Kickoff Ceremony Held For Tibbetts Brook Park Gazebo Restoration Project
L-R: Christine LaPorta, Deputy Director WPF; Seth Mandelbaum, Chair WPF, Walter Sedovic, Architect; Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Don and Carolyn Moriarity, Donors; Westchester County Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor
By Josefa PagJosefa Paganuzzi, Thompson & Bender for Westchester Parks
Dec. 8, 2021: The long-awaited Tibbetts Brook Park Gazebo Restoration project is about to become a reality. Westchester Parks Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides private support to preserve the County’s Park system and improve the quality of life in our communities, hosted a kickoff ceremony for the restoration of the beloved gazebo in Yonkers Thursday morning. The beautification project is made possible thanks to a generous gift from Carolyn and Don Moriarity of Bronxville, longtime supporters of Westchester County Parks.
The ceremony took place directly in front of the Romanesque structure, which boasts nine elegant arches and is 16 feet tall from the platform, 20 feet above the water. The project was identified as a priority by Westchester Parks Foundation during the last decade, as the project perfectly encompasses the organization’s mission to enhance and invest in the preservation of Westchester County Parks. Walter Sedovic Architects, based in Irvington, is the architecture firm chosen for the project.
Restoration sketch. Courtesy of Ken Uhle, Westchester County Parks Department
Originally conceived during the roaring 20's as a lakeside pavilion and bandstand, fine detailing remains under layers of cement patches. Paint coatings and graffiti will be removed to help restore the original finish. The project will also re-establish its historic relationship to its setting, on a point projecting into the lake that has long eroded away. Enhanced plantings, lighting and sound will allow new staging for music, plays, opera, weddings & gatherings: A "Mini Tanglewood at Tibbetts".
Local leaders, elected officials and architects gathered at the site to kick off the project that is expected to be finished by Fall 2022, pending all permits and approvals. Seth Mandelbaum, Chair of Westchester Parks Foundation stated “The historic gazebo is not only original to the park, but a key piece of Westchester Parks Foundation’s efforts at Tibbetts Brook Park, which also includes the removal of invasive plants from the Lake, to restore the lake area for recreational use. We are thrilled this project is finally happening.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said: “The restoration of the gazebo at Tibbetts Brook Park in Yonkers is another example of how we can take what we already have and revitalize it so that current residents and visitors have the chance to properly utilize and enjoy all that Westchester County has to offer.”
Westchester County Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor said, “The Westchester Parks Foundation and its volunteers have been working diligently to update several sections of Tibbetts Brook Park. With generous funds from donors, that work is now expanding to the gazebo to help make Tibbetts one of Westchester County’s must-visit parks.”
Photo of the Gazebo taken recently. Photo courtesy of Westchester Parks Foundation
Tibbetts Brook Park is a 161-acre park located in the Lincoln Park section of Yonkers in Westchester County, New York. Opened in 1927, it was one of the first developed parks in Westchester County and currently serves residents with activities that include swimming, hiking, sports, nature watching and fishing. Tibbetts is bordered by the Cross County Parkway to the north, Saw Mill River Parkway to the west, McLean Avenue to the south and Midland Avenue to the East.
Photo of Gazebo in 1927. Courtesy of Westchester County Parks.
The park was named for George Tippet, a local pioneer settler during the colonial period. Because his descendants were royalists during the Revolution, the property was confiscated and sold by the state. The low grounds along the western branch of Tibbetts Brook had once been used by the city of Yonkers as a refuse dump, which polluted the water. The swimming pool at Tibbetts was constructed because children were swimming in the brook. The park is now seen as a refuge from urban living, an oasis of green surrounded by the city.
The Gazebo is believed to have been constructed around 1927, the same time the park was officially opened to the public.
Photos courtesy Westchester Parks Foundation
Community Service Organizations Directory
HOME & GARDEN
Bronxville Beautification Council
Organized in 1982, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not-for-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The mission of the BBC is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of the village of Bronxville, with an emphasis on the downtown business district.
Click here to learn more
Boulder Ledge Garden Club
Founded in 1966, the Boulder Ledge Garden Club is rooted in a mission to inspire a deeper appreciation and love for gardening and flower arranging. The club is dedicated to fostering and promoting interest and knowledge in gardening.
