Van Cortlandt Park

Van Cortlandt Park is a large municipal park in the northwest Bronx, New York City, established into the city park system in the late 1800s and covering over 1,100 acres. It is one of the major green spaces in the borough and includes a mix of recreational facilities and natural areas.

The park contains marked hiking trails, sports fields, long-distance cross-country routes and a public golf course, giving visitors a variety of outdoor activities across more than a thousand acres. The Van Cortlandt House Museum, built in the 18th century, is a prominent on-site historic building; there are also lakes, woodlands and wetland pockets suitable for short walks and birdwatching.

The land originally belonged to the Van Cortlandt family; the city acquired the estate and established the park in the late 19th century. The Van Cortlandt House itself dates to the mid-1700s and has been preserved as a museum that interprets the estate and local history.

The park sits in the northwest Bronx, adjacent to neighborhoods such as Woodlawn and near the Yonkers border, roughly north of central Manhattan. It is accessible by city transit and local roads and forms a large green wedge within the northern part of New York City.

• Size and age: The park covers over 1,100 acres and was added to New York City's park system in the late 19th century, so expect extensive trail networks and varied terrain.
• Historic house museum: The historic Van Cortlandt House dates to the mid-18th century and is interpreted as a museum; check seasonal opening hours before visiting.

What to See #

• Van Cortlandt House Museum: Located on the park's east side, a late 18th-century house built by the Van Cortlandt family now operates as a historic house museum open to the public and interpreted as the borough's oldest surviving building.
• Van Cortlandt Golf Course: A municipal public golf course occupying several park holes and operated by New York City Parks; it is one of the larger public golf facilities in the city.
• Van Cortlandt Lake: A small freshwater lake near the park interior with walking paths and wetlands habitat that feeds into local trails and natural areas.