CROSS RIVER, N.Y. — Ward Pound Ridge Reservation’s new fire tower will bring the beloved park’s amenities to a whole new level, county officials proudly predict.
Not only will the 109-foot structure provide panoramic views stretching from New York City and the Long Island Sound to the Hudson River and Catskills, it will be a lightning rod for tourism, they say.
As far as its uses for educational programs, “the sky’s literally the limit,” said County Legislator Erika Pierce of District 2, who along with her predecessor Kitley Covill, has been a long-time advocate for the project.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, Pierce appeared alongside Peter Tartaglia, first deputy commissioner of Westchester County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department, and Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins to update the public on the its progress.
The steel structure’s bits and pieces are being assembled on the ground. Once complete, they will be hoisted up by a crane and joined together, not unlike a giant Tinker Toy.
No exact date was given, but construction is expected to be complete this year.
Climb every mountain
Erected in 1926, the original 70-foot fire tower was decommissioned in 1971 by the state Department of Environmental Conservation but remained standing until 1982 when it was taken down -- reportedly without the county’s approval.
The new tower will sit near Pell Hill atop what’s identified on old maps as “Cross River Mountain.” At an elevation of 869 feet above sea level, it’s the highest point in the 4,000-acre park that straddles to towns of Lewisboro and Pound Ridge.
The mountain is mainly accessible via the blue trail from Kimberly Bridge.
There will be a single-file stairway up and down with a platform midway where folks can pass and rest.
The ad hoc organization, Cross River Mountain Fire Tower, notes that in the early 20th century, it was the only one of its kind in Westchester.
There were at that time 19 fire towers in the Catskills and 52 in the Adirondacks, where there had been devastating, large-scale forest fires.
Intended to be used to protect valuable timber and communities, these mountain lookouts served as early warning systems for spotting smoke and directing firefighting efforts.
A Westchester 1975 County government report indicates that about 500 fires were reported from the Ward Pound Ridge tower between 1966 and 1968.
Traditional fire towers were eventually supplanted by superior technology such as satellites, drones, and AI cameras.
As aerial surveillance became more common, their role morphed from primary detection posts to volunteer observation sites, places for public education, and popular hiking destinations.
Some are even being restored and staffed for hybrid approaches.
The WPRR tower will join a growing number of restored or replaced towers that have become tourist attractions including the Upper Esopus Fire Tower in Ulster County’s Mount Tremper and the Ninham Mountain Fire Tower in Putnam County’s Carmel.
There are actually folks who “collect” fire towers by keeping track of all those they’ve climbed in New York, according to the park’s superintendent, Taro Ietaka.
Pierce said many residents have told her about about family and Scouting trips to the tower. Some have even gotten engaged at the special spot.
“To say it looms large in the memory of the community wouldn’t be an exaggeration,” she said.
Kathy O’Connor, county commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, said the tower “will allow for a new level of programming at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation including guided walks and presentations.”
It will also enhance conservation efforts because it’s a great place to mount bird and bat audio detection equipment, she added.
Speaking of birdwatching, Ietaka was all atwitter about the possibilities of folks hiking to the new tower spotting one feathered friend or the other, including woodpeckers, hawks, and ravens.
In June, he crooned, the mountain laurels along the paths will be in full bloom.
The natural beauty of the surroundings – not to mention the spectacular views -- should take a little of the sting out of the effort it’ll take traipsing up and down the tower’s stairs.
“It will definitely be good for your cardio,” Ietaka joked in a promotional film, adding that he anticipated that the new tower will attract hundreds -- if not thousands -- more visitors to the park.
Icon in the sky
Calling the tower “a big piece of Ward Pound Ridge Reservation’s beloved history,” Jenkins said Tuesday that residents and visitors “alike have fond memories” of the original tower.
“With the new tower, we will be able to provide park-goers with the opportunity to get reacquainted with it while educating those who are not familiar with it and its function,” he said, adding that the county is excited about having the chance to “welcome a new generation of visitors to experience this iconic feature of the park.”
Ward Pound Ridge Reservation celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. It’s the tower’s centennial this year.
The park was named for William Lukens Ward, a prominent Westchester Republican leader and parks advocate. The "Pound Ridge" part honors the area's Native American history of using game pounds.
With a diverse terrain ranging from wooded gorges and wetlands to open fields, it offers miles of trails for hiking, skiing, camping, and other outdoor activities. Because of its natural beauty – and proximity to New York City – it’s been the location of many movie shoots.
Construction of the tower began last year with the support from state Sen. Senator Pete Harckham of the Lewisboro hamlet of South Salem, who helped secure a grant to kickstart the project, Westchester Parks Foundation, Friends of Trailside Nature Museum, fire tower enthusiast Tom Cohn, volunteer Rob Cummings, parks staff, and the Westchester County Department of Public Works and Transportation.
Tartaglia also gave Pierce, a Katonah resident, a special shout-out for her unwavering efforts to support and promote all parks in her legislative district, including Alfred B. DelBello Muscoot Farm in Somers.
“She asks a lot of questions. She’s a pitbull – in the best possible way,” he said.
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