The Bronx is entering a new era of green infrastructure, with Tibbetts Brook Daylighting moving from blueprints toward construction in 2026.
After decades of advocacy, the Tibbetts Brook Daylighting project has cleared its major legal hurdles.
As of early 2026, the city has completed key land deals and easements, and is advancing through procurement toward a construction notice expected this year.
This isn’t just a minor park upgrade; it’s a roughly $140 million environmental feat that will unearth a “lost” river and create a brand-new greenway for the borough.
Here is everything you need to know about the transformation of the Bronx’s “ghost river” and what to expect as construction approaches.
A century-old secret is coming to the surface
Since 1912, Tibbetts Brook has been trapped in a literal “underground prison,” diverted into the city’s sewer system.
For over a hundred years, this clean freshwater has been mixed with raw sewage before being treated—a massive waste of resources and a major cause of local flooding.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now leading the charge to “daylight” the brook, which involves unburying the waterway and restoring it to an open-air stream.
The project will reclaim a mile-long stretch of an abandoned CSX railroad corridor, turning it into a lush, flowing waterway that finally connects Van Cortlandt Park to the Harlem River.
Why 2026 is the turning point
While the project has been “coming soon” for years, 2026 brings critical momentum.
Key Milestones Cleared:
- June 2024: CSX land purchase closed ($11.2M)
- August 2024: MTA/Metro-North easement approved for Broadway Rail Yard route
- Summer 2025: Bid advertisement anticipated
- Early 2026: Construction notice to proceed expected, per DEP and community briefings
Phase 1 (Hester & Pierro’s Mill Pond restoration) is already underway since August 2024, with invasive species removal continuing through 2026.
Environmental Impact: Once complete, the project will divert large volumes of clean water—hundreds of millions of gallons annually—from sewers, significantly reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Harlem River.
The “High Line of the Bronx”
Beyond water management, this project delivers world-class recreation space.
The Putnam Greenway extension will create seamless, off-street paths for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Continuous Trail: Bridges gap from Van Cortlandt Park to West 230th Street, linking to the 750-mile Empire State Trail
- Pocket Wetlands: Natural filtration areas act as “sponges” for stormwater, creating habitats for birds and wildlife
- Linear Park: New green space along the rail corridor offers a wilder, nature-focused alternative to Manhattan’s High Line
What’s next on the timeline?
With procurement advancing, construction is projected to start early/summer 2026 and last several years:
- 2026: Site clearing, invasive removal, initial excavation
- 2027+: Stream channel, pedestrian bridges, wetlands
- ~2030: Full greenway opening
Local advocates call it a “win-win for the Bronx,” improving water quality, cutting flood risk, and adding vital recreation space.
How to catch a glimpse
While the main construction corridor will be fenced off, you can see Phase 1 work at the southern edge of Van Cortlandt Lake.
Walk the existing Putnam Trail sections to preview the rail corridor being transformed into NYC’s next great greenway.
