Tibbetts Brook to resurface in Riverdale, boosting green spaces and water quality

This is a project by the Bronx, for the Bronx and we are committed to making it a success.”

Julie Reyes, Community Board 8 chair

A centuries-old underground creek is set to make its long-awaited re-debut in Riverdale next year.

The small stream, known as Tibbetts Brook, originates in Yonkers and winds through Van Cortlandt Park before flowing into the Harlem River Ship Canal. 

On June 12, city environmental agencies finalized the purchase of a three-quarter mile strip of land adjacent to the Major Deegan Expressway from its longtime owner, railroad company CSX Transportation. This acquisition marks a crucial milestone in the effort to “daylight” Tibbetts Brook, bringing the creek back to the surface and restoring its natural course.

In earlier times, Tibbetts Brook flowed through Kingsbridge, between Tibbetts Avenue and Irwin Avenue, and joined Spuyten Duyvil Creek north of Marble Hill, but rbanization trends in the early 1900s redirected it underground.

Looking even further back, Jacobus Van Cortlandt dammed the brook in 1699, resulting in the creation of Van Cortlandt Lake and setting the stage for the waterway’s eventual burial under urban infrastructure.

Karen Argenti, a member of the Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, has been a steadfast advocate for the Tibbetts Brook revival for decades. Having been present at the project’s earliest discussions, she recalled how what began as a visionary initiative has since grown into a challenge no one could have anticipated at the time. 

At present the largest green infrastructure project in the city, Tibbetts Brook will become part of a corridor connecting parks, wildlife habitats and urban green spaces, as well as linking with the Empire State Trail.

Inspired by the success of New York’s High Line, the project aims to establish an ecosystem in harmony with its urban surroundings — the corridor will provide a continuous habitat for wildlife, enhance biodiversity and offer recreational and scenic areas for the community. 

One of the project’s most significant environmental benefits lies in redirecting Tibbetts Brook away from its current route through a sewer line along Broadway. Currently, the brook’s waters mix with sewage before undergoing treatment at the Wards Island wastewater plant. By restoring its natural flow directly into the Harlem River, the project will improve water quality by preventing sewage contamination and reducing overflow into city rivers and low-lying streets.

Flooding risks will be even further lessened by the project’s emphasis on increased vegetation cover, which will naturally absorb more stormwater and mitigate pollution from combined sewer overflows. Native plants and restored habitats along the brook corridor will also act as filters to break down contaminants and improve both air and water quality. 

Beyond its environmental impact, the project will provide a safe, accessible greenway route and space for outdoor activities — strengthening community ties and contributing to the overall well-being of residents. It will also work to support a handful of local artists, who have been appointed to decorate the area along the path with community-themed pieces. 

With construction slated to begin in late 2025, there is a collective eagerness from all sectors to see the project finally come to fruition. Community leaders and environmental advocates have long envisioned a healthier Bronx with improved access to green spaces, many of whom have voiced support for this project’s anticipated benefits.

Community Board 8 chair Julie Reyes said she was thrilled to see this project moving forward.

“We look forward to working with the city to ensure the park’s design reflects the community’s needs and desires,” Reyes said. “This is a project by the Bronx, for the Bronx, and we are committed to making it a success.”