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I had an amazing time visiting this beautiful dam! There's a scenic trail you can hike to reach the top, and while the steps are pretty intense, it's definitely worth it. I'd recommend wearing comfortable shoes and taking your time on the way up. The view from the top is absolutely stunning, and you can even walk across the dam. There's also a lovely park area where you can relax and hang out, plus convenient on-site parking.
We went to the Italian festival to be fair wasn't so Italian; it was super hot . Plenty of parking and facilities. Unfortunately a lot of the venues were cash only so if you didn't bring cash it could be hard to grab something. All the food we tried was ok ; we were underwhelmed so I nay skip it next year.
Checked this place out on an exceptionally warm & sunny fall day. lovely place, sorrounded by nature, with water view & interesting architecture. Parking is free. We entered the park right into the top of the dam. We walked across it then went down to the park itself. lots of stairs to navigate so not for the people with bad knees. Lots of benches & Picnic tables in the area. Bathroom is fairly clean, saw some security people going around so we feel safe.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Interesting, historical..... free. We didn't realize this treasure was so close to home.
Not surprised this place has 5 stars... it's the ranking it deserves. People looking for a solid workout will be pleasantly surprised by some of the trail options (the "blue trail" that brings you up the left side of the dam is the toughest). If you're looking to just chill, there is plenty of field space, picnic tables, and decent bathrooms too.
Absolutely my favorite place. Is perfect for a workout. Perfect family outing. Perfect for a date. Perfect view. Perfect dog park. Perfect kids park. Perfect for people watching. Just perfect!
Kensico dam is just such an enjoyable place to go. The dam is beautifully built with multiple kinds of stone. You can just check it out from the bottom, you can take the trek up the stairs, or they have a slightly longer trail that's a little less intense to get up. (Actually I think there is a way to the top by car as well but I'm not super familiar with the road). On the top you can look over into the reservoir where the NYC drinking water comes from! On the other side you can see the park area with a great lawn where people are often playing with their kids, dogs,(hooray dog friendly!), or having a picnic. Often times there are people running/walking along the outer part of the lawn. They have a picnic area with tables/benches, kids play area, restrooms, and benches throughout the park to have a seat on. They also have a 9/11 memorial which is really nice. It truly feels like this is a place for anyone! And is open year round. I've seen/gotten food from food trucks but I'm not exactly sure what their schedule is. (I'll be sure to follow up when I know!) During Christmas time they have a holiday light show in the winter, but it's pretty pricy per car in my opinion. They also have a big tree and reindeer! They do a night out for the kids with the local police where they have gifts/games. There is a parking area (typically free except around the holidays) which is pretty large but when it's nice out it's hard to find a spot! Hope you enjoy it!
This park is versatile by being great for families (kiddie park), nature enthusiasts, or individuals looking for burn off the quarantine weight! Hahah the walking paths range from beginner to advanced. The beginners should definitely start by walking up the slope at the entrance of the park. When they reach the top they are treated to beautiful Roman columns and water views! The intermediate and advanced individuals can club up and down the uneven and sloped stairs. Definitely a great glutes burn for anyone tired of the gym. I usually go around 10 times to really burn a sweat. For the Christmas holiday 2020 they had a Christmas drive thru that was really sweet and simple for anyone who enjoys drive through light shows!
beautiful park, wide open spaces so you can easily socially distance. I visited on a weekday and walked to the top of the dam and all the way across. short walk about 1 miles in length. free parking and just off the bronx river parkway. i wished i had brought our bikes and scooters as it's a perfect spot for it. we had kites so we had fun either way.
I don't know how one reviews a dam. To be specific, we came to walk in the plaza below the dam. I am told that it's the largest hewn stone dam in the world. Looked pretty large to me. We did three laps just under three miles including walking onto the lower walkway. It was a nice day with only a few barking dogs. We had fun and were able to get some exercise. We will go back.
An awesome structure with an awesome view... I like it for morning atmosphere and incredible architecture.
I needed an hour or so to kill before check in time and thanks to YELP I found the Kensico Dam to walk around after lunch. There is plenty of parking and even restrooms and porta potties. They even have a playground for the kids. There are steps to the right and left of the dam, the right side ( if looking at it straight forward ) has a ton of steps and railings, you definitely get a work out. After reaching the top it's roughly a quarter of a mile to the other side. There is less steps on the left side however after talking to someone they said it's harder to go up then the right side, so choose your steps wisely This was the perfect way to spend an hour, the weather was beautiful and that view and the start of fall in the trees was to die for!
