CLIMB hike through Highbridge

This past weekend, CLIMB held a walk through Highbridge Park at 11:30am on Saturday. The walk began at the corner of 155th St. and Edgecombe Avenue, one of the key "spots" on the CLIMB trail and an important access point between multiple neighborhoods.

Many people were out in the parks for New York Cares Day, an annual event that hosts a variety of community service projects. We made an early stop for coffee and pastries at a neighborhood favorite, the O.C. Bakery on 159th St. and Edgecombe Avenue.

From there, the group walked along the sidewalk next the park up to 170th St. and Edgecombe Avenue. At this point, the group decided to explore the park, particularly an area unofficially dubbed "Mad Hot Park." It sits down from the park and sidewalk and is partially hidden by a retaining wall. Mad Hot was formerly used as a horseshoe pit and looks out towards the Harlem River and the Bronx. It is currently fenced off and overgrown with vegetation, however, horseshoe poles and lamposts remain. Many students have become interested in returning Mad Hot to its former glory, as it is clearly such a special place in an important spot. It is a point that has access from many directions and could represent a 'coming together' of different places, as it is the meeting point of Edgecombe Avenue, 170th St., and nearyby Amsterdam Avenue.

Finally, the group walked up to the Highbridge water tower and looked over the Highbridge foot bridge connecting Washington Heights to the Bronx. We met and spoke with a long-time resident of Washington Heights, who recounted the days when the Highbridge was still open and he and his wife would stroll across over to the Bronx. Hearing old stories of Washington Heights and Highbridge was a wonderful conclusion to the hike.