Borough president to allocate US$14M+ in Bronx parks

New York.- Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.announced that his office has invested over $14.3 million in FY 2017 capitalfunds to improve parks throughout The Bronx, including $10 million to restorethe historic Orchard Beach pavilion and upgrades to playgrounds and recreationspaces all over the borough.

"As we work to build a healthier Bronx through our‘#Not62 campaign,’ we must make sure that our shared recreation spaces are ingood condition and inviting to the public, so that more and more Bronxites ofall ages will take advantage of them,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben DiazJr. “I am proud to have provided so much of my capital funding—50 percent—toworthy park projects all over The Bronx this year.”

Borough President Diaz has allocated $500,000 towardsimprovements at Roberto Clemente State Park; which will soon be home to abaseball academy operated in conjunction with Major League Baseball (MLB), theMajor League Baseball Players Association and Harlem RBI; as well as $500,000for the reconstruction of Garrison Playground, which lies adjacent to theformer site of P.S. 31 in Mott Haven.

Other projects included in the borough president’s capitalallocations for FY 2017 are $500,000 for the reconstruction of the basketballcourts, including new fencing, backboards, benches, paving, landscaping, adultfitness equipment and general site work at Bridge Playground in Highbridge;$500,000 for the reconstruction of Kossuth Playground on Mosholu Parkway and$500,000 for the reconstruction of Waring Playground on Bronx Park East, whichwill be used to add new equipment, as well as the addition of safety surfacing,spray shower, fencing, benches and landscaping.

Borough President Diaz has also provided $10 milliontowards renovations at the historic Orchard Beach pavilion in Pelham Bay Park,an allocation he first announced in his “State of the Borough” address inFebruary.

“Orchard Beach is one of the jewels of our borough, and ithas the potential to be an even greater tourist attraction, drawing in visitorsfrom all over the region if not the world. Orchard Beach is not just a Bronxbeach. Orchard Beach is for the entire city. And it could be so much more. Itcould be an economic engine for our borough and a destination point forvisitors across the region. I am hopeful that my $10 million capital commitmentwill spark considerable interest in this grand vision for a new Orchard Beachfrom both the public and private sectors,” said Borough President Diaz.

Since he first took office in 2009, Borough President Diazhas provided $42,768,000 to a total of 60 park projects in every corner of TheBronx.

A complete list of Borough President Diaz’s capitalallocations towards parks in FY 2017 can be found at http://on.nyc.gov/2b6jeRI.