“Adventure Begins at Your Library!”
To celebrate the joy of reading and bestow the spirit of adventure on your summer, the Yonkers Public Library has eight weekly themes to help you get the most out of your summer reading journey.
This week, August 12 to August 18, is “Exploring Gardens and Parks.”
Parks, Parks, Parks!
The history of public parks in the United States dates back to the 1600s. Boston Common in Boston, Massachusetts was a public space created in 1634 that was used for many purposes, including as a cow pasture and a military camp before it became an official public park in the 1830s. Parks as we know them largely came to be in the 1800s, and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead created some notable parks, including Prospect Park in Brooklyn and Central Park in Manhattan!
The National Park Service was established in 1916 to protect wildlife and preserve nature for the enjoyment of future generations. However, the first national park - Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming - was established in 1872. Today, there are more than 400 national park areas across the country.
As urban areas developed in the 1900s, parks adapted to city environments to address the desire for playgrounds where children could play and people of all ages would be able to enjoy recreation. Parks began to include ball fields, playground equipment, and indoor facilities and pools.
There's a Park for Everyone in Yonkers
There's always a place for you at Yonkers Parks, regardless of your age or fitness level. You can kayak on the Hudson River or walk along the waterfront esplanade, relax in your neighborhood park, or take in the stunning scenery at Untermyer Gardens.
There are miles of biking, fitness, and walking trails to enjoy and dozens of recreation programs offered by our professional Parks Department staff. Yonkers is home to more than 80 parks, playgrounds, and other public facilities, so there's something for everyone no matter where you go.
Be sure to enjoy Mayor Spano’s Summer Film and Concert Series at Yonkers Parks! Bring your own seating and blankets to enjoy a tribute to Frank Sinatra at Untermyer Park on Thursday, August 15th at 7:00 PM. On Friday, August 16th, bring the family to Wasicko Park to enjoy a screening of Migration that starts at dusk.
Westchester County Parks
There are more than 50 parks and recreational areas to explore in Westchester County. Download this map and guide to help navigate which parks might be the best for you. If you’re interested in supporting the Westchester County Park System, you can check out the Westchester Parks Foundation to learn more.
This week is the last week for the read-aloud storytime program Park and Read. Advance registration is encouraged, walk-ins are welcome if space allows. The summer schedule for the Park and Read Program is as follows: Tuesdays at Lenoir Preserve, Wednesdays at Saxon Woods Park, or Thursdays at Kensico Dam Plaza from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Children must be accompanied by a guardian. Admission is free. Westchester County residency rules apply.
For more information about the Park and Read program, please email RFinizio@westchestercountyny.gov or call (914) 995-2501.
Looking for a little inspiration on a walk in the park? Check out the Rye Poetry Path at the Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary in Rye, NY. You’ll find 16 poems along the path.
At the Library
There are plenty of books to check out in our catalog and online about parks and gardens. Here are just a few, but you can always ask a librarian for more recommendations!
Croton Point Park: Westchester’s Jewel on the Hudson - This book is available right now on Hoopla!
Croton Point Park encapsulates the history, beauty and promise of the Hudson Valley. The Westchester County Park encompasses miles of Hudson River shoreline with astonishing views and remnants of the region's past. Incredible shell mounds shed light on the Native peoples who inhabited the area generations prior to European colonization. The remains of the first commercial vineyards in the Northeast are just steps away from historic brickyards that helped build Manhattan. The Point served as a dumping ground for years until local efforts restored the park into a model of environmental conservation. Today, bald eagles have returned to nest alongside visitors exploring remarkable landmarks, sailing the waters of the Hudson or enjoying a scenic picnic.
The best guide to the Westchester outdoors just got even better. Walkable Westchester, an indispensible handbook to hiking, walking and exploring in Westchester County, has been issued in a second edition. It includes more than 600 miles of trails in over 200 parks, preserves and sanctuaries. Discover Westchester as you walk, hike, run, ride a horse, walk your dog, bike, cross country ski, or snowshoe.
This collection of "gentle walks" just north of New York City was enthusiastically received when first published in 1986. The late Katherine Anderson, an Audubon Society naturalist, spent 20 years working and walking in these parks and sanctuaries.
You can also click this link to check out some of these outdoorsy reads curated by YPL staff. Go out and enjoy nature and bring along a book to read or listen to on your phone.
Join us online on Zoom for Art with Say: Adventure Begins at your Library - “Secret Garden” on Tuesday, August 13th at 4:00 PM. Bring your own art supplies and join artist Say Marte to create a piece of artwork during our Summer Reading Program: Celebrate Gardens and Parks. All you need are some watercolors, paper, and colored pencils, and some creativity.
This is a collaboration from A to Z!
Alison Robles is a Part-Time Junior Clerk at the Crestwood Library. She is an avid reader with a passion for YA lit, historical fiction and fantasy. A Yonkers native, she is currently pursuing an MS in Information and Library Science from the University at Buffalo.
Z is the Branch Administrator at the Crestwood Library. She enjoys cultivating library experiences for patrons of all ages and connecting people with resources and has been doing so for over 30 years.