NYC’s iconic High Bridge will stay open later this summer
Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr
New York City’s oldest surviving bridge will be open for two additional hours this summer. A new pilot program will extend the hours of the High Bridge, which provides a pedestrian link between Manhattan and the Bronx, to 10 p.m. daily through the end of September. Announced by Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue last week, the new pilot moves the bridge’s closing time from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., allowing New Yorkers to enjoy the scenic walkway over the Harlem River for longer during the hot summer months.
“Our green spaces and public parks were lifelines for so many New Yorkers over the past two years of the pandemic,” Adams said in a statement. “The High Bridge is an iconic place with some of the most breathtaking views the city has to offer over the Harlem River and I’m proud to expand the hours so more New Yorkers can enjoy it as we head into summer.”
Opened in 1848 as part of the Croton Aqueduct system, the High Bridge is the city’s oldest standing bridge. After closing to the public in 1970, the High Bridge reopened in 2015 after a nearly $62 million restoration, reconnecting the Bronx and Manhattan for pedestrians and cyclists.
The octagonal water tower found on the Washington Heights side of the bridge reopened for public tours last fall following a $5 million restoration. The 200-foot tower, which opened in 1872 to help increase water pressure throughout Manhattan, is the only one of its kind that remains in the city today; the city designated it as a landmark for its architecture and for its reminder of “New York’s first major water supply system.”
“I’m extremely pleased that we were able to come together with an uptown, multi-borough campaign to extend the hours of accessibility on the High Bridge until 10 pm this summer,” Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said.
“The High Bridge is a crucial connection for pedestrians and cyclists since it is the only way to get between Manhattan and the Bronx without a car, and this green space is truly a lifeline for many during these hot summer months.”
The High Bridge is now open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. through September 30.
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