Highbridge Reservoir
Encyclopedia
Highbridge Reservoir received water from a portion of the Croton Aqueduct
system. It was located on Amsterdam Avenue between 172nd Street and 174th Street, in Upper Manhattan
adjacent to the High Bridge Water Tower and the High Bridge
across the Harlem River
Valley. The reservoir covered about 7 acres (28,328 m²), was 16 feet (4.9 m) deep, and had a total capacity of 10794000 gallons (40,859,737.1 l).
In 1863, the New York Legislature
authorized construction of the reservoir and water tower
to supply water pressure to buildings located at high elevations in the surrounding area. The project was designed by John B. Jervis
, the chief engineer of the Croton Aqueduct. Construction began in 1866 and was completed in 1872. Water was pumped up from the aqueduct approximately 100 feet (30.5 m) into the reservoir and then pumped up another 200 feet (61 m) to the top of the water tower in to a tank with a capacity of 47000 gallons (177,914.4 l).
By 1934, the reservoir had not been used for fifteen years and was proposed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Commissioner, Robert Moses
, as the site of a new park. In the spring of 1934, Highbridge Reservoir was taken over by the Office of Parks for the outdoor swimming pool of Highbridge Park
.
Croton Aqueduct
The Croton Aqueduct or Old Croton Aqueduct was a large and complex water distribution system constructed for New York City between 1837 and 1842...
system. It was located on Amsterdam Avenue between 172nd Street and 174th Street, in Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan
Upper Manhattan denotes the more northerly region of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. Its southern boundary may be defined anywhere between 59th Street and 155th Street. Between these two extremes lies the most common definitions of Upper Manhattan as Manhattan above 96th Street...
adjacent to the High Bridge Water Tower and the High Bridge
High Bridge (New York City)
The High Bridge is a steel arch bridge, with a height of almost 140 feet over the Harlem River, connecting the New York City boroughs of The Bronx and Manhattan...
across the Harlem River
Harlem River
The Harlem River is a navigable tidal strait in New York City, USA that flows 8 miles between the Hudson River and the East River, separating the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx...
Valley. The reservoir covered about 7 acres (28,328 m²), was 16 feet (4.9 m) deep, and had a total capacity of 10794000 gallons (40,859,737.1 l).
In 1863, the New York Legislature
New York Legislature
The New York State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of New York. The New York Constitution does not designate an official term for the two houses together...
authorized construction of the reservoir and water tower
Water tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
to supply water pressure to buildings located at high elevations in the surrounding area. The project was designed by John B. Jervis
John B. Jervis
John Bloomfield Jervis was an American civil engineer. He was America's leading consulting engineer of the antebellum era . Jervis was a pioneer in the development of canals and railroads for the expanding United States...
, the chief engineer of the Croton Aqueduct. Construction began in 1866 and was completed in 1872. Water was pumped up from the aqueduct approximately 100 feet (30.5 m) into the reservoir and then pumped up another 200 feet (61 m) to the top of the water tower in to a tank with a capacity of 47000 gallons (177,914.4 l).
By 1934, the reservoir had not been used for fifteen years and was proposed by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates :*168 state parks*35 state historic sites*76 developed beaches*53 water recreational facilities*27 golf courses*39 full service cottages*818 cabins...
Commissioner, Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
, as the site of a new park. In the spring of 1934, Highbridge Reservoir was taken over by the Office of Parks for the outdoor swimming pool of Highbridge Park
Highbridge Park
Highbridge Park is located in Washington Heights on the banks of the Harlem River near the northernmost tip of the New York City borough of Manhattan, between 155th Street and Dyckman Street...
.