Kossuth Playground East Mosholu Parkway North between Jerome Avenue and Van Cortlandt Avenue, Bronx, NY Community Visioning Report April 2016

KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND COMMUNITY VISIONING REPORT APRIL 2016 |

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MOSHOLU PARKLAND: REDISCOVER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Kossuth Playground Community Visioning Report

APRIL 2016

PLANNING & VISIONING LED BY MADE POSSIBLE BY REPORT PREPARED BY Friends of Mosholu

Parkland COVER PHOTO CREDTS Select photos by Melanie Rieders Made possible by the City Parks Foundation, thanks to Councilman Andrew Cohen and the Parks Equity Initiative of the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito. A part of the People Make Parks project

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Hungarian folk art symbol.

Philosophy of the Friends of Mosholu Parkland The interconnecting landscaped enclaves on Mosholu fosters cohesion, embracing the diverse neighborhoods in hopes of a cleaner, safer environment, strengthening social ties and spurring economic and housing development for a better quality of life.

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KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND COMMUNITY VISIONING DRAFT REPORT Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND INTRODUCTION ...... 7 Acknowledgements ...... 7 Neighborhood History ...... 8 Neighborhood Demographics ...... 9 About Kossuth Playground ...... 10 Mission and Vision of the Friends of Mosholu Parkland...... 11

PROJECT BACKGROUND ...... 13 Telling the story to makeover Kossuth Playground ...... 13 “Rediscover Your Neighborhood” Community Visioning Event ...... 14

COMMUNITY VISIONING ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS ...... 17 Survey Participant Demographics ...... 18 What residents say they like best of Kossuth Playground ...... 19 Safety Recommendations and Usage ...... 20 Improvement Recommendations ...... 22 Activities, Elements, and Features Recommendations ...... 24

CONCLUSIONS...... 27 Rediscovering Kossuth Playground ...... 27 Key Recommendations ...... 28 Next Steps ...... 29 Community Visioning Photo Gallery ...... 30

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SECTION ONE Acknowledgements and Introduction

his material is based on From the NYC Parks Department: Mosholu Preservation Corpora- work graciously funded by Iris Rodriquez-Rosa, Bronx Bor- tion, The COVE, Norwood News, Council Member Andrew ough Commissioner, Mike Bronx Green-Up, and the NYC T Cohen, the New York City Grattan, Deputy Chief of Feral Cat Initiative. Council’s Parks Equity Initiative, Operations, Leenda Bonilla, Bronx We are thankful to COFFEED, a the Partnerships for Parks Capaci- Outreach Coordinator, Kathleen local small business owned by ty Fund Grant, and community Martin, Million Trees Program. Frank Raffaele, for the donation of and public donations. Our work The Partnerships for Parks staff coffee and black/white cookies, was also made possible through and Grants & Resources Program. and to Fernando Tirado of NIED the support of the New York City Strategies, Inc. Department of Parks & Recreation Our local elected officials that Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris have been instrumental through- Our interactive park entertainers: Steven Oates- Guitarist, Rodriguez-Rosa. Catherine Gasta –“Mime for In this limited space, it is simply Hire”, and to a Norwood small impossible to give the names of business, “Popular Magic the large numbers of friends and Parties” for their balloons and well-wishers who provided face painting activities. invaluable cooperation indirect and directly help assist us in The Friends of Kossuth carrying out this visioning event . Playground, especially Barry Fedebagha and his family . We owe a deep gratitude to Partnerships for Parks Community The Friends of Williamsbridge Visioning & Planning Manager, Oval especially Sheila Sanchez, Le`alani Boykin, and the People out this entire process, starting Tancy and Anthony Rodriguez, Make Parks Program for helping with Councilman Andrew Cohen and Jennie and Abby Skaggs for our group with the logistics of the of the 11th District , Assemblyman doing all the arts and crafts. visioning as well as providing the Mark Gjonaj of the 80th District, And last but certainly not least, to resources that were needed to and Assemblyman Jose Rivera of the members of the Friends of achieve a successful and the 78th District. Mosholu Parkland, especially important community event. The board members of Bronx Carmen Mendez, David Claudio We are personally obliged and Community Board 7 and their and his workers; Emily Quaranta for creating the “eye” flyer, highly grateful to the following assistance in hosting meetings and Sandra Alvarez, Lorita Watson, individuals and programs that assistance at the visioning session, and Daniel Cheveyo. guided us, provided us with extra especially Barbara Stronczer and resources, and took on more than Helen Hartman Kutnowsky. they anticipated to make this pro- The following community based ~Elizabeth Quaranta, President ject a success: organizations for their assistance: Friends of Mosholu Parkland