Lost track of how far I've gone How far I've gone, how high I've climbed On my back's a sixty pound stone On my shoulder a half mile of line Come on up for the rising (Bruce Springsteen - The Rising) This is a review of The Rising, a September 11, 2001 Memorial. Kensico Dam Plaza is a gorgeous park. It was very crowded on a Thursday morning with dog walkers, a busy playground, people hanging out at picnic tables, bicycle riders and lots of baby carriages. But I didn't stop here to see all of that. I stopped here to see "The Rising". It's a 9/11 memorial dedicated to the memory of Westchester County's 109 residents who were lost that day. It's an 80' high circular structure that rises to a central spire. There are 109 panels with the names on the circumference, and from each panel steel strands rise upward in a tightening web until they all merge and continue upward to resemble one of the Twin Towers. Many of the panels are also adorned with a few words chosen by the families. The Memorial is way off to the right side of the park, and the walkway you take to get there is called "Westchester's Fallen Memorial Walkway". It honors the local American servicemen killed around the World fighting terrorism post 9/11.
This is a great place to spend the day. The plaza park has a ton of green space. You can lay out a blanket for a picnic or play games. Lots of yoga and fitness classes also meet here. There's a large playground with sections for older and younger kids. They have swings that can hold two people so kids can swing together or an adult can swing with a little one. You can walk around the base of the dam or take the trip up to the top to see the water and view from above. There are steps you can climb on either side and one side also has a paved inclined path that's stroller friendly. Either option is definitely a workout, especially the steps, but it's worth it for the views at the top. You can walk across the entire dam and capture some nice photos. There are convenient public restrooms in the park. You can also connect to the Bronx River Parkway walking/biking trail, which is fully paved. They have a ton of festivals and cultural events throughout the year. Parking is free. Lovely Westchester gem. read more
I visited the Kenisco Dam for the first time today and had such a nice time! The dam itself is very beautiful. I love that there's lots of green space to sit and relax and also a small playground for children. Taking the stairs up was more intense than I expected, but it's definitely worth the hike! The views from the top are beautiful! They also had a few pop up vendors which was nice too. Parking was easy and free, so you can't beat that. read more
This is just a beautiful spot to spend a couple of hours on a mild summer day. Our grandson had heard about it last year and wanted to check it out, so we got a Zipcar and drove up. Hiked up and across, ate the lunch we'd brought at one of the umbrella'ed tables near the playground, and then the skies opened up; drove back to Manhattan on an almost flooded Bronx River Parkway. Grandson back for a visit this year, wanted to go back! Zipcar got more expensive, so I followed the directions on their website using public transportation. DON'T! The website says take Metronorth to White Plains and then a Bee-line bus, #6, to the Dam Plaza. We found the bus stop, and the schedule said 11:43. Perfect, right? Not. 12:43 came and went. Other buses came and went. The #6 never showed up, so finally we took a taxi for $20.00. Took 10 minutes to get there. Better to take a train to Valhalla and walk the less than a mile or Uber for 8.95 or something like that. Watch the schedule for going back to Grand Central, because in the afternoon it seems to run just once an hour. Plan accordingly. Otherwise we had a good time. read more
I had an amazing time visiting this beautiful dam! There's a scenic trail you can hike to reach the top, and while the steps are pretty intense, it's definitely worth it. I'd recommend wearing comfortable shoes and taking your time on the way up. The view from the top is absolutely stunning, and you can even walk across the dam. There's also a lovely park area where you can relax and hang out, plus convenient on-site parking. read more
1 year ago
We went to the Italian festival to be fair wasn't so Italian; it was super hot . Plenty of parking and facilities. Unfortunately a lot of the venues were cash only so if you didn't bring cash it could be hard to grab something. All the food we tried was ok ; we were underwhelmed so I nay skip it next year. read more
Checked this place out on an exceptionally warm & sunny fall day. lovely place, sorrounded by nature, with water view & interesting architecture. Parking is free. We entered the park right into the top of the dam. We walked across it then went down to the park itself. lots of stairs to navigate so not for the people with bad knees. Lots of benches & Picnic tables in the area. Bathroom is fairly clean, saw some security people going around so we feel safe. read more
Not surprised this place has 5 stars... it's the ranking it deserves. People looking for a solid workout will be pleasantly surprised by some of the trail options (the "blue trail" that brings you up the left side of the dam is the toughest). If you're looking to just chill, there is plenty of field space, picnic tables, and decent bathrooms too. read more
