May 24, 2012 -- Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland reopened Kensico Dam Road for recreational access Thursday.  

 Visitors to the Kensico Dam will now be able to enjoy views from the top of the structure while walking, jogging, in-line skating, or bicycling. This is the first time the roadway has been open for public access since 2005 following a $42 million restoration.   

The road, which runs across the top of the dam, has been closed to traffic off and on since Sept. 11, 2001. The road closed permanently to vehicles in 2002 and then closed to pedestrians in 2005 to begin the rehabilitation work.

"I know the public will enjoy having access once again to this beautiful landmark," Astorino said. "Kensico Dam Plaza is a vital public space in Westchester, where each year tens of thousands of visitors enjoy exercising, gathering with friends on the great lawn, celebrating at heritage festivals, and much more. Reopening the roadway will further expand the recreational opportunities that make Westchester a great place to live and visit."

The Kensico Dam stretches between West Westlake Drive and Route 22, measuring 1,843 feet in length and 307 feet in height. As a Public Access Area, the walkway will not require a DEP Access Permit and will be open seven days a week from dawn to dusk.

"Reopening Kensico Dam Road will give local residents and visitors a wonderful opportunity to spend time outdoors with family and friends, enjoy the spectacular views of the Kensico Reservoir and the surrounding area while taking a leisurely stroll or going for a jog or bike ride," Strickland said. "DEP continues to expand public access for recreational use to benefit our neighbors, while at the same time protecting the drinking water supply of over nine million New Yorkers. I thank County Executive Astorino for partnering with New York City to expand recreational access to residents in the community."

The $42 million rehabilitation work, which was paid for by DEP and began in 2005, included cleaning and repairing the spillway, acid washing the facade and colonnades, and replacing the colonnade roofs, the gate house, and the valve chamber that controls the flow of water through the dam. There was also repair of pavilions, colonnades, terrace, and fountains as well as installation of new technology to remotely operate equipment. Drains and drainage systems were restored, electrical equipment was replaced, heating and ventilation systems were installed, ornamental fencing was replaced, and landscaping was performed. The rehabilitation work was completed in December 2011.

The Kensico Reservoir was placed into service in 1915 and at full capacity can hold up to 30.6 billion gallons, serving as a terminal rather than a collecting reservoir. It receives most of its water from the city's west-of-Hudson reservoirs through the Catskill and Delaware aqueducts, and serves as the last stop for water before it flows into the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers for distribution in New York City.

Since 2003, DEP has significantly expanded the amount of city-owned water supply lands open for recreation to 108,000 acres — more than double the amount available in 2003. Of the 108,000 total acres open to recreation, 75,000 are land and 33,000 are water. In 2011, DEP opened approximately 6,600 acres of land for recreation over the course of the year. Expanding recreational opportunities in the watershed along with operating and maintaining New York City's network of dams are two of the Operations goals outlined in Strategy 2011-2014, a far-reaching strategic plan that lays out 100 distinct initiatives to make DEP the safest, most efficient, cost-effective, and transparent water utility in the nation. The plan is available on DEP's website at www.nyc.gov/dep.

DEP manages the city's water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP employs nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and others professionals in the upstate watershed.