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NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY

Kossuth Playground is located in helped the passage of the New was completed. In 1917, the the northwest section of the Bronx Parks Act in 1884, which funded Jerome Avenue subway line was within the boundaries of Council the acquisition of several major extended to serve Bedford Park. District 11. It is situated along the underdeveloped lands with the Today, Bedford Park is an ethnical- north service road of Mosholu purpose of creating parks and ly diverse community that is home Parkway and joining the neighbor- parkways. to a number of prestigious high hoods of Bedford Park to the Today Mosholu Parkway connects schools, colleges, and some of the south and west with Norwood to the Bronx Park to Van Cortlandt oldest churches in the city. the north and east. Below is a Park and stretches from Allerton Norwood brief history of these areas. Avenue to Gun Hill Road, with an Mosholu Parkway extension north through Van Norwood began as a dairy farm Cortlandt Park. owned by the Varian family. It is Mosholu is an Algonquian word commonly believed that the (the language of some North Bedford Park neighborhood’s name comes from American Indian groups) that Over 150 years ago, Bedford Park the name “North Woods.” In fact, means “smooth stones” or “small began as an area of farmland several Revolutionary War battles stones” for the nearby creek now owned by Leonard Jerome — were fought in this once densely known as Ti- Winston wooded area, and the foreign bett’s Brook. Churchill's heroes of the time have been The Parkway grandfather. immortalized in the names of local began in the Jerome sold streets (DeKalb, Rochambeau, and late 19th cen- the Bedford Steuben Avenues). tury when Park tract in Today, Norwood is home to New York City the 1850s and several major institutions and bought several he and August landmarks such as the Montefiore underdevel- Belmont, Sr. Health System and Williamsbridge oped lands in began to build Oval Park. the Bronx to the Jerome Photo credit: Fernando P. Tirado build park space and parkways Park Race- Other landmarks in the Norwood between 1888 and 1890. course, which is now the Jerome neighborhood include the Valentine-Varian House, which is The movement to create more Park Reservoir. Twenty years after the sale, a group of developers home to the Museum of Bronx parks in the city began in 1881, History; and the old Williams- built a suburban community to the when John Mullaly, a former bridge Reservoir Keeper’s House, east and named it Bedford after newspaper reporter and editor, which was bought and restored by the London suburb. and a group of citizens concerned the Mosholu Preservation with widespread urban growth, The Reservoir project was Corporation, the community formed the New York Park Associ- completed in 1906 and in 1914, development arm of Montefiore, ation. The group’s lobbying efforts the Grand Concourse & Boulevard for use as a community space. KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND COMMUNITY VISIONING REPORT APRIL 2016 | 8

NEIGHBORHOOD DEMOGRAPHICS

The community surrounding Population by Gender of the Mosholu Community* Kossuth playground is a diverse and young population. The area around the playground consists predominantly of mid-density residential units, with one and two family homes scattered through- Source: NYC Census Fact Finder, 2009-2013 ACS out many of the side streets. A subset of City Council District 11 Population by Age of the Mosholu Community* was identified to identify which residents would benefit the most from capital improvements to the playground. This subset consists of five (5) census tracts along the parkway, two in Norwood and three in Bedford Park, lying between Jerome Avenue to the north and Webster Avenue to the south; all within a 5-minute walk- Source: NYC Census Fact Finder, 2009-2013 ACS ing distance to the parkway. Density and Open Space Access Community Data on Mosholu* The graphs to the right provide some of the demographic, social, economic, and housing makeup of this subset, which has been identi- fied as the “Mosholu community”. Using data from the 2009-2013 American Community Survey, the NYC Department of City Planning, and the 2015 City Council District Profile provided by New Yorkers for Parks, we are able to calculate population density and resident access to open space for the Sources: NYC Census Fact Finder, 2009-2013 ACS; NYC Source: NYC Census Fact Finder, 2009-2013 ACS Mosholu community in relation to Dept. of City Planning 2014; 2015 New Yorkers for the Council District 11, the Bronx, Parks, Council District 11. and to New York City. *Based on the NYC Census Fact Finder, 2009-2013 ACS. Census tracts used to define the Mosholu Community are 411, 413, and 415 in Bedford Park and 419 and 425 in Norwood. Open space data for Mosholu Parkway obtained from the “Natural Area Mapping and Inventory of Mosholu Parkway, 2011”, NYC Dept. of Parks and Recreation.

