Untermyer Park and Gardens. Yonkers, New York

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Entrance to the Walled Garden

 

There is a hidden jewel in Yonkers, New York, known to few outside of locals. I am almost hesitant to write about it, because I would hate for it to become overcrowded. But it would be wrong to keep it hidden away. That jewel is the Untermyer Park and Gardens.


Samuel Untermyer By Los Angeles Times via commons.wikimedia.org


The park is on what is left of the estate of Samuel Untermyer (1858-1940), but it has a longer history. In 1865, John T. Waring, owner of the country’s largest hat factory, bought land in Yonkers, overlooking the Hudson River. The size of the estate, named Greystone, grew, and in 1879 Waring rented it to Samuel J. Tilden, who purchased it outright shortly afterward. Tilden lived at Greystone until his death in 1886. In 1899 Untermyer bought Greystone, now 133 acres, from Tilden’s estate. He was a lawyer who started in corporate law, but during the Progressive Era, he became focused on cases for the public good, arguing in favor of regulating businesses and banks.




During his life, Untermyer developed the land into a series of gardens, meadows, and vistas, all overlooking the Hudson River and the Jersey Palisades. When Untermyer died in in 1940 he wanted to bequeath Greystone to either the city of Yonkers of New York State, however, he left no money for upkeep, and the gift was refused. Yonkers did buy 6 acres of land to use as a park. The mansion was razed in 1946. Over the years more land was acquired and a foundation for its maintenance was established.




Today, Untermyer Park and Gardens occupies 46 acres that cover the hill side from North Broadway in Yonkers down to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway. One highlight is the beautiful walled garden, designed after a Persian garden.









From the garden there is a sweeping stairway down the hill to a vista that looks out to the Hudson River.



 



The park also includes some hillside meadows that follow the old driveway up to the mansion’s site, from the train station below.




Finally, there is the Temple of Love, which sits on a promontory, above a rock and stream garden.




Come to Yonkers and enjoy a day at the Untermyer Garden.

Nuts and Bolts


  • The Garden is open every day, from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and is free of charge for all.
  • Main Entrance -  945 N. Broadway Yonkers, NY 
  • Lower Entrance 917 Warburton Ave Yonkers, NY. This is a 10 minute walk from the Greystone Metro North station on the Hudson River Line.


Location: Untermyer Gardens, 945 N Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701, USA

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