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Kirkside Park
About
Kirkside Park is a 14 acre treasure formerly the estate of Helen Gould Shepard-daughter of Roxbury native son, Jay Gould. At the turn of the 20th century, Miss Gould purchased the property adjacent to the newly constructed Jay Gould Reformed Church and immediately began renovating this once humble 7 room farmhouse into the magnificent mansion it is today. She named the house Kirkside, which means “alongside the church” and would summer there until her death in 1938. She also purchased the land behind the property and engaged the services of her landscape architect Ferdinand Mangold whose approach to Landscape Architecture was well documented through his work on the grounds at Lyndhurst, Ms Gould’s Hudson Valley estate. Mangold continued to develop the Kirkside ground through the early part of the 20th century.
By 1905 Kirkside Park was appointed with rustic Adirondack style bridges, winding paths that lined the east branch of the Delaware River, meticulously crafted dry laid stream bank retaining walls and a horticultural wonderland of native plantings and imports from the Lyndhurst Greenhouse.
After Ms Gould-Shepards death in 1938, Kirkside and Kirkside Park was owned privately for a short period and then was deeded to the Reformed Church of America. In years following the park suffered
Kirksid Park sized decades of neglect—rustic bridges replaced with iron rails, path systems overgrown and swept away, and sorely deteriorated stream bank walls.
In 1980, Kirkside Park was under threat of development. It was then when a group of community minded citizens stepped up and formed the “Save Kirkside Committee” They petitioned the church and raised the funds to buy the parcel known as Kirkside Park and upon acquisition the Save Kirkside Committee deeded the property to the Town of Roxbury with the stipulation that it would remain a public park in perpetuity.
In 1999, the Town of Roxbury initiated the restoration of this community jewel. With the assistance of various state, local and federal agencies, private donations and fundraising events, Kirkside Park has been restored to its glorious splendor and now once again serves as the centerpiece of the hamlet of Roxbury.
By 1905 Kirkside Park was appointed with rustic Adirondack style bridges, winding paths that lined the east branch of the Delaware River, meticulously crafted dry laid stream bank retaining walls and a horticultural wonderland of native plantings and imports from the Lyndhurst Greenhouse.
After Ms Gould-Shepards death in 1938, Kirkside and Kirkside Park was owned privately for a short period and then was deeded to the Reformed Church of America. In years following the park suffered
Kirksid Park sized decades of neglect—rustic bridges replaced with iron rails, path systems overgrown and swept away, and sorely deteriorated stream bank walls.
In 1980, Kirkside Park was under threat of development. It was then when a group of community minded citizens stepped up and formed the “Save Kirkside Committee” They petitioned the church and raised the funds to buy the parcel known as Kirkside Park and upon acquisition the Save Kirkside Committee deeded the property to the Town of Roxbury with the stipulation that it would remain a public park in perpetuity.
In 1999, the Town of Roxbury initiated the restoration of this community jewel. With the assistance of various state, local and federal agencies, private donations and fundraising events, Kirkside Park has been restored to its glorious splendor and now once again serves as the centerpiece of the hamlet of Roxbury.
Testimonials
Love the place
Betty
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