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ABOUT KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND

This playground, located along the Crotona, and Claremont Parks, as building, basketball court, volley- historic Mosholu Parkway at well as four parkways, including ball court, shuffleboard court, Mosholu Parkway North and the Mosholu Parkway. swings, slides, seesaws, and climb- Kossuth Avenue, is named for The 600-foot-wide Mosholu ing equipment. The playground is Lajos Kossuth (1802–1894), a Parkway is a landscaped highway one of several features along the leader in the Hungarian radical connecting Van Cortlandt Park to parkway, which also boasts a WWI reform movement of the 1830s. the northwest to Bronx Park to monument by Jerome Conner at Trained as a lawyer, Kossuth Marion Avenue depicting a group edited several journals and news- papers that allowed him to broad- cast his increasingly popular ideas. He issued fiery pleas for Hungary’s independence from Vienna’s Hapsburg Monarchy, for emanci- pation of the peasants, and for industrial development. Kossuth was elected to the Hungarian Diet (national assembly) in 1847, and a year later he led the revolution that created a new national government for Hungary. The creation of Mosholu Parkway came as a result of the wide- spread park and parkway move- ment that distinguished landscape the southeast. An extension north Photo credit: Melanie Rieders architect Frederick Law Olmsted through Van Cortlandt Park runs of American doughboys in action. (1822–1903) pioneered during the past the Mosholu and Van The southern end of the parkway 1860s. Olmsted conceived a Cortlandt Golf Courses, with inter- borders the New York Botanical system of parks connected by a changes at the Major Deegan Garden, the internationally new type of road called a Expressway (Interstate 87) and renowned public gardens and parkway, the scenic qualities of the Henry Hudson Parkway. Parks research institution and the 52nd which made them extensions of and the Department of Transpor- Police Precinct at Webster Avenue the parks they were connecting. tation share joint responsibility for is a New York City landmark. By 1888, the City had acquired the parkway’s maintenance. Excerpts of “Mosholu Parkway—Kossuth Playground” taken from the NYC Dept. of properties in the Bronx that would Kossuth Playground opened on Parks and Recreation webpage: http:// eventually become known as the September 6, 1930. The new play- www.nycgovparks.org/parks/mosholu- Van Cortlandt, Pelham Bay, Bronx, ground featured a recreation parkway/highlights/11860

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MISSION AND VISION OF THE FRIENDS OF MOSHOLU PARKLAND

Mission Statement The Role of the Friend’s Group The aims of Mosholu Parkland Providing leadership that engages Becoming a member of a Friend’s and Kossuth Playground are: the Mosholu community to im- group is the first step in creating a  A Welcoming Place prove the green spaces along Mo- positive lasting change in a park or  Healthy, Safe and Secure sholu Parkway for now and future green space in the following roles: generations.  Clean and Well Maintained  Support Vision  Sustainable  Protect The Friends of Mosholu Parkland  Conservation and Heritage  Conserve envision a park, recreation and  Community Involvement  Beautify traffic system that:  Marketing (housing and  Develops a center of commu- Our Friend’s group also helps to economic development) nity life, bringing together the  Management between city neighborhoods of Bedford agencies and Norwood on Mosholu with public gardens and Methods for recognizing issues enhanced green spaces. and creating transformation for Kossuth Playground were:  Helps to restore a sense of community, wellbeing, and  Hosting Town Hall meetings public safety.  Coordinating park community  Preserves recreational oppor- visioning for larger designated tunities, natural areas, and area of interest. designated public spaces.  Organization of smaller  Preserves a system of walk- projects with community volunteers and youths. ways, greenways, and trails Photo credit: Melanie Rieders that links residential homes to facilitate, encourage, and  Attendance and participation the park malls and enclaves. promote community cohesiveness of neighborhood, Community  Encourages use by all ages. and accountability for Mosholu Board Parks committee, and parkland, the common denomina- Friends group meetings.  Supports designated areas tor between neighborhoods. with economic development  Collaborations with the Bronx opportunities in both the We also seek to raise awareness, Parks Department officials, Norwood and Bedford Park advocate for funding, and increase City Councilmember, communities. volunteer opportunities to Community Board Members, maintain and improve all green residents and youth, business  Provides enhanced scenic and play spaces. owners, and volunteers. views for motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and park users.

