Potential pedestrian bridge in Van Cortlandt Park receives rave reviews
In 2019, it was announced that a pedestrian bridge would be built to connect the southwest corner of the park to the rest of the green space.
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A pedestrian bridge may soon be coming to Van Cortlandt Park that will connect access to the northeast area of the park.
The park is the city’s third-largest, with two parkways and an expressway running through it. It spans 1,146 acres and is home to five hiking trails, but some of those trails don’t have a clear path for pedestrians to make their way to the other side of the park.
"If it cuts more distance off your route than why not?” said one parkgoer.
In 2019, it was announced that a pedestrian bridge would be built to connect the southwest corner of the park to the rest of the green space, and now NYC Parks is working with the community on how to construct a bridge to enhance the park.
The current proposed location is above the Major Deegan Expressway, connecting the eastern side of the Allen Shandler Recreation Area to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail that is currently under construction.
The Parks Department says it is currently looking for a forest-friendly approach to completing the park. One suggestion is to improve the nature experience over the existing Jerome Avenue bridge while also improving sidewalks and trail accessibility.
NYC Parks plans to schedule a walkthrough of the area with the nearby community boards and local residents by early August.
