The Jay Estate in Rye was home to one of our nation's greatest peacemakers, John Jay...

...and today, it is YOUR park

Our nonprofit, the Jay Heritage Center (JHC) is dedicated to transforming the 23-acre Jay Estate into a vibrant educational campus, hosting innovative and inclusive programs about American History, Historic Preservation, Social Justice, and Environmental Stewardship.

More about who we are and what we do

JHC Announces New Trustees and Advisory Board Members

Breadth of Talent and Experience Will Help JHC Grow

The Jay Heritage Center is proud to welcome two new Board trustees and two new Advisory Board members. Their talents range from marketing and financial expertise to innovation in sustainability and cultural education. We are enormously grateful to Katherine Ernest, Johanna Schwab, Liz Alessi and Carol Smith-Ubosi for this generous commitment of time and effort.

Read more about these four dynamic women here.

Take a Hike! Watch for Bald Eagles!

Enjoy a Timeless View of 10,000 Years of History

No filter, no commercial development in sight or on site! Not a buildable lot. Just public access to serenity, quiet trails and outdoor classrooms that respect natural and cultural heritage – that’s the view from our park! Thank you to Westchester Magazine for highlighting this treasured spot in their current issue “Six Parks and Preserves Made for Walking in Westchester”.

Just this week, an American bald eagle could be spotted building its nest from twigs and grasses. The raptor has been seen numerous times soaring between our park and the adjacent Marshlands Conservancy gathering materials. Watch the exhilarating flight filmed by JHC volunteer Charlie Yang.

So bring your hiking boots and binoculars and enjoy not only our oasis but also the neighboring sanctuary. The two parks were once connected as one land mass and share a rich history. They are 2 of 5 properties landmarked by the US Department of the Interior and the National Park Service.

Jay Estate Gardens Season Opening Sunday April 27

FREE Tours, Spring Activities for Families 10am to 5pm

  • Power-Up Garden Workshop from 12-2pm – Celebrate Earth Month with a workshop designed to give visitors ideas and suggestions for transitioning into more environmentally friendly practices, garden tools and accessories. Try some of our own tools and electric equipment at the Jay Estate Gardens.
  • Free Ice Cream from Jimmy’s Soft Serve from 2pm-3pm

Become a Member or Donate Today!

Help us empower and educate kids and families! 

Learn more about Joining and Giving to support our 23-acre Park and Learning Center!

Land Acknowledgement

It is with gratitude and humility that we acknowledge that we are learning, speaking and gathering on the land of the Wiechquaesgeck (WE-QUEES-GECK), a subdivision of the Munsee people. The Munsee can be identified as speakers of Munsee, a dialect of the Lenape language. Today, the Munsee language is considered critically endangered, only spoken by a handful of elders on the Moraviantown Reserve in Ontario, Canada, each speaker over the age of 70. Lenape, or Leni Lenape was a name prescribed to them by colonists, rather than a label of initial self identification.
The Wiechquaesgeck were the historic owners of Rye, Harrison, and large parts of Westchester County, as they lived between the Hudson and Long Island Sound. Modern nations like the Stockbridge-Munsee, the Delaware Tribe of Indians, and the Delaware Nation trace their ancestry to the Munsee tribes, and continue to keep their history alive. We pay honor and respect to their ancestors past and present as we commit to building a more inclusive and equitable space for all. In the coming years, we plan to reintroduce species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Wiechquaesgeck into our gardens as a way to promote greater respect and understanding of their culture.

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