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SECTION TWO Project Background

“KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND LONG OVERDUE FOR A MAKEOVER, SAY PARK ADVOCATES”

Kossuth Playground is in need of a Kossuth, a Hungarian revolution- Recreation. The group’s visioning makeover, say park advocates. ary who was active in the 1830s. program, People Make Parks, But it first needs a vision. The group is expected to convene intends to teach volunteers how As part of a broader discussion on an information gathering at the to develop a convincing visioning the revitalization of Mosholu playground Oct. 10, to pepper report to submit to legislators Parkway, Friends of Mosholu Bronx residents on what rehab who can help fund improvements Parkland plan to survey residents work needs to be done at the to a park. over the needs of the play- playground. Quaranta was offered But a visioning plan is never a ground’s improvements. guarantee to effect change, but an For the past few years Kossuth “We’re preparing for the act of persuasion. With the New Playground, found on East Mo- York City Parks & Recreation sholu Parkway North between future so we don’t lose Department with a small capital Kossuth and Steuben avenues, has our Mosholu Parkland” funding budget, and a bureau- been eyed for renovations. The cratic maze that involves funding, only section where neighbors are designing it and building it, the legally permitted to recreate by a preview of some answers that Kossuth Playground project could the parkway, Kossuth Playground are to be expected at the upcom- be mired in years-long is heavily used, though improve- ing event after talking with some development. ments could be made, according residents about the playground But should it be given the green to Elizabeth Quaranta, the group’s over the summer. light to be built, it will join 164 president. Also, given the popula- “I asked him, ‘So, how often do park projects in the Bronx that tion boom that’s expected in Nor- you come?’ And a lot of times currently in procurement, design wood, renovations should be war- they would say, ‘Not often be- or construction, according to ranted, she noted. cause it’s either too dark, too Parks’ website. “We need an updated playground dingy. It’s not what my kids want “We’re preparing for the future so that is even ADA-accessible,” said to play. There’s too many teenag- we don’t lose our Mosholu Park- Quaranta. “At this point you can’t ers on that site,’” said Quaranta. land,” said Quaranta. “Kossuth is a put a wheelchair on top of that The data is expected to become solution to the activities that flooring at all.” the DNA for a blueprint for fixing people want.” The playground’s amenities in- the playground. Agreeing to help Written by David Cruz. Reprinted clude a basketball court, jungle FOMP’s cause is Partnerships for with permission. gym and seesaws. It opened in Parks, a joint program of City © Copyright Norwood News, Vol. 1930 and is named after Lajos Parks Foundation and the New 28, Issue 18, 2015. York City Department of Parks &

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SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES LEADING UP TO THE “REDISCOVER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD” COMMUNITY VISIONING EVENT

PLANNING AND ORGANIZING PHASE Support for a community visioning plan for Kossuth Playground began galva- nizing in early 2015, when the Friends of Mosholu Parkland (FOMP) and park goers expressed that a rehabilitated playground was long overdue. FOMP reached out to both the office of Councilman Andrew Cohen and Partnerships for Parks to propose a visioning event that would gather public input about what park elements, activities, improvements, and other amenities could help to create a more welcoming environment for the playground. OUTREACH PHASE Working with the local park manager and Bronx Borough Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, FOMP applied for a special events permit for the “Rediscover Your Neighborhood” event in mid-summer of 2015. They also worked with Partnerships for Parks to outline the goals for the events and which tools would be used to justify a major capital rehabilitation. FOMP members devised a budget and conducted local fundraising activities to cover the costs for the event. A stakeholder analysis was also conducted to promote participation as part of FOMP’s public relations plan. PREPARATION PHASE With guidance from the Parks Department, a final run through was conducted ENVISION CHANGE! three weeks before the event to address any potential issues. This included identifying volunteer translators to assist in both outreach and during the GET INVOLVED! event. Additional media strategies included sending out a press release to local blogs and media outlets, utilizing social media to promote the event, and placing an ad in the local newspaper, the Norwood News. FOMP members and volunteers also distributed and posted flyers along local commercial strips and throughout the Jerome Gun-Hill Business Improvement District. IMPLEMENTATION PHASE The community visioning event was held on October 10th, 2015, with over 100 participants taking part in the activities and entertainment. Residents were able to provide input through a variety of activities, casting ballots, advocating for amenities, and model making for their ideal park layout. Residents were also treated to live music, face painting, food, giveaways, and other activities provided by FOMP and various partners. RESPONDING TO THE COMMUNITY’S VISION A true visioning process can only be claimed when residents are engaged from the onset and their input valued. The Kossuth Playground Community Vision- ing event was an example of a process that worked well, and park goers will benefit from the efforts of those that contributed to the event’s success.

