Ward Pound Ridge Reservation

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
View from inside Leatherman Cabe
LocationPound Ridge and Lewisboro, Westchester County, New York, U.S.
Coordinates41°25′27″N 73°59′27″W / 41.42417°N 73.99083°W / 41.42417; -73.99083[1]
Area4,400 acres (18 km2)
Established1925
Governing bodyWestchester County Department of Parks
Websiteparks.westchestergov.com/ward-pound-ridge-reservation
Parks in Westchester County, New York

The Ward Pound Ridge Reservation is a 4,400 acres (1,800 ha) county park located in the towns of Pound Ridge and Lewisboro in Westchester County, New York. It is the largest park in the county and offers diverse terrain, extensive hiking trails, nature programs, and recreational facilities.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

History

Originally part of the Cortlandt Manor land grant, the area began as farmland in the early 1700s.[8][9][10]

In 1925, Westchester County acquired over 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) to form Pound Ridge Reservation. It was renamed in 1938 to honor William L. Ward, the county park supervisor and key parks advocate.[2][8]

From 1933 to 1940, it hosted a Civilian Conservation Corps camp (SP‑9 / Camp Merkel), where workers constructed trails, picnic shelters, bridges, and the Trailside Museum.[8]

Geography and ecology

Spanning nearly 7 sq mi (1,800 ha), the reservation includes mixed hardwood forests, streams, wetlands, and sandstone ridges. It contains over 35 miles of marked trails used for hiking, cross‑country skiing, horseback riding, and mountain biking.[11]

Landmarks include:

  • Trailside Nature Museum: a nature education center built by the CCC, showcasing native wildlife.[8]
  • Boutonville Oak: an ancient oak tree of local legend and ecological significance.[12]

Recreation and facilities

The park supports year-round activities:

  • over 35 mi (56 km) of multi-use trails
  • Cross‑country skiing and snow‑shoeing in winter
  • Camping with lean‑tos and vintage CCC-era shelters
  • Fishing, picnicking, and educational programming at the Trailside Museum[2]

It is also host to several organized events and athletic competitions, including the annual Leatherman's Loop, a 6.2 mi (10 km) trail race.[13][14][15]

Ecological importance

A large and contiguous wildland buffer near suburban areas, the reservation provides habitat for various wildlife species and helps preserve region-wide ecological connectivity.[3]

  • Scenes from the 1976 film Marathon Man and the 1997 HBO movie, In the Gloaming, were filmed within its grounds.
  • Local folklore includes legends such as the Boutonville Oak haunting.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ward Pound Ridge Reservation". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b c "Ward Pound Ridge Reservation". Westchester County Parks. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  3. ^ a b "50 best parks in Westchester County". Wanderlog. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  4. ^ Kjellström, Björn (1983). Ward Pound Ridge Reservation N.Y. : a Westchester County nature reservation and recreation area : recreation map, hiking--jogging--ski touring--orienteering / this map sponsored by SILVA Division of Johnson Camping, Inc., Binghampton [sic], N.Y. Pound Ridge, N.Y.: Bjorn Kjellstrom and Nature Museum of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation [distributor]. LCCN 84697492.
  5. ^ "Escape and explore Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Westchester County's largest park". News 12 - Westchester. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  6. ^ "Ward Pound Ridge Reservation - NYSDEC". Department of Environmental Consevation, State of New York. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  7. ^ Herr, Beth; Koehl, Maureen (2013). Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Images of America. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 127 pages : illustrations, maps, 24 cm. ISBN 9780738599052. LCCN 2012951208.
  8. ^ a b c d "The History of Pound Ridg". Pound Ridge Historical Society. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  9. ^ Pessoni, Philip A. (July 1995). Historical notes on the great south lots 9 & 10 and the undivided lands behind Bedford of the Van Cortlandt Manor, 1640-1940 : now known as the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation. Boutonville, New York: P.A. Pessoni. LCCN 96110041.
  10. ^ "WESTCHESTER PARK MEMORIAL TO WARD; Pound Ridge Reservation Is Rededicated and Renamed, Honoring Party Leader HIS VISION IS ACCLAIMED Roosevelt and Lehman Send Messages--Bronze Tablet Is Unveiled by Granddaughter Inscription on Tablet Work Praised by Bleakley". The New York Times. 1938-10-16. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  11. ^ "Escape and explore Ward Pound Ridge Reservation". News12 Westchester. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Tragedy at the Boutonville Oak". Sleepy Hollow Country. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Leatherman's Loop Founders Newsletter". LeathermansLoop.org. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  14. ^ Journal, River (2024-11-01). "Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Launches 100-Mile Hike Challenge". River Journal Online - News for Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, Irvington, Ossining, Briarcliff Manor, Croton-on-Hudson, Cortlandt and Peekskill. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  15. ^ Caputo, Phil (2003-06-19). "Ward Pound Ridge Reservation - Westchester park - Play In The Woods - Nymag". New York Magazine. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
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