Westchester Land Trust Protects Land in Historic Park Hill Neighborhood of Yonkers

Westchester Land Trust (WLT), a nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit headquartered in Bedford Hills, Westchester County, NY, has announced the permanent protection of land in the historic Park Hill neighborhood of Yonkers.

Preserved in perpetuity by a conservation easement, the land provides scenic enjoyment and open space within a heavily developed city. The newly preserved lots are close to a property protected earlier in 2023 by WLT, creating a swath of permanently protected green space in this urban environment.

The property features large trees, a garden, and rocky outcrops. It is in the Hudson River Estuary and drains into Tibbetts Brook, which flows into Van Cortlandt Lake and eventually into the Harlem River. Protecting water quality in Tibbetts Brook is a priority of the New York City Parks Department.

The easement is located less than a quarter mile from Pelton Park, a central hub of the Yonkers Greenway. Led by the City of Yonkers and Groundwork Hudson Valley, the Yonkers Greenway is creating an urban trail for walking, running, and biking along a branch of the abandoned Putnam Railroad. It will eventually stretch from New York City’s Van Cortlandt Park to the downtown Yonkers waterfront, connecting underserved neighborhoods to parklands.

Photo of conservation easement in the Park Hill neighborhood of Yonkers provided by Westchester Land Trust.