On reviewing the various development projects in the Northwest Bronx over the last 38 years, ahead of the final edition of the Norwood News, the first thing that comes to mind in some but not all cases is, of course, just how seemingly arduous and protracted they can be. Often surpassing the durations of successive gubernatorial and mayoral administrations, and the tenures of various politicians, one local mammoth redevelopment project has, of course, been the Croton Water Filtration Plant.

 

Built underneath Mosholu Golf Course in Van Cortlandt Park, the plant is located along Jerome Avenue in Norwood. The federal government ordered New York City to build the filtration plant for its Croton water supply, and the City secured passage of State legislation authorizing use of the Mosholu Golf Course site for construction of the Plant, subject to certain conditions.

 

According to greenroofs.com, the Plant is nine acres wide, and sinks 12 stories into the earth. Opposition to the project by the local residents was in part due to fears over lack of public walkway access to the nearby Jerome Park Reservoir. They argued access to the walkway promoted a healthy lifestyle with related health benefits in a borough which ranks last out of New York State’s 62 counties when it comes to the health of its residents. However, NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officials continually denied the requests citing bio-terrorism concerns. In 2017, residents were granted temporary access for two days as part that year’s Bronx Week celebrations.

 

However, residents’ fears over lack of permanent access have since been realized. DEP informed Norwood News in 2023 that at some points in the past, the city agency had allowed periodic, limited access to the waterfront, but because the reservoir is an active part of the water supply system, DEP no longer permits such public access to the facility. DEP officials said there was no amount of additional security measures DEP or the NYPD could recommend that would make the facility safe for consistent public use.

 

Other fears were the effects of years of construction on quality of life for Norwood residents particularly, including increased air pollution, noise and traffic. Park advocates also said the knocking out public parkland for an industrial facility was a dangerous precedent. Construction for the plant began in 2005 and was supposed to be completed in 2011 under a federal order, but was marred by the enormity of the project, which ultimately went $3 billion over budget.

Following the completion of a $15.7 million upgrade to the reservoir in February 2022, DEP was set to begin a further $38 million project “to further improve structural components of the reservoir to ensure it continues to fulfill its critical role in the City’s water supply system.”

 

Norwood News was informed by DEP that the work also coincides with the “Washington’s Walk” retaining wall construction project, a nearly $1 million project that will reconstruct retaining walls at the southeast corner of Claflin Avenue and Reservoir Avenue, south of the reservoir, and along West 197th Street between Reservoir Avenue and University Avenue at Washington’s Walk in Kingsbridge Heights.

 

According to NYC Parks, the schematic design for the Washington’s Walk project has been approved internally at Parks and is now going through review by the community board and external regulatory agencies for comment and approval. In terms of a timeframe, the review process began in November 2024 and is expected to be completed in October 2026.

 

Other community concerns related to fire safety at the plant and adherence to employment contract terms. Following the selection of Mosholu Golf Course / Van Cortlandt Park as the site for the Plant and in accordance with the terms of the 1999 ULURP approval of the project, various Bronx Parks benefits valued at $43 million in Van Cortlandt Park were promised.

These included the restoration of the Mosholu Golf Course & Driving range, the implementation of a forest management plan, the renovation of the Shandler Recreation Area, the renovation of the Saturn Playground, the upgrade and improvement of the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, and the provision of signage describing flora and fauna within Van Cortlandt Park wetland areas adjacent to the site.

 

Other commitments were the renovation of the entranceway west of Dickinson Avenue near Van Cortlandt Park South, the complete restoration of the area adjacent to the Van Cortlandt Valve Chamber, evaluating the feasibility of building a bridge over the Major Deegan Expressway to connect the east and west portions of Van Cortlandt Park, and the creation of a facilities monitoring committee.

 

Additionally, the City was due to commit to spending $200 million on projects to acquire and / or improve parks and recreational facilities and to improve the environment in The Bronx. Norwood News has reached out to NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to ask for an update on these commitments. We will endeavor to include DEP’S feedback on www.norwoodnews.org, should we receive it prior to Sept. 1 [the day we close].

 

In 2015, Norwood News reported that community leaders and representatives announced $12 million had been allocated for the proposed bridge, thanks to collective efforts from community, City, and State officials. Meanwhile, Park equity was included as part of discretionary funding from the City in 2023.

 

The proposed bridge would have allowed residents on the east side of Van Cortlandt Park, in Woodlawn/Norwood, access to amenities located on the west, more affluent side of the Park, in Fieldston. In July of this year, Woodlawn resident Matthew Young shared his concerns that now, $23 million in funding, allegedly including the original Croton Filtration Plant mitigation money meant to compensate the heavily impacted Jerome Avenue corridor, was allegedly being diverted to fund a luxury golf cart bridge, a “Birding Bridge,” servicing the Van Cortlandt Park Golf Course on the wealthier west side of the Park.

Meanwhile, Young alleged the east side (Van Cortlandt Park East, Gun Hill Road, and East 233rd Street) had been left completely unbudgeted and that bridge connectivity would be assessed based on any leftover funding. “Our local families are dodging traffic at the dangerous Jerome Ave/233rd intersection just to get kids into the park, but the city is prioritizing country club amenities,” he said, telling Norwood News that he is among other Woodlawn residents who are not happy about the situation.

 

In a letter dated July 1 from NYC Parks to Young, a copy of which has been seen by Norwood News, the agency indeed confirmed that two Van Cortlandt Park projects i.e. Van Cortlandt Park Woodland Crossings and Birding Bridge Reconstruction Projects have been funded and an engineering consultant has been selected to help with the site assessment, permitting, and design.

 

Parks went on to say that the “east side perimeter restoration project” has not yet been assessed in terms of size and scope and that Parks plans to study and coordinate with NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) on “intersection safety on Jerome Avenue.”

Parks further confirmed that funding for all Van Cortlandt Park Improvement projects includes around $9.5 million in mayoral funding, $9.9 million from DEP, $3 million from New York State Assembly Members Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and Carl Heastie (A.D. 83) through the Dormitory Authority (DASNY), and $1 million from former New York State Senator Jeff Klein via DASNY, totaling $23.4 million.

 

Norwood News has reached out to Parks for comment on the resident’s concerns. We will endeavor to include Parks’ feedback on www.norwoodnews.org, should we receive it prior to Sept. 1 [the day we close].

 

The Van Cortlandt Park masterplan for 2034 posted on Parks’ website, which outlines the various planned projects for the park, and which was seemingly last updated in July 2015, can be viewed here.

 

More recently, Norwood News reported how the Jerome Park Reservoir is to remain dry until 2028, and that a woman was reported unconscious at the Reservoir amid probes by the FBI into cyber threats to U.S. water systems.

 

A memorial ceremony for those lost amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been held annually in the vicinity of the Reservoir since 2022 organized by Friends of Jerome Park, as reported.

 

Read more about the Jerome Park Reservoir here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here. here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.