Bronx River Ecomedia Blog

On a Bronx History tour last Saturday, I walked along a pleasant stretch of the Bronx River between Allerton Avenue and Gun Hill Road. Cars whizzed along the Bronx River Parkway to the east, while Metro North trains rumbled on the west, but in between, the woods were tranquil. Tall stalks of pussy willows bloomed yellow along the river bed and the branches of a few weeping willow trees with leaves and flowers of the same hopeful yellow hung over the stream. Tiny yellow flowers hugging the forest floor were said to be alien plants, but I found them charming immigrants.

Along the way, Lloyd Ultan, official historian of the Bronx Historical Society, communicated more information about the Bronx than I could ever tell you. One tidbit that fascinated me was that before the Kensico reservoir captured water that once flowed into the Bronx River, it was wider and deeper. French immigrants who settled in the area opened restaurants on houseboats moored out on the water, accessible only by rowboat. Weary city dwellers who wanted a nice outing in the country would take the train, then the New York & Harlem River RR, to the Bronx and enjoy French cuisine on the boats along with a walk in the woods.

About midway through our walk, we began to follow what was once a piece of the original Bronx River Parkway. Back in the day, it seems the parkway was a narrow road meandering back and forth across the river. It was intended for bicycle travel. When today’s parkway was built to accommodate big cars driven by more people, both the road the river were straightened.

Along the river’s flood plain, Rob Benaton of the Neighborhood Initiative Development Corp. (NIDC) sponsor of the tour, told us about efforts to eradicate Japanese knotweed there. Japanese knotweed is a notorious invasive plant that grows thick and tall, crowding out native vegetation. After pulling some out and hacking it back systematically, the next step is to replant the area. As part of this effort, NIDC is having a spring tree planting next Saturday, April 21, from 10 am to 1 pm. All are welcome. To help, meet in front of the NIDC office at 2523 Olinville Ave., near Mace.

In the peace of the river and woods, it was possible to imagine what the Bronx looked like 100 years ago, all woods, wetlands, and truck farms, before the subway came and the city expanded north along its route.