Lenoir Nature Preserve Guide: What to See and Do at Yonkers’ Historic Westchester Park
- Mark Vogel
- Nov 5
- 9 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Yonkers, New York ✈
A few minutes from downtown Yonkers, New York, Lenoir Nature Preserve feels like a different world. Perched along North Broadway overlooking the Hudson River, this 40-acre park blends quiet trails, historic estates, and open meadowland into a relaxing retreat right in the heart of Westchester County.
Location and Overview
Lenoir Nature Preserve is located at 19 Dudley Street in Yonkers. It’s part of the Westchester County Parks system and sits between the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail and the Hudson River, bordered by residential streets that fade into leafy hillsides. The preserve is open year-round from dawn until dusk, and the on-site Nature Center operates Tuesday through Saturday, generally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What makes Lenoir special is its mix of environments — part manicured estate, part untamed woodland. Paved loops like the Meadow Loop Path make it accessible for easy walking, while wooded footpaths branch off for those who prefer a more natural trail underfoot. During my visit in autumn, fallen leaves rustled across both paths, and the crisp air carried that familiar seasonal scent of dry grass and earth.
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“There’s something quietly grounding about places like Lenoir Nature Preserve. They remind you that even in a county as developed as Westchester, traces of the old river estates and wild woods still remain.”
A Brief History of the Preserve
The land that is now Lenoir Preserve has seen centuries of change. Long before the mansion and gardens, this ridge was home to the Lenni Lenape, the Indigenous people who inhabited much of what is now southeastern New York. They called the area Keskeskick, a word describing their homeland along the Hudson River.
By the late 1600s, the land became part of the holdings of Frederick Philipse I, whose vast estate stretched from what is now northern Manhattan through much of Westchester. The Philipse family retained ownership until the Revolutionary War, when Frederick Philipse III lost the property due to his loyalty to the British crown.
In the 19th century, the area was divided among private landowners who built grand riverfront homes. One of the most notable estates was called Ardenwold, owned by Colonel Gilman Dudley. His property became a popular picnic ground known as Dudley’s Grove, drawing thousands of visitors in the late 1800s who came for dancing, boating, and outdoor theater. The spirit of that leisure era still lingers in the open meadowland and tree-lined paths that remain.
Another key figure in the preserve’s history was Adam Norrie, a Scottish merchant who named his mansion “Montrose” after his hometown in Scotland. In 1893, William Boyce Thompson, founder of the Boyce Thompson Institute, acquired the property. Later, it passed to the Dula family, who renamed it Lenoir — a combination of “Le” and “Norrie.” The Dulas were known for their gardens and naturalist interests, which set the tone for what the land would become.
After the last private owners, the Boyce Thompson Institute, moved to Ithaca in 1976, Westchester County purchased the property in 1977. The once-private grounds became public parkland, merging with neighboring parcels and formally opening as the Lenoir Nature Preserve.
Exploring the Mansion and the Carriage House
The preserve’s mansion, visible from the main meadow, is one of Yonkers’ quiet architectural treasures. Built in the late 19th century, it reflects the stately charm of the Hudson River estates that once dotted the bluffs. The house served as a private home, then as a culinary classroom for the Yonkers Board of Education. Its carriage house, a red-brick building now used as the Nature Center, sits nearby along the main entrance road.
Inside the Nature Center, visitors can learn about local wildlife, pick up a trail map, or attend educational workshops hosted by the Hudson River Audubon Society. The staff maintains feeders and seasonal exhibits that highlight the birdlife and ecology of the lower Hudson Valley. The center’s porch, with its modest “Welcome” sign, gives it a neighborhood charm that feels both inviting and historic.
While the mansion is one of the most recognizable features of Lenoir Preserve, the interior is not open for public tours. The building has served many purposes over the years, including use by the Boyce Thompson Institute and later the Yonkers Board of Education, which held culinary classes there. Today it remains part of the county’s park system and is occasionally used for staff offices, educational programming, and special events, but regular visitors cannot access the inside. Most people experience the estate from the outside, where its architecture, hillside setting, and views across the meadow tell the story just as effectively as any furnished interior tour.
