Bridge Park South to Receive Grant for Further Development

As reported in the Mid Hudson Valley Patch, the State of New York will help communities along the Hudson River Estuary improve recreational access and river education.  The grant program, part of New York State's Environmental Protection Fund, was allocated a record-level of $300 million in the FY 2017 State Budget. As part of this funding they have awarded $1.3 million to 12 projects along the Hudson River Estuary.  

As part of this funding the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation will receive a grant for $58,350 which it will use to complete the planning for a shoreline access project along the Harlem River in the Bronx, between High Bridge and the Alexander Hamilton Bridge at a site known as Bridge Park South. The site was previously used as a construction staging area and includes more than 215,000 square-feet (about 5 acres) of unused waterfront. The project will focus on access planning for environmental education and habitat enhancement, and will include a site survey and analysis, hydrodynamic assessment, community outreach, and a concept design.

NYC Parks issues Report: Natural Area Mapping and Inventory of Highbridge Park

The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has issued its final report for the the Environmental Protection Funds for the Hudson River Estuary Grant Program for the Highbridge Park.  To see the complete report please click here.

Here is the Table of Contents, which should give you a good indication of the scope of the report:

Natural Area Mapping and Inventory of Highbridge Park: Final Report for

Environmental Protection Funds from the Hudson River Estuary Grant Program

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................... 1

SECTION I: 

HIGHBRIDGE PARK............................................ 3

Introduction .............................................. 3

Area History............................................... 3

Entitation ................................................ 5

Management Recommendations................................. 6

Conclusion................................................. 8

SECTION II: ENTITATION PRODUCTS ........................... 9

Map of Units—Upper Section................................. 9

Map of Units—Lower Section................................ 10

Unit Descriptions......................................... 11

SECTION III: APPENDICES.................................. 116

APPENDIX I: GLOSSARY..................................... 116

APPENDIX II: SPECIES LIST................................ 118

Trees ................................................... 118

Shrubs................................................... 119

Herbs.................................................... 120

Vines ................................................... 121

Non-Flowering Plants..................................... 122

APPENDIX III: ADDITIONAL MAPS............................ 123

Cover Type—Upper Section................................. 123

Cover Type—Lower Section................................. 124

Hydrology—Upper Section.................................. 125

Hydrology—Lower Section.................................. 126

Important Bird Areas—Upper Section....................... 127

Important Bird Areas—Lower Section....................... 128

Distribution of Ash Species—Upper Section................ 129

Distribution of Ash Species—Lower Section................ 130

Distribution of Elm Species—Upper Section................ 131

Distribution of Elm Speces—Lower Section ................ 132

Distribution of Oak Species and Norway Maple—Upper Section133

Distribution of Oak Speces and Norway Maple—Lower Section.134

Distribution of City-Rare Species—Upper Section.......... 135

Erosion Management—Upper Section......................... 136

Erosion Management—Lower Section......................... 137

Distribution of Invasive Species—Upper Section .......... 138

Distribution of Invasive Species—Lower Section .......... 139

Distribution of Oriental Bittersweet—Upper Section....... 140

Distribution of Oriental Bittersweet—Lower Section....... 141

Evidence of Illegal Activity—Upper Section............... 142

Evidence of Illegal Activity—Lower Section............... 143

APPENDIX IV: CONTRIBUTORS ............................... 144

APPENDIX V: ENTITATION MANUAL............................ 145