Select Region
Let's Get Social!


The High Bridge, New York City’s Newest Park

The High Bridge, New York City’s Newest Park


The High Bridge, a pedestrian bridge connecting Washington Heights to the Bronx, reopens as a park, after 40 years of being closed to the public.

It’s not everyday that New York City opens a new park--especially when that park is actually 167 years old. Proving that with enough money and effort everything old truly can be made new again, the High Bridge opened to the public last month for the first time in more than 40 years. The 1450-foot-long pedestrian bridge connects High Bridge Park in upper Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood to the Highbridge (see a theme here?) section of the Bronx.

To celebrate, NYC Parks is hosting the High Bridge Festival from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, on both the Bronx and Manhattan sides of the bridge. The event is free and will feature walking tours, a scavenger hunt, and a “Bridge Making Workshop" presented by the Bronx Children's Museum.

Originally built in 1848 as an aqueduct bringing fresh water to the growing New York City population from Westchester, the High Bridge is New York City’s oldest still-standing bridge.  Open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., it offers spectacular views both up and down the Harlem River, a peaceful place to stroll or bike, and a convenient, direct way to commute between these neighborhoods.



The entrances to the bridge are in High Bridge Park on the Manhattan side and at University Ave. and 170 St. on the Bronx side. Beware that you’ll need to go down—and, of course, back up—a ton of stairs on the Manhattan side, unless you use the ramp entrance at 167th Street and Edgecombe Avenue.

To get there, take the 1 or A trains to 168 St., or the 1 to Dykman St. By bus, take the M100, also to Dykman (and 10th Ave.). If you're driving, beware, parking can be tough. 

The High Bridge renovation was the result of years of advocacy by grassroots local groups. The new park offers a peaceful, innovative use of what was an abandoned space, which some have compared to the High Line much further downtown. 

To search for more upcoming events, search our calendar.

Watch this video from the NYC Parks Department to learn more about what went into renovating and reopening the High Bridge:

Image above: Malcolm Pinckney, courtesy NYC Parks.

More Family Activities Articles:

New York Philharmonic Plays Two Concerts With Local Students

This year the New York Philharmonic resumed partnerships with three organizations that help local elementary through high school students in underserv...


Latest News:

Things to Do with Kids in NYC this Weekend

Enjoy these fun things to do with your kids in New York City this weekend. Start planning your weekend now with our editorially curated list of happen...


Family Activities:



Have a Laugh:

Best Memes of the Week for Parents

Here are the funniest parenting memes from Instagram, Facebook, and Reddit this week.
Michael Kress

Author: Michael Kress is the former editorial director of NYMetroParents. He is the former executive editor of Parents.com, the website for Parents magazine, and was previously the VP of Editorial at Beliefnet.com. He is the father of three girls and lives in the Riverdale section of the Bronx. See More

Featured Listings:

Friends Academy

Friends Academy

Locust Valley, NY Strong Minds, Kind Hearts. Friends Academy is a premier private school committed to the guiding principles of Peace, Integrity, Community Equality and...

Penguin Coding School

Penguin Coding School

Brooklyn, New York Choose between ONLINE or IN-PERSON classes, depending on your location. Penguin Coding School provides comprehensive coding education to kids ages 6-1...

Kon Gen International Preschool

Kon Gen International Preschool

Bayside, NY Kon Gen International Preschool is a child-focused and family friendly pre-school located on the border of Flushing and Bayside serving children 2 to ...