On Thursday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m.
What do the Jerome Park Reservoir, the Belmont Stakes and Winston Churchill have in common?
The Jerome Park Reservoir lies on a site that was originally a thoroughbred racetrack where the Belmont Stakes was first run between 1866 and 1890. It was built by Leonard Jerome who partnered with financier August Belmont and others to build it in 1866. Then the city took over the land to create a new reservoir for the "New Aqueduct" [Croton Aqueduct].
Where does Churchill fit in? Was he a jockey maybe?
No, Leonard Jerome was his grandfather.
So ... why does the Jerome Reservoir matter today?
Because it is being renovated as part of the larger Croton filtration project. Scheduled for completion in 2013, the new plant will supply up to 30% of the city's drinking water.
Come learn what improvements are being made; explore the rich history of the neighborhood where sat the Revolutionary War Fort Independence and more recently the Italian community of Villa Avenue.
Join Bronx native and historian Stephen Paul DeVillo and Schiavone Construction engineer Bryan Diffley as we circumabulate the reservoir. The walk will take about 2 hours.
Email mm1566@nyu.edu for an education / non-profit discount code