Once used to help pump water from the Old Croton Aqueduct 40 miles north of the city to midtown Manhattan, the stone gatehouse in Highbridge Park has been damaged by years of neglect and rain. Large gaps appear between several of the stones. The capstones have suffered heavy damage. Weeds, small trees, and bushes now grow on the roof amidst broken glass and other debris.

During the renovation—for which a timetable is expected in a few weeks—the exterior walls of the gatehouse will be cleaned, reset, and re-pointed. The roof, damaged heavily by rain, will be repaired. There are no current plans for the structure to be open to the public.

Jim Fairbanks, chief of staff for New York City Councilmember Helen D. Foster, is skeptical that the gatehouse restoration will add much momentum to efforts to restore and reopen the High Bridge, a project that the city Department of Transportation has been studying since 2002. Nonetheless, Fairbanks said, “Every little thing is a sign.”

He recently used the upcoming renovation as an excuse to again call on the city to temporarily reopen the High Bridge for the summer so that kids can easily access the large swimming pool on the Manhattan side of the river. “You just need park security and a park ranger,” Fairbanks said.

But the city Department of Transportation does not expect to complete its survey of what it will take to safely reopen the 156-year-old bridge until November. Fairbanks said he has heard estimates of $20 million to $25 million. Some of that money is likely to come from federal sources. U.S. Representative Jose Serrano was able to get $5 million earmarked for the bridge restoration in a recent $275 million appropriations bill. The Senate, Congress and President George W. Bush are still debating over the final appropriations bill. Nonetheless, Ben Allen, Serrano’s communications director, said it was “very likely” the $5 million would be available.