Center for the Urban River at Beczak
The Center for the Urban River at Beczak (CURB), which opened its doors in June 2013, collaborates between Sarah Lawrence College and the Beczak Environmental Education Center. To advance environmental knowledge and stewardship, the mission of CURB is to provide high-quality K-12 ecological education for the local community, establish a regional hub for research and monitoring focused on Hudson River estuary and urban watershed issues, and serve as a welcoming open community space for a wide range of civic and cultural activities.
With its location on the Hudson River at Habirshaw Park, the Center is a first-of-its-kind academic research facility in Yonkers outside of the College’s campus. The Center includes a welcoming riverfront lawn, an easily accessible tidal marsh, a beach used for river exploration and seining, and an entirely new field station lab designed and outfitted in 2015. A great post.
In the old Beczak Environmental Education Center, a well-loved river exploration and interpretive center conducting programs for adults and children for more than twenty years, the Center has found a new home. In honor of Joe Beczak, a Hudson River enthusiast who worked with youngsters in the 1970s to teach them about the Hudson, it was given this name.
The inside of the Beczak Center for the Urban River.
Aquaria
Our aquaria are home to a variety of natural Hudson River animals, including fish, crabs, turtles, and oysters, among others. These aquatic species are generally collected as part of our “Catch of the Day Seining” program, which takes place every day.
Children’s Play Area
A nice book or drawing or coloring their favorite Hudson River animal are all excellent options for children who want to investigate the various treasures that wash up on the shore.
Species on the Hudson River are on display.
Among the many natural species found here are a 13-foot-long Atlantic sturgeon, an American eel, a hogchoker, and striped bass.
Table of the Watershed
Inquire about seeing a demonstration of how the Hudson River works as an estuary and how it connects to the land.
The Beczak Library is home to the Center for the Urban River.
Investigate the Hudson River’s history and fauna by reading numerous publications on the subject. In addition, marine field guides for park exploration and textbooks for students are available as resources.
The Center for the Urban River at Beczak is only available by appointment because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Interested parties can contact Director Ryan Palmer at [email protected] or (914) 377-1900 with questions about the program or to rent the facility.