Pelhamites Learned of a Planned "Hutchinson River Improvement" in 1922

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.
Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."

As early as 1906, efforts to create the Bronx River Parkway as part of a river conservation effort began.  Although efforts to complete the parkway ebbed until the end of World War I, an initiative to complete the 15.5 mile parkway between Bronx Park and the Kensico Dam in Valhalla, New York picked up steam after the war and led to completion of the parkway in 1925.

As efforts to complete the Bronx River Parkway picked up steam after World War I, many in the region began advocating for the creation of a similar parkway in the Hutchinson River Valley as a means of protecting the river and its valley against over-development and pollution.  These were the earliest seeds of what we know today as the Hutchinson River Parkway.

I have written before about various aspects of the history of the Hutchinson River Parkway.  For examples, see:

Fri., Nov. 24, 2017:  Hutchinson River Parkway Detritus Was Used to Fill Much of the Pelham Reservoir in 1925.

Mon., May 08, 2017:  Pelham's Historic East Third Street Bridge Over the Hutchinson River Parkway

Wed., Feb. 01, 2017:  Pelham Historic Marker Placed on Hutchinson River Parkway in 1927.

Tue., May 10, 2016:  A History of Tolls on the Hutchinson River Parkway and Their Impact on Pelham.

Tue., Aug. 26, 2014:  Westchester County Board of Supervisors Decided To Extend the Hutchinson River Parkway Through Pelham in 1923.

In 1922, efforts to create the Hutchinson River Parkway gained steam.  First, the State of New York enacted legislation to authorize Westchester County to acquire properties for the creation and improvement of parks, parkways, and boulevards within the County.  Attention quickly turned to the Hutchinson River Valley and the Saw Mill River Valley as prime candidates for the creation of parkways as conservation measures to preserve those valleys and mitigate further pollution of those two rivers.  

On November 17, 1922, Pelhamites awoke to read their weekly issue of The Pelham Sun.  In it was a lengthy article written by the President of the Westchester County Parkway Commission, W. Delevan Baldwin, urging the creation of a parkway in the Hutchinson River Valley.

Baldwin noted the massive increase in population and suburban development in the region and further argued that if the County were to wait much longer, the valley would be further developed and, thus, would require a much greater expense to acquire the lands necessary to create the parkway he envisioned.  He wrote:  "For its greater part, Westchester County consists of suburban areas and open spaces, but the reason for starting a park system now, lies in the fact that unless it is started while there are plenty of open spaces, its cost may become prohibitive when the county becomes more closely populated and built up."

Baldwin argued that there was a "moral obligation" to preserve such lands and provide such a park for future generations.  He noted that because the then-present generation would benefit from such a park it would only be fair for a portion of the expense to be born by that generation as well as future generations.  Thus, he urged the issuance of long-term bonds to fund acquisition of the lands to permit development of the parkway.  

Baldwin pointed to the Bronx River Parkway, then nearing completion, as a model for the development of a new Hutchinson River Parkway.  He noted:  "The present need is for the promptest possible action to secure the necessary lands.  Construction and development programs can be deferred until the needs for such improvements are felt and their cost not burdensome.  It should be kept in mind that in acquiring such lands for parkways the county will also be acquiring rights of way for motor driveways, trunk sewers, water, and possibly light and power lines or other public utilities."

Planned development of the Hutchinson River Parkway, it seems, was well on its way . . . . 

Recent View, Looking from North to South, of the East Street Bridge

on the Hutchinson River Parkway. Source: LoRusso, Mark S., An

Historic American Engineering Record Level II Documentation of the

East Third Street Bridge Spanning Hutchinson River Parkway and

Hutchinson River NYSDOT PIN 8BOW.01.101 City of Mount Vernon and

Village of Pelham Westchester County New York, p. 70 (2017: Sponsored

by The Federal Highway Administration and the New York State

Department of Transportation, Part of the New York State Museum

Cultural Resource Survey Program). NOTE: Click on Image to Enlarge.

*          *          *          *          *

"Hutchinson River Improvement Advocated By Park Commission
-----
W. Delevan Baldwin, President of the Westchester County Parkway Commission Urges That Land For This and Other Improvements Be Purchased Now While It Is Possible to Acquire It At Reasonable Cost.
-----

Under a legislative enactment included in the Laws of 1922, Westchester County received authorization for the location, creation, acquisition and improvement of parks, parkways and boulevards.

The State of New York under a separate act conveyed to the County for $1 the 1,100 acre reservation surrounding Mohansic Lake, in the Town of Yorktown.  This Park has been open and of great public benefit during the summer of 1922.

The County Park Commission is composed of W. Delevan Baldwin, John G. Agar, Felix M. Warburg, Arthur W. Lawrence, Mrs. W. A. Read, Cornelius A. Pugsley, William J. Wallin, Mrs. Roberts Walker and Charles M. Miller.

The following authoritative article by President Baldwin, shows the necessity for planning now, a county park system adequate for future needs.
-----

In any discussion of a park system for Westchester County, the question will arise as to why the County needs a park system.

For its greater part, Westchester County consists of suburban areas and open spaces, but the reason for starting a park system now, lies in the fact that unless it is started while there are plenty of open spaces, its cost may become prohibitive when the county becomes more closely populated and built up.