4 years ago
1 year ago
Kensico dam is just such an enjoyable place to go. The dam is beautifully built with multiple kinds of stone. You can just check it out from the bottom, you can take the trek up the stairs, or they have a slightly longer trail that's a little less intense to get up. (Actually I think there is a way to the top by car as well but I'm not super familiar with the road). On the top you can look over into the reservoir where the NYC drinking water comes from! On the other side you can see the park area with a great lawn where people are often playing with their kids, dogs,(hooray dog friendly!), or having a picnic. Often times there are people running/walking along the outer part of the lawn. They have a picnic area with tables/benches, kids play area, restrooms, and benches throughout the park to have a seat on. They also have a 9/11 memorial which is really nice. It truly feels like this is a place for anyone! And is open year round. I've seen/gotten food from food trucks but I'm not exactly sure what their schedule is. (I'll be sure to follow up when I know!) During Christmas time they have a holiday light show in the winter, but it's pretty pricy per car in my opinion. They also have a big tree and reindeer! They do a night out for the kids with the local police where they have gifts/games. There is a parking area (typically free except around the holidays) which is pretty large but when it's nice out it's hard to find a spot! Hope you enjoy it! read more
5 years ago
This park is versatile by being great for families (kiddie park), nature enthusiasts, or individuals looking for burn off the quarantine weight! Hahah the walking paths range from beginner to advanced. The beginners should definitely start by walking up the slope at the entrance of the park. When they reach the top they are treated to beautiful Roman columns and water views! The intermediate and advanced individuals can club up and down the uneven and sloped stairs. Definitely a great glutes burn for anyone tired of the gym. I usually go around 10 times to really burn a sweat. For the Christmas holiday 2020 they had a Christmas drive thru that was really sweet and simple for anyone who enjoys drive through light shows! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
beautiful park, wide open spaces so you can easily socially distance. I visited on a weekday and walked to the top of the dam and all the way across. short walk about 1 miles in length. free parking and just off the bronx river parkway. i wished i had brought our bikes and scooters as it's a perfect spot for it. we had kites so we had fun either way. read more
4 years ago
I don't know how one reviews a dam. To be specific, we came to walk in the plaza below the dam. I am told that it's the largest hewn stone dam in the world. Looked pretty large to me. We did three laps just under three miles including walking onto the lower walkway. It was a nice day with only a few barking dogs. We had fun and were able to get some exercise. We will go back. read more
4 years ago
An awesome structure with an awesome view... I like it for morning atmosphere and incredible architecture. read more
9 years ago
I needed an hour or so to kill before check in time and thanks to YELP I found the Kensico Dam to walk around after lunch. There is plenty of parking and even restrooms and porta potties. They even have a playground for the kids. There are steps to the right and left of the dam, the right side ( if looking at it straight forward ) has a ton of steps and railings, you definitely get a work out. After reaching the top it's roughly a quarter of a mile to the other side. There is less steps on the left side however after talking to someone they said it's harder to go up then the right side, so choose your steps wisely This was the perfect way to spend an hour, the weather was beautiful and that view and the start of fall in the trees was to die for! read more
Lost track of how far I've gone How far I've gone, how high I've climbed On my back's a sixty pound stone On my shoulder a half mile of line Come on up for the rising (Bruce Springsteen - The Rising) This is a review of The Rising, a September 11, 2001 Memorial. Kensico Dam Plaza is a gorgeous park. It was very crowded on a Thursday morning with dog walkers, a busy playground, people hanging out at picnic tables, bicycle riders and lots of baby carriages. But I didn't stop here to see all of that. I stopped here to see "The Rising". It's a 9/11 memorial dedicated to the memory of Westchester County's 109 residents who were lost that day. It's an 80' high circular structure that rises to a central spire. There are 109 panels with the names on the circumference, and from each panel steel strands rise upward in a tightening web until they all merge and continue upward to resemble one of the Twin Towers. Many of the panels are also adorned with a few words chosen by the families. The Memorial is way off to the right side of the park, and the walkway you take to get there is called "Westchester's Fallen Memorial Walkway". It honors the local American servicemen killed around the World fighting terrorism post 9/11. read more
7 years ago