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Photo credit: Melanie Rieders

Photo credit: Melanie Rieders

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SECTION THREE Community Visioning Activities and Results

CAPTURING COMMUNITY INPUT TO INFLUENCE FUTURE RENOVATIONS

At the “Rediscover Your Neighbor- attitudes about park usage; the “Tree The data collected from the passports hood” Community Visioning Event, of Wishes” for capturing thoughts on and activities are divided into the park goers had the opportunity to what users would like to see in the following sections: Participation voice their concerns about conditions park; a “Hoops for Improvement” results park elements; support for in the park and their suggestions for booth for users of the basketball activities and features; improvement what should be considered when courts to provide their recommenda- recommendations; support for events planning future renovations. tions for this area; a model making and programming; park usage; and activity to capture park goers ideal safety perceptions. The “Voting With guidance from Partnerships for park amenities; and an exit booth to Houses” activity asked participants Parks and utilizing the People Make collect feedback and provide prizes what park elements, activities, and Parks strategy, FOMP developed vari- for participants who completed their improvements they would like to see ous activities to engage the communi- passports and evaluations. at the playground. An additional eight ty: a registration table to distribute survey questions from other activities information and passports to com- In addition to the activities, FOMP captured the values and vision of park plete the activities; story boards for invited several local public, private, goers. Together, this information will the community to preserve or replace and non-profit organizations as part be used to inform future renovations park features; video interviews con- of a “resource fair” to provide the and contribute to a greater park ducted by The Cove to capture “Your community with additional opportu- experience for the neighborhood. Park Story”; voting houses to capture nities to become civically engaged.

VISIONING PLAN DAY LAYOUT 1. Registration, Info & Passports Table 2. Story Boards 3. Voting Houses 4. “Your Park Story” with The Cove 5. NYC Dog Alliance 6. Face Painting 7. Tree of Wishes 8. Community Board 7 Table 9. Food provided by ”Coffeed” 10. Bronx Greenup Table 11. Storytime 12. Hoops for Improvement Table 13. “Open Play” - Parks Dept. 14. Model Making 15. General Boards / Gardening Section 16. Exit, Prizes & Evaluation Table

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SURVEY PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS

RESIDENCE OF SURVEY PARTICPANTS BY ZIP CODE

KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND 10468: 1% 10467: 79%

10453: 3% 10458: 14% 10462: 2%

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WHAT RESIDENTS SAY THEY LIKE BEST ABOUT THE PARK

Photo credit: Melanie Rieders Photo credit: Melanie Rieders KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND COMMUNITY VISIONING REPORT APRIL 2016 | 19

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS AND USAGE

WHAT A SAFE PARK MEAN TO RESIDENTS

Photo credit: Melanie Rieders KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND COMMUNITY VISIONING REPORT APRIL 2016 | 20

WHEN RESIDENTS SAY THEY USE THE PARK

HOW RESIDENTS SAY THEY USE THE PARK

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IMPROVEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

WHAT RESIDENTS SAY THEY WANT TO SEE MOST IMPROVED

SPECIFIC IMPROVEMENT REQUESTS FOR THE WATER SPRINKLER

Photo credit: Melanie Rieders

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MOST DESIRED IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING PARK FEATURES

Photo examples of items in need of improvement…

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ACTIVITIES, ELEMENTS, AND FEATURES RECOMMENDATIONS

MOST DESIRED ACTIVITIES BY TYPE

Photo credit: Photo Melanie Rieders

COMMUNITY GATHERINGS RESIDENTS WOULD MOST LIKELY PARTICIPATE

Photo credit: Melanie Rieders

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MOST DESIRED NEW PARK ELEMENTS