The Club maintains Bronxville’s Bicentennial Park and other civic gardens. In 2019–2020 the club raised $18,000 to replace trees in the village, reflecting its active role in community beautification. It also holds garden therapy projects and educational garden trips for members.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.m or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bronxville Giving Garden
The Bronxville Giving Garden is a community-centered garden that donates organic produce to Eastchester Community Action Partnership in Tuckahoe and Community Service Associates in Mount Vernon. The garden is also a gathering place where school children and volunteers can discover the joy of tending plants and growing food.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bronxville Green Committee
The Bronxville Green Committee is a volunteer organization that is part of the Village of Bronxville. It proposes and implements environmentally sustainable programs in our community.
You can contact them HERE.
SCOUTING
Bronxville Boy Scouts
The village of Bronxville has a long tradition of scouting. “The troops and packs of Bronxville have maintained the finest scouting organizations and have taught the boys of the Bronxville area to be leaders and outstanding members of the local, national and global communities.”
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information
Bronxville Girls Scouts
The Girls Scouts is “the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.” In Girl Scouts, “girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Through the many enriching experiences provided by Girl Scouts, they can grow courageous and strong.”
Here is more information about girl scouts.
HISTORY
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
Inspired by the highly successful Bronxville Centennial Celebration in 1998, the Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded to record and preserve Bronxville's history and life in the village today.
BRONXVILLE SCHOOL
Bronxville School Foundation
The Bronxville School Foundation, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization independent from the school with the sole purpose of supporting the school.
The mission of the Bronxville School Foundation is to enhance the quality of public education in our community by engaging the support and energies of educators, citizens, parents, students and alumni.
The Foundation awards grants for projects
CLICK HERE to learn more.
LECTURES, EXHIBITS, CONCERTS
Bronxville Women's Club
The Bronxville Women’s Club offers lectures, exhibits and concerts. It also has a beautiful clubhouse which is available for rental for events.
135 Midland Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3252
Concordia Conservatory
Concordia Conservatory, a preeminent center for music education in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, is a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.
The Conservatory’s mission is to inspire, instruct, and enrich lives through music offering excellence in education and performance.
CLICK HERE for more information.
COUNSELING
Counseling Center
Founded in 1971, the mission of the Counseling Center “is to provide a wide range of psychotherapeutic and counseling services to individuals, couples and families by a staff of highly trained, experience and dedicated psychotherapists.
The Counseling Center
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-3388
www.counselingcenter.org
SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM
Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe
The mission of the Community Fund is “to support broad social services in Bronxville 10708, Eastchester and Tuckahoe through grants and technical support to local agencies and community projects. All money raised here in our community stays here in our community.”
15 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-8808
www.thecommunityfund.org
Junior League of Bronxville
The Junior League of Bronxville is “an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.”
Rotary Club of Bronxville
The Rotary Club of Bronxville is part of a national network of 1.25 million problem-solvers. They see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
READING & LEARNING
Friends of the Bronxville Library
The Friends of the Bronxville Library is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to focus attention on the “Library’s services, facilities and needs” as well as sponsor projects and provide materials that are beyond the reach of the Library's regular budget and perform other services.
SENIORS
Gramatan Village
Gramatan Village is a unique community model offering programs, services and social connections that help members continue to live independently in their homes as they age. In addition, GV offers one-on-one consultations and counseling with our experienced staff to guide members through life’s transitions.
Senior Citizens of Bronxville
Senior Citizens of Bronxville is a not-for-profit organization that provides services and programs to seniors within the 10708 zip code area. “Programs cover a wide range of activities from educational seminars and cultural enrichment to community services, bridge classes and exercise.”
Community Service Organizations Recent Articles
Quick Links
Newsletter
MyhometownBroxnville reserves the right to monitor and remove all comments. For more information on Posting Rules, please review our Rules and Terms of Use, both of which govern the use and access of this site. Thank you.
The information presented here is for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to present accurate information, myhometownBronxville, LLC, does not in any way accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information herein. We urge all users to independently confirm any information provided herein and consult with an appropriate professional concerning any material issue of fact or law. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of myhometownBronxville, LLC, its officers, staff or contributors. The use of this website is governed by the Terms of Use . No portion of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, without the express written consent of the publisher.
Copyright © 2009 myhometownbronxville.com, All rights reserved.