The Stone Arch and the Remnants of the Past
As you follow the paved path west from the meadow, a stone archway suddenly appears — small, turreted, and slightly mysterious, almost like something from a forgotten estate. This arch, one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks, is a remnant of the old Fairlawn Estate, built by Colonel John Stillwell in the early 1900s. The stone archway is one of the last surviving pieces of the Fairlawn Estate, which burned down in the early 20th century.
During autumn, the area around the arch has a quiet beauty. The pathway leading to it is lined with tall, golden stalks that sway in the breeze. While it once marked part of an elegant driveway or garden feature, today it serves as a photogenic reminder of how much history lies hidden within the preserve’s landscape.
The Gazebo and Meadow Trails
Not far from the arch, a gazebo rests near the edge of the meadow. It’s simple and open, positioned perfectly for sitting in the shade or watching the light shift across the fields. From here, paved and unpaved trails diverge — one leading toward the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail, the other looping back toward the mansion and Nature Center.
The Meadow Loop Paved Path is about 0.6 miles long, making it an easy circuit for casual walkers or families. The Woodland Trail, marked in green on park maps, winds through the trees and gives a slightly more secluded experience. Another short section, the Copper Beech Trail, passes by stately old trees that hint at the property’s estate-garden past.
The Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden
One of the park’s most beloved spots is the Butterfly and Hummingbird Garden, also known as the Beverly E. Smith Butterfly Garden. A curved metal sign covered in heart-shaped leaves marks the entrance, leading to a series of small garden patches arranged like a quilt of native plants. Each plot supports a mix of species that attract pollinators — milkweed for monarchs, black-eyed Susans for bees, and salvia for hummingbirds.
During my visit in late autumn, the butterflies were long gone, but the garden still had character. The seed heads and faded flowers carried their own quiet beauty, and interpretive signs explained how the plants play a crucial role in sustaining pollinators through the warmer months. It’s easy to imagine this space in summer, alive with color and movement, when the air hums with wings and the garden fulfills its purpose.
The garden is maintained in partnership with the Hudson River Audubon Society, which hosts seasonal volunteer days and educational programs here. Even when the flowers are past bloom, the garden’s design encourages reflection — a place to see how the preserve connects not only people and history but also the cycles of nature itself.
The History Trail
Throughout Lenoir Preserve, a series of interpretive signs form the History Trail, blending local heritage with nature education. Each plaque tells part of the story — from the Native American presence and colonial settlements to the estate era and eventual transformation into parkland.
One panel details the land’s transition through the centuries, while another focuses on the Ardenwold Estate and its connection to Dudley’s Grove. Visitors walking these paths are, quite literally, walking through layers of Yonkers history — from Revolutionary War landholdings to Gilded Age leisure grounds. The trail invites you to slow down, read, and imagine the families and visitors who once gathered here for picnics and garden strolls.
Accessibility and Visitor Information
Lenoir Nature Preserve is free to enter — there’s no admission fee or parking charge. Two small parking lots are available: one near the Nature Center on Dudley Street and another closer to the main field along North Broadway.
The paved trails make much of the park accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, particularly the Meadow Loop Path. The unpaved woodland paths, however, can be uneven and are best suited to visitors comfortable with mild inclines and natural terrain.
Restrooms are located inside the Nature Center when it’s open. Benches and picnic tables are scattered near the mansion and meadow, providing quiet spots to sit and enjoy the view. The preserve does not have food vendors or shops, but downtown Yonkers and nearby Hastings-on-Hudson offer several cafés and casual dining options within a 10-minute drive.
Across North Broadway from the preserve is Executive Plaza, a small commercial strip that makes a convenient stop before or after your walk. There is a Starbucks there, along with several restaurants that work well for a quick bite. Executive Plaza also includes a cluster of small hotels such as the Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers, which puts visitors within a minute’s drive of the park. It’s a practical spot for anyone planning to spend time exploring Yonkers, the Hudson River towns, or nearby Westchester attractions.