NEW FEATURES RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PARK

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SECTION FOUR Conclusions

REDISCOVERING KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND

he community visioning Participants also suggested that process guided residents additional improvements should in “rediscovering” their include more passive recreation T playground and contribut- opportunities like enjoying a meal ed to the wealth of information or attending social gatherings. that has been used to arrive to the Given that there is less green conclusions and in this section. space per capita in the Mosholu Kossuth Playground is a park that community than in the district, is well utilized by the Mosholu borough, or city, capital invest- community primarily for many ments that can foster these active and passive recreation activities are considerations for opportunities. While many people the playground and the across all age ranges use the play- surrounding green spaces. ground, this open space attracts Finally, participants expressed many adolescent males to the sev- that they have a great deal of eral basketball courts located in pride and ownership of the park. the park. They stated that they would like Years of heavy usage and lack of to see and participate more in Given that there is capital investments in the play- activities and events that knits the ground have contributed to the community closer together. While less green space per numerous maintenance and some of the recommendations capita in the Mosholu safety issues as expressed made require smaller capital fund- throughout this document. Park ing, such as for a new community community than in garden or park benches, many of goers voiced a desire to seek the district, borough, investment in and modernize the the recommendations are for playground, such as restoring programmatic activities. or city, capital amenities like a comfort station. The following sections provide key Other basic improvements such as recommendations and next steps investments that can lighting, floor maintenance, and to help inform a reimagined space foster these activities attractive and operating sprinkler for Kossuth Playground, one in systems were also expressed by which residents can take pride in are considerations for participants. calling it “their” park. the playground...

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KEY RECOMMENDATIONS

1 New Comfort 1 Station

Improved 2 Lighting 2

Repaired & New 3 Active Play Spaces

Basketball Court & Hoops Playground Renovations 3 New Rubber Flooring Fitness Equipment

New Passive 4 Recreation Spaces Gathering Places Gardening 5 Chess Tables

Renovated 5 Water Features Sprinkler System Water Fountains 4 Photos courtesy of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation

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NEXT STEPS

Below is an estimated timeline of next steps in presenting the results of the Community Visioning information to local leaders and the Parks Department. It is meant to provide the community with a basic outline for devising a capital funding strategy to implement some or all of the recommendations in this document for Kossuth Playground.

Approximate Date Tasks, responsibilities, and Follow Up

Late April 2016 Final review of contents; approval by FOMP and Partnerships for Parks; printing and distribution

Present to Councilman Cohen of the 11th Council District; Present to Bronx Parks Commissioner; May 2016 Present to Parks & Recreation Committee of Bronx Community Board 7

Discuss with Councilman Cohen and other elected officials potential capital funding plan; Present June 2016 at a Town Hall meeting for the Mosholu Community; Distribute additional copies to stakeholders

Beginning of the NYC 2017 Fiscal Budget; Work with Bronx Community Board 7 to include July 2016 Kossuth Playground Capital Investment in District Needs Statement and Capital Priorities Meet with elected officials to solicit support for funding a capital infrastructure plan; Work with September 2016 Parks Dept. to devise timeline; Present at Bronx Community Board 7 General meeting Meet with community stakeholders to galvanize them in supporting the recommendations of this October thru report in future capital funding proposals; Create community event to celebrate anniversary of December 2016 Kossuth Playground Community Visioning Event Present to Bronx Community Board 7 Capital & Expense Budget Priorities meeting and advocate January 2017 for Capital Plan as one of the top 5 capital recommendations; Work with Councilman Cohen to seek initial funding commitments to the capital plan for Kossuth Playground Follow up with Parks Department on the importance of a renovated playground, monitor budget February thru process to ensure inclusion of capital plan for the playground; respond to additional community June 2017+ inquiries, and other follow up as necessary until completion.

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COMMUNITY VISIONING PHOTO GALLERY

Photos by Melanie Rieders KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND COMMUNITY VISIONING REPORT APRIL 2016 | 30

Thank you to all the participants who came out to the support the Kossuth Playground Community Visioning event and all those who have lent their support to this effort. The Friends of Mosholu Parkland

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Kossuth Playground Community Visioning Report April 2016

© Copyright Friends of Mosholu Parkland, 2016. All rights reserved. Written, designed, and edited by NIED Strategies, Inc. for the Friends of Mosholu Parkland.

Made possible by the City Parks Foundation thanks to Councilman Andrew Cohen and the Parks Equity Initiative of the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito. KOSSUTH PLAYGROUND COMMUNITY VISIONING REPORT APRIL 2016 | 32