The growth and development of New York City intimately affects Westchester and incidents in the history of the City's expansion serve as admonitions of the necessity for anticipating future needs in the county.

Consider for example, the report of the commission which laid out the present street plan of New York City in 1811 (population then 90,000) and containing this statement:  'It may be a subject of merriment that the commissioners have provided space for a greater population than is collected at any spot this side of China.  It is improbable that (for centuries to come) the grounds north of Haerlam flat will be covered with houses.

The commissioners thought they were going to the ultimate limit of foresightedness, even to the point of risking ridicule. 

But how quaint their statement sounds to us with the knowledge of developments that have come in a little over one century.  Coming to the more recent past, Jones' Woods and other picnic grounds in Manhattan along the East River are easily within the memories of living men, and the areas now composing the Bronx Zoological Park and Botanical Gardens were somewhat of a wilderness less than 30 years ago.

These items in the history of New York City's development are rather trite and familiar, but the point I am making is that the increase of movement of population from the earliest beginnings at Bowling Green, has progressed steadily northward, is now upon us in Westchester County.  While it is true that Westchester spreads out far beyond the confines of Manhattan Island and the Bronx, the advantage is offset by the fact that the population movement is now unprecedented, is, in fact, a surge actuated by pressure of the millions confined within the city limits.  People are coming to Westchester just as fast as the builders can provide homes for them.

The necessity for setting aside park and recreation areas now for the requirements of the future, is well understood by many of our business and political leaders.  It must be appreciated and understood, however, by the general public in order that these leaders may have the support necessary to bring about action.

Why Provide Parks?

The taxpayer may very properly raise a question as to why we should make provisions for future generations.  Why not let them take care of their own problems?

The answer as I conceive it is this:  if, with experience gained in the past we clearly see the need of establishing a park system adequate for future needs, we should assume the need as a moral obligation.  As a matter of course there would be an underlying distribution of expense.  Long term bonds issued by the county would ease the burden along from our generation to the next without burden to either.

[Illegible] necessity for a country park system and ability of the county to undertake its development.

Progress has been made by an enactment under the laws of 1922 providing for the creation of a county park system, including the location, creation, acquisition and improvement of parks, parkways and boulevards.  Under another chapter of the laws of 1922 the State conveyed the splendid 1,100 acre reservation at Mohansic Lake to Westchester County for $1.00.

The County Park Commission immediately opened Mohansic Park to public use.  During the summer of 1922 hundreds of tent campers were accommodated for week-ends and longer vacation periods.  On Saturdays and Sundays a great many automobile parties picnicked along the attractive lake shores.  Next year, when this park becomes better known, and its various parts become more accessible through the improvement of roads, it will be used a great deal more.

In discussing extensions of the county park system, account should be taken of the superb natural advantages of Westchester and the really wonderful opportunities afforded for park development.  We have shore lines on the Sound, an expanse of many miles along the Hudson, with a beautifully varied lake and hill country intervening.  In the southern part of the county there are the three valleys of the Hutchinson, Bronx and Saw Mill or Nepperham Rivers with their separating north and south ridges.

One Transformation

In looking over park resources there at once comes to mind the Bronx River Parkway now nearing completion and the remarkable transformation that has taken place in the Bronx River Valley.  

Competent authorities decided that the establishment of a parkway was the only practicable solution for reclaiming the Bronx River Valley, the project being a joint undertaking between New York City and Westchester County.

The Saw Mill River valley is rapidly developing a similar problem that must be handled by Westchester as the river lies wholly within the county.  Gradually this valley is becoming built up with garages, small factories and the class of developments that usually contributes the pollution and refuse that makes a river a more aggravated nuisance as time goes on.

Similar conditions will develop along the Hutchinson River Valley and progressive residents in the vicinity have advocated for several years past, the establishment of a parkway.

The three Westchester County river valleys parallel to its north and south axis and the direction of greatest traffic, are natural parkways.  The Bronx River valley has been taken care of and the lands necessary to establish control over the Saw Mill and Hutchinson Rivers, can be acquired now at much lower cost than at some late date, when additional buildings will have to be paid for.

The present need is for the promptest possible action to secure the necessary lands.  Construction and development programs can be deferred until the needs for such improvements are felt and their cost not burdensome.  It should be kept in mind that in acquiring such lands for parkways the county will also be acquiring rights of way for motor driveways, trunk sewers, water, and possibly light and power lines or other public utilities.

The proposal that the county park system should include beaches or parks along the Sound and Hudson River also has many supporters.  Such advocates doubtless have in mind the contrast between resorts operated solely for maximum possible profits and resorts such as Bear Mountain, or the beaches controlled by the Metropolitan District Commission of Boston.

The Westchester County Park Commission feels that the county will not lag behind other municipalities and that a full measure of public support will be forthcoming when the people understand the wisdom and necessity for action.

W. DELEVAN DAWSON."

Source:  Hutchinson River Improvement Advocated By Park Commission -- W. Delevan Baldwin, President of the Westchester County Parkway Commission Urges That Land For This and Other Improvements Be Purchased Now While It Is Possible to Acquire It At Reasonable Cost, The Pelham Sun, Nov. 17, 1922, p. 8., cols. 1-4.

Archive of the Historic Pelham Web Site.
Home Page of the Historic Pelham Blog.

Order a Copy of "Thomas Pell and the Legend of the Pell Treaty Oak."