History
Van Cortlandt Park... - is the third largest New York City Park with 1,146 acres. - has the largest freshwater lake in the borough. - contains The Bronx's oldest building, the Van Cortlandt House built in 1748-49. - has the oldest municipal golf course in the United States, the Van Cortlandt Golf Course, founded in 1895. - has a National Historic Landmark trail, the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, which travels the route of the city's original water tunnel. - has a cross-country running course with a national reputation. Every year, the rugged course hosts the national cross-country championships as well as the Manhattan College Invitational for high school students throughout the U.S.
Specialties
The Friends of Van Cortlandt Park (FVCP), an independent community based organization, actively promotes the conservation and improvement of Van Cortlandt Park, the third largest park in NYC, through environmental education and restoration and enhancement of the Park, its forests and trails. FVCP have grown to become Van Cortlandt Parks' primary free educational organization- developing educational and stewardship programs for over 6,000 children and adults each year. FVCP offer the following programs in the Park: Van Cortlandt Adventures School Programs Environmental Internship Program (School Year & Summer Teen Trails Crew) Youth Run Farm Stand Volunteer and Stewardship Programs for Trail, Forest and Garden Restoration projects Environmental Explorations Teacher Workshops Series Community Programs (Hike-a-Thon, EcoCrafts, Trail Runs, etc.)