Seasonal Highlights and Wildlife
Each season brings a new personality to Lenoir Preserve. In spring, the butterfly garden awakens with milkweed, goldenrod, and coneflowers. Summer fills the woods with birdcalls — the preserve is known as a bird-watching site, home to hawks, woodpeckers, and songbirds. Autumn, when I visited, transforms the landscape into a palette of amber and russet, while winter reveals the sculptural branches and open vistas that summer foliage hides.
The preserve is also a sanctuary for small mammals, reptiles, and migratory species. Visitors may catch sight of rabbits or deer near the tree line, or spot hawks gliding above the meadow. Nature programs often focus on identifying these residents and understanding their roles within the preserve’s ecosystem.
Educational and Community Programs
Lenoir’s connection to environmental education runs deep. The Hudson River Audubon Society, headquartered at the preserve, organizes guided walks, lectures, and children’s programs throughout the year. Topics range from bird identification to native plant gardening and seasonal ecology. School groups frequently visit for field lessons, and families often come on weekends for workshops and outdoor events.
The park’s staff and volunteers also maintain feeders near the Nature Center, which attract a variety of birds even in the colder months. These simple touches — a feeder outside the window, a labeled plant bed, an interpretive sign explaining a species — all make Lenoir feel approachable, not just scenic.
My Visit and Impressions
I visited Lenoir Preserve on a crisp autumn afternoon, when the air carried that faint scent of dry leaves and distant rain. Starting at the Nature Center, I followed the paved loop past the gazebo and out toward the meadow. The landscape opened up to long golden grass, and in the distance, the old mansion rose behind a line of trees — quiet, dignified, and surrounded by history.
The stone arch caught my eye immediately — a small castle-like structure tucked into the landscape, both unexpected and perfectly placed. It’s the kind of detail that makes you pause, not because it’s grand, but because it connects you to something that once was. From there, I walked through the Butterfly Garden, reading the signs about native plants and pollinators, and imagining the space alive with motion in warmer months.
Even without the butterflies, the preserve felt full of life — just in a quieter, end-of-season way. The trails were easy to navigate, with just enough turns to feel like a mini adventure. I ended my walk back near the gazebo, sitting for a moment under the trees as the light began to soften.
Why Lenoir Preserve Is Worth Visiting
Lenoir Nature Preserve offers more than a scenic walk. It’s a living record of how land evolves — from Indigenous homeland to colonial estate, from private mansion to public refuge. It’s a place where history, architecture, and ecology intersect in a way that feels intimate and personal.
For travelers exploring Westchester County or looking for a quick escape from New York City, Lenoir is ideal. It’s close enough for a day trip yet peaceful enough to feel like a getaway. Whether you come for the butterfly garden in summer, the fall foliage, or simply a quiet walk through local history, this preserve leaves a lasting impression.
Practical Information
Address: 19 Dudley Street, Yonkers, NY 10701
Hours: Trails open daily, dawn to dusk; Nature Center open Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Admission: Free
Parking: Free lots near Nature Center and mansion area
Accessibility: Paved and unpaved trails; Meadow Loop Path accessible for wheelchairs and strollers
Managed by: Westchester County Parks Department, in partnership with the Hudson River Audubon Society
What Makes Lenoir Special
There’s something quietly grounding about places like Lenoir Nature Preserve. They remind you that even in a county as developed as Westchester, traces of the old river estates and wild woods still remain. The park doesn’t try to dazzle or overwhelm — it invites you to slow down, listen, and notice the details: the curve of a stone wall, the faded name on an interpretive sign, the whisper of wind through tall grass.
For me, visiting in autumn meant trading butterflies for rustling leaves, but it also meant seeing the preserve at its most reflective — a season when everything pauses before renewal. Whether you’re local to the area or just passing through, Lenoir Nature Preserve is worth discovering. It’s one of those places that stays with you — calm, storied, and quietly beautiful in every season.
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