Old Field Habitat Abounding with Migratory Birds, Amphibians, and Reptiles

Overview

The 7.5-acre preserve is roughly half meadow habitat and half wetland forest. These habitat types are a magnet for migrating birds may include indigo bunting, prairie warbler, and American woodcock. Year around inhabitants include eastern bluebirds, black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, white-breasted nuthatch, and downy woodpeckers.

The old field meadow includes little bluestem, mountain mint, milkweed, dogbane, blue vervain, and goldenrods. In the wetter middle, you’ll find rushes, willows, and red osier dogwood. The edges include gray birch, choke cherry, and red maple.

The meadow is mowed in spring to manage woody vegetation and invasive species and encourage wildflower blooms. Spring mowing allows important pollinators to overwinter in hollow stems and other vegetative litter and emerge as temperatures rise in early spring.

A thicket of European black alder is nestled in the corner with West Patent Road. WLT is actively devising a plan to eradicate this invasive tree to prevent its spread.

History

Our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people, and their culture and traditions live on today.

Historically known as Knapp’s Field, the preserve is a long-loved landmark for its wildflower meadow and openness. It lies between McClain Street, West Patent Road, and Broad Brook Road.

Bedford residents have long prioritized Knapp’s Field for protection—starting as early as the 1970s. Following the Town’s open space referendum, the Open Space Acquisition Committee reaffirmed the need to protect Knapp’s Field. Together with more than two dozen area residents, Westchester Land Trust purchased Knapp’s Field in 2002.

At the suggestion of the neighbors, WLT named the preserve for Thomas Burke, who died in the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. Mr. Burke and his family lived on McClain Street across from Knapp’s Field.

The Town of Bedford holds a conservation easement on the land.

Know Before You Go

Tom Burke Preserve welcomes visitors of all abilities. The following trail information is provided to help all visitors, including those using mobility devices or with other disabilities, plan their visit.

Download Trail Map

The walking trails at Tom Burke Preserve offer a quiet place to reflect and observe nature.

The Meadow Trail is mowed grass 0.2-mile loop around the meadow and forest’s edge. Watch for occasional rodent tunnels, which may create soft or unstable patches. The trail is generally firm and stable under dry conditions; after rainfall the grass may become soft or slippery, which may impact the traction for walkers and mobility device users. Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility devices, or other adaptive equipment should use caution in these areas.

TRAIL SURFACE: Mowed grass. TREAD OBSTACLES: Rodent tunnels. WIDTH: The trail, at its narrowest, is 3 feet wide and is typically 4 feet wide. RUNNING SLOPE: The maximum running slope is 7 percent, and the typical slope is 2 percent. CROSS SLOPE: The maximum cross slope of the trail is 5 percent, and the typical cross slope is 2 percent.

The Forest Edge Trail is a grass 0.08-mile out and back trail (0.16 miles round trip) that runs along the western side of the preserve. Watch for occasional rodent tunnels, which may create soft or unstable patches. The trail is generally firm and stable under dry conditions; after rainfall the grass may become soft or slippery, which may impact the traction for walkers and mobility device users. Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility devices, or other adaptive equipment should use caution in these areas.

TRAIL SURFACE: Mowed grass. TREAD OBSTACLES: Rodent tunnels, protruding roots. WIDTH: The trail, at its narrowest, is 3.5 feet wide and is typically 4 feet wide. RUNNING SLOPE: The maximum running slope is 2 percent, and the typical slope is 1 percent. CROSS SLOPE: The maximum cross slope of the trail is 9 percent, and the typical cross slope is 4 percent. BENCHES: There are no benches, rest areas, or bathroom facilities. Please keep our preserves safe by respecting the land, wildlife, and people.

There are no benches, rest areas, or bathroom facilities. Please keep our preserves safe by respecting the land, wildlife, and people.

If you have questions about accessibility, adaptive use of the trail, or need specific information to plan your visit, please contact us at 914-234-6992 or info@westchesterlandtrust.org.

Conservation Values

Tom Burke Preserve is one of the actively managed meadows in the 22,000-acre Eastern Westchester Biotic Corridor, which has some of the highest levels of native biodiversity found anywhere in the eastern United States.

The preserve is in a state regulated wetland within the Cross River Reservoir watershed, which brings water to more than 9 million people in New York City and Westchester County.

  • Drinking water protection
  • Meadow habitat
  • Wetland habitat
  • Forest health
  • Biodiversity

Activities

 

Directions and Parking

The entrance to Tom Burke Preserve is on McLain Street, across from Springhurst Road in Bedford Hills. Please park along the shoulder of McLain Street on the same side as the preserve. The entrance to the preserve is approximately 20 feet down a paved road. Enter the preserve through the 6-foot opening in the stone wall.

The preserve’s kiosk is just inside the stone wall.