Love this place. This is my boyfriend and I's go to spot. It's a great place to just walk around and get some fresh air. It's honestly a place where I fall in love with my boyfriend all over again. There usually are a lot of people, but at this place, you never feel packed or overwhelmed. It's a great first date or just date location if you want to get to know the person you're with. You can go up and see the water one side. SO many trees. It's just beautiful. Make sure to look into events there. Those are also super dope. Their food events are to die for. Fireworks here is top notch. You have to come super early or you will not find a spot. Once you find your spot, does not disappoint. read more
There's that one damn dam out West that everyone knows called Hoover, but if you ask most anyone else about the Kensico Dam you will more than likely get a blank stare. Well, that had been my experience while mentioning it to a few people. The Kensico Dam also known as the Kensico Reservoir is an amazing structure whose reconstruction was completed in 1917. To put it in a less dramatic way, without this dam White Plains and its surrounding areas would be the next Venice, Italy with elevated bridged walkways, ferries and gondolas everywhere. But thanks to man made engineering, White Plains is protected from 30 billion gallons of regulated water so curious explorers like myself can make use of this dual purpose structure allowing for athletic or chill mode use. So if you're like me, as well as some of my other Yelp peeps, come here to get to know the Kensico Dam Plaza and absorb the surrounding beauty of Mother Natures spectacular views and admire this massive, powerful structure. Visit this dam and explore its damn good looking facade of classical architecture, featuring curved colonnades anchoring each end up top to allow you a moment to breathe and stop at this wonderful place called Kensico Dam. Tips: 8:00am - 10:00pm (Summer hours) Free Parking Public Bathrooms Free Admission (Non-Event Days) Priceless water views read more
8 years ago
This review is for the dam but more about the lake. It is big, it is beautiful, and it is a place you want to check. And yes, in case you are wondering, to talk worth the drive. Lots of parking, even in the hot days. Lots if beautiful things to do and beautiful places to see. There are many beautiful places outside New York where you can connect to nature and see wild life and little less city concrete (although there is a huge concrete dam lol). I walked for an hour and got into places usually not visited. Sat by the water and watched the fishermen and just breathed the freshness. Worth a drive from the city. read more
Exercising is always more fun with friends, right? Well, maybe - I enjoy the quiet contemplation of walking by myself, but sometimes I'm more motivated to get out there if I have someone to go with. One of my friends lives in Hartsdale, and when she bought up the idea of walking she suggested we go here, so since today's weather was sitting comfortably in the 50s we decided to meet here for some low impact aerobic fun. As the name implies, Kensico Dam is a - wait for it - dam! Along with the dam itself, there's a large grassy area, playground, and walking paths. I can tell a lot of people must come here for exercise and leisure, but there's so much space that it didn't seem crowded when I was there. We decided to follow one of the walking paths they have outlined and make a full circle which included climbing up the dam - a little over 1 mile in length. Let me tell you - that dam is steep - even someone like me who walks frequently at differing inclines was feeling the burn climbing those stairs (maybe I'm just out of shape =p). Once we got up there though the views were great - lots of Instagram worthy photos. The park also hosts a number of events throughout the year - something in the winter, fireworks on 4th of July, and I believe I came here for an Italian festival some years ago. Either way, I'm glad I rediscovered this park - it's not in my backyard but somewhere I would return to in order to get some miles in. read more
11 years ago
Kensico Dam/Park is Valhalla's Nature paradise. There really isn't a park such as Kensico anywhere in White Plains. Park is well-maintained throughout the year. Plants and shrubs make up the landscape as you're heading in and around the track. Only times you see big crowds are for their International celebrations during the summer. And in the winter, there's the 'Winter Wonderland' event for the family. But aside from those, park is never crowded! Lots to do for everyone: section for the little ones with swings and slides. Right at the center of the park, is Kensico's track and if you wanted to lay on your blanket- then do it. Right in that middle lawn, there are usually baseball practice, soccer game or Boot Camp classes. Kensico is a dog-friendly park and I love bringing my Beagle where she can run. Just be mindful please, Kensico has their poop bag stands around the track and field- if you so happen to bring your own. But also keep in mind, pick up your dog's sh*t and be respectful to the park! Kensico also offers Outdoor Movie Night- just like in NYC's Bryant Park, showcasing family movies or just a cool throw-back. They do a big to-do with July 4th. Just remember, if you want to take in the sights of the fireworks, get here real early. Get a good parking space and lounge for the fireworks to start. Otherwise it's a freaking madhouse. By the way, Westchester County's 9/11 Memorial is located in the far end of the park where everyone can experience the meaningful structure. As a local park, Kensico satisfies everyone's needs- even mine when I use their stairs as Part of my exercise and really, it doesn't fall short of things to do here and enjoy. read more
