquitoes. Because of all this, the whole site was known as "The Jungle."

In 1923, the Westchester County Park Commission had a great idea: they proposed building a park there! They bought the land from Valley Farms in October of that year. Construction on the park started in September 1924. One of the first big jobs was removing "fourteen feet of garbage" from the site. Finally, Tibbetts Brook Park officially opened on June 25, 1927.

When it first opened, the park was still quite simple, with just a boat dock. Soon after, a swimming pool was built. This was important because children were still swimming in the polluted Tibbetts Brook. In 1931, the Saw Mill River Parkway was finished, making it easier to get to the park. Later, in 1940, a bridge was built over the parkway and the railroad. This allowed people from the western part of the park to walk in. In June 2007, a new area called Tibbetts Brook Park North opened, with three sports fields.

Fun Things to Do at Tibbetts Brook Park

Tibbetts Brook Park offers many exciting activities for everyone!

Splashing Fun at the Water Park

The park is famous for its large pool. In June 2011, it reopened as a modern saltwater water park! It has a lazy river, fun sprays, and waterfalls. There's also a small lap pool for swimming.

Trails for Walking and Exploring

If you love walking or hiking, Tibbetts has many trails. Part of the 14-mile (23 km) South County Trailway runs near the western side of the park. You can also walk along part of the Croton Aqueduct Trail.

Sports and Games for Everyone

The park has lots of ways to play!

• You can play miniature golf.
• In winter, you can go ice skating or skiing.
• There are two artificial lakes where you can go fishing.
• Kids can enjoy the playgrounds.
• There are also campsites if you want to stay overnight.
• The park has facilities for tennis, soccer, football, and baseball.

Tibbetts Brook Park is open every day of the week, from 8 in the morning until it gets dark.

Wildlife at Tibbetts Brook Park

Tibbetts Brook Park is home to many different kinds of birds and mammals. It's a great place to observe nature!

Birds You Might See

Here are some of the bird species that have been seen at the park, along with the highest number counted for each: