Queens · Queens County
Ridgewood Reservoir
NYC Parks
- Location
- Highland Park, Vermont Avenue, Ridgewood / Cypress Hills border
- Size
- 50 acres
- Hours
- Dawn to dusk
- Type
- NYC Parks
Ridgewood Reservoir is a historic water supply site within Highland Park on the Brooklyn-Queens border, now preserved as a nature area containing wetlands, grasslands, and maturing forest that support over 150 species of birds.
The reservoir was built between 1856 and 1858 to supply fresh water to the City of Brooklyn, drawing from wells and streams in central Long Island. The three basins operated as a water supply until 1959, when the city's consolidated water system made them redundant.
After the reservoir was decommissioned, nature reclaimed the basins. The western basin has developed into a mature forest, the central basin contains wetlands and open water, and the eastern basin remains largely open. This succession from infrastructure to wilderness is one of the most remarkable ecological stories in the city.
Ridgewood Reservoir is one of the best birdwatching locations in New York City, with 151 documented species including wood ducks, great blue herons, red-tailed hawks, and numerous migratory songbirds.
The reservoir's preservation as a natural area represents a triumph for environmental advocates who fought against development proposals. The site demonstrates how decommissioned infrastructure can become valuable urban wilderness.