Westchester Creek facts for kids
Westchester Creek, also known as Frenchman's Creek, is a waterway in the south-eastern part of the Bronx in New York City. It's a "tidal inlet," which means it's a narrow arm of the sea where the water level changes with the tides. This creek connects to the East River.
Exploring Westchester Creek
Westchester Creek is about 2.1 miles (3.39 km) long. It used to stretch much further inland, almost reaching Eastchester Bay. In the past, during big storms, this made Throggs Neck into an island!
However, over time, many parts of the creek have been filled in. New structures like the New York City Subway's Westchester Yard and the Hutchinson Metro Center were built on top of it. Today, the creek ends near Herbert H. Lehman High School. Most of the remaining creek is surrounded by businesses or empty land. The large Bruckner Interchange crosses over Westchester Creek in the middle.
Pugsley Creek: A Neighboring Waterway
Pugsley Creek is a smaller creek that flows into Westchester Creek. It was once known by other names like Maenippis Kill and Cromwell's Creek. Pugsley Creek also has a park named after it.
Like Westchester Creek, Pugsley Creek used to be longer. It once reached Westchester Avenue. Over the years, it became shorter, first ending at the Bruckner Expressway and now at Lacombe Avenue. Most of its old path has been developed with buildings, but one block of Bolton Avenue still shows where the creek used to be.
History and Changes of the Creek
The first lasting European settlement in the Bronx was Westchester Square. It was started in 1654 by Thomas Pell and a group of settlers. This settlement was built at the point where boats could travel furthest up Westchester Creek.
In the 1930s, the very beginning of the creek was filled in. This was done to make way for the Hutchinson River Parkway. Later, in 1957, a marina called Metro Marine was built on the creek. It had space for 30 boats.
Over many years, the creek became polluted because of heavy industrial use nearby. But there's good news! In 2014, a group called the Friends of Ferry Point Park announced plans. They want to spend $100 million to clean up and restore both Westchester and Pugsley Creeks. Ferry Point Park is located on the east bank of the creek.
