By Susan Johnson

May 14, 2025: The Bronxville, Scarsdale and Hudson Valley Rotary Clubs will partner on an EPIC Day of Service Saturday, May 17^th (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.), rain date Sunday, May 18^th at the same time, cleaning up and beautifying a section of the Bronx River Conservancy Reservation, located near the Tuckahoe duck pond at the cross section of Garrett Avenue and the end of Tuckahoe Road. The environmental service event is one component of a national grassroots initiative demonstrating how a collective effort by Rotary volunteers addresses critical needs in their communities; it is part of Rotary’s global movement dedicated to making a positive impact through hands-on service projects.

Volunteers will remove invasive vines and scrub brush that have developed a stranglehold on trees over the years and will ultimately kill them – and have some fun while doing it. Robert DelTorto, President of the Bronx River Parkway Reservation Conservancy, will train and supervise the volunteers also planting native trees and shrubs along the banks of the river to help restore its ecology, to preserve and protect a beautiful section of the local landscape. The Bronx River travels through Westchester and the Bronx to Long Island Sound and is currently the subject of major regional water-quality and environmental initiatives.

“This is a day when people can witness the true spirit of Rotary in action, to showcase the power of volunteerism” said Ruth Walter, who, along with Dr. Eduardo Saponara, are co-chairs of the project. “We’re proud that this is the Bronxville Rotary’s third annual event focused on the care and feeding of our beautiful park.”

The Bronx River Parkway was the first public parkway designed for automobiles, extending about 13 miles in Westchester County and about another two miles in NYC. Westchester County owns and maintains the road, pathway and extraordinary parkland created over 100 years ago. Robert DelTorto said “At the turn of the of the 20^th century the polluted Bronx River was an open sewer, its water sickening animals at the Bronx Zoo. Tenements, outhouses, pig farms, factories and mills along the river all contributed to the pollution.”.

This year the BRPRC celebrates its centennial as an advocate for the protection and preservation of the unique character of the park listed in the National Register of Historic Places and will be fundraising for the design and installation of signs at the Southern and Northern entrances to the Parkway, denoting its historical significance.

The Rotary EPIC Day of Service has grown into an international movement, currently spanning seven countries – the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, England, The Netherlands and Bermuda. In 2023, this initiative brought together over 36,000 Rotarians and community members who completed 1,264 projects across 21 Rotary districts and 1,200+ clubs. This year’s projects in 10 U.S. states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Colorado, Wyoming, and Michigan) addresses issues such as environmental sustainability, food insecurity, education and community revitalization.

The Bronxville Rotary Club is part of Rotary International’s network of 1.4 million problem-solvers in 46,000 clubs, the world’s largest non-profit and humanitarian service organization that provides service to others, builds international relationships, and promotes peace, to create a better world.

Learn more about local Rotary Clubs: Bronxville Rotary (https://bronxvillerotary.com/) Scarsdale Rotary (https://scarsdalerotary.org/) and Hudson Valley (https://www.rotaryhudsonvalley.org/).

Follow Bronxville Rotary on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bronxvillerotary) and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bronxville_rotary/.

The public can commemorate the Bronx River Parkway Reservation’s centennial honoring its preservation of scenic water bodies, preservation of several historic bridges, conducting a tree inventory and completing the pathway between Bronxville and Mt. Vernon by making a contribution here: (https://www.epicdayofservice.org/clubs/united-states-7230-bronxville/campaigns/5714).