2 years ago
Great park only about 30-40 minutes from NYC offers lovely views of the dam. The 9/11 Memorial is also lovely. The grounds are very well kept. There are lots of pathways to run, jog or just walk. Ample parking on the weekdays but be mindful and show up early on the weekends, especially during the pandemic. No parking fees were charged when I visited on June 1st. There is a playground area which is currently closed due to the pandemic. The main walking area is marked as one-way only around the path with a few park personnel around to enforce that as well as parking. There is also the large grassy area in the middle where you can picnic (no cooking I think) or toss around the ball/frisbee. A few dogs were runnign around, so I imagine they are also allowed. The dam itself is lovely. To get to the top, you can take the stairs on the left and right of the dam to climb up, alternatively, for those who cannot climb steps (there are a lot of steps) you can set our navigation to the intersection of North Kensico Avenue and West Westlake Drive and park along the road for a short walk to the dam top. The top offers some amazing views of the plaza below as well as the Kensico Reservoir. read more
I love coming to this place so much it is truly a beautiful place with lots of sights and tons of space for walking they have festivals and movie nights for the kids during the summer definitely a nice place for family time or just relaxing and enjoying being out in nature. read more
6 years ago
This is a unique spot to view the sunset in Westchester with friends, family, or a date. It is free besides the gas it took to drive there. The stairs up to the dam may be more daunting then you anticipated, so make sure to give yourself enough time to get there and check when sun set is prior. You don't want to be running and sweating out of breath to watch the sunset. If you stay until the sunsets and you watch the stars, do know that walking back down the stairs it will be pitch dark...so I took out my phone as a light source so I did not fall. The older couple near me was struggling walking down without the light. There are nice paths/open areas to walk around, talk, and take photos so maybe get there 30 mins to an hour before hand to be able to enjoy everything. The food truck ran out of propane when I went so I'd say if your hungry plan to go to some place in the local area and if there is a food truck that will be a pleasant surprise. read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
This place is superb. I stop by a few times a week with my daughter and she runs around like a lunatic for a few hours with the other kids. They have a pretty cool playground with swings, slides, etc. that keeps her busy, and when that runs its course, we walk around the dam and park for a while. Parking is abundant, and of course, it doesn't cost a dime to use the facilities. Woo hoo! read more
7 years ago
Such a pretty scenic park to take your dog out for a walk. I was visiting from California and was just amazed by the trees and the stone work around the park. Highly recommend visiting! read more
7 years ago
Always a pleasant to be here. They kept this place clean most of the time, only had problem when carnival ppl are visiting. Not a lot of ticks for dog walking. A good place to run, steps and map out routes with distance. They do close out large portion of the park for the Winter Wonderland, money over community . Parking is easy and place is safe all hours. They did close down the food stand and only has a mobile cart there on the weekend, so bring your own food and drinks. read more
5 years ago
11 years ago
I have got to say that I have loved this area of New York since I have lived here. The kensico dam is a great place to bring the family and spend time there . No need to go far you get a great view and excerise walking around the park. I recently went to their winter wonderland which was a fantastic event. I would go there again and I hope it gets bigger . I know it would keep growing . The great part is that you only pay a 15 dollar fee no paying for parking and you can do all the rides. They have great food that is tailored to everyone's taste buds. They have from hamburger to waffles to organic foods . They of course have hot coco. They have tents set all around the park so that you can explore the different events and not be freezing, even though when we went it was nice and warm. My favorite part was the circus act that they had , it was amazing and very well done . You can tell that they were professionals. They put on a great show . I would definitely be coming back next year and hope other people do as well. read more
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Kensico Dam Plz
Valhalla, NY 10595
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https://parks.westchestergov.com/kensico-dam-plaza
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