A panoramic view of Poughkeepsie and the Hudson Valley
Located in the Northside of Poughkeepsie is the historic ninety-seven acre College Hill Park — overlooking the Catskill, Taconic, and Berkshire mountain ranges. The landscape was established as a formal park in the 1830’s, and has been operated by the City of Poughkeepsie since 1892.
Footage by Cristoforo Magliozzi,
MASS Design Group
In Poughkeepsie we drink from the Hudson
More than just a green space, the park also houses Poughkeepsie’s municipal water supply. Water is pumped from the Hudson River to the top of the park, originally operated as a Victorian open pond reservoir.
At the turn of the century, advancements in concrete technology led the City of Poughkeepsie to revive the ancient method of using underground cisterns, creating a custom-designed solution. It was built according to local material availability and engineering knowledge of 1923.
Image by MASS Design Group
The Cistern’s five million gallon storage capacity supplied Poughkeepsie with water for almost a century. In 2017, two adjacent prefabricated tanks were installed above ground, rather than continuously repairing the leaks inside the Poughkeepsie Cistern.
The Cistern was officially decommissioned – leaving it drained and dormant since 2021.
Image by MASS Design Group
Photo of original drawing of Poughkeepsie's water purification plant
Image courtesy of Dutchess County Historical Society Lawlor Collection
Collegiate School, prior to burning down
Courtesy of Dutchess County Historical Society Collections
College Hill Park - Dudley Memorial Shelter
Credit: MASS Design Group
College Hill Park - Lown Memorial Rock Garden
Credit: Revive College Hill Park Coalition
College Hill Park - N Clinton St Retaining Wall
Credit: MASS Design Group
College Hill Park - N Clinton Basketball Court
Credit: MASS Design Group
Cistern - Top View
Credit: MASS Design Group
Cistern - Aerial View
Photo courtesy of Sean Hemmerle, www.seanhemmerle.com
Cistern - Roof
Credit: MASS Design Group
Cistern - Entrance
Credit: MASS Design Group
View of Poughkeepsie's College Hill
Image by Edwin Whitefield, 1852, "Whitefield's Views of North American Cities" No. 27 Poughkeepsie DCHS Image Collection