City of New York Bronx Parks & Recreation Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor Sept./Oct. 2007 Parks Post Adrian Benepe, Commissioner Borough Beat Photo of the Month Bronx parks are booming! River Park, Seton Falls Park, Clark Playground, Manida Ballfield and Sachkerah Woods Picnic Area in Van Cortlandt Park are a few of the 70 Bronx parks being improved over the next five years, thanks to $200 million in revenue from a water filtration plant being built under the Mosholu Golf Course A young park in Van Cortlandt Park. We have already completed ten Croton patron tests out new play equipment at Projects with $12 million. Nine projects, representing $19 the recent ribbon cutting at Webster million are currently in construction, and 55 projects are in Playground. The $1.5 million reconstruction, design, totaling $158 million. funded by Croton Filtration mitigation funds, provided See you in the parks! new basketball and handball courts, an adult exercise unit and new fencing, seating Adrian Benepe, and plantings. Commissioner Photo: Hector Aponte, Malcolm Pinckney Bronx Commissioner Citywide Spotlight Parks Afterschool Programs Are Starting Now! Every school day until 6:00 p.m., thousands of New York City kids, ages 6 to 13 attend one of the Parks Department’s 35 Afterschool programs citywide. Parks Afterschool offers quality programs that promote the social, physical, intellectual and emotional development of children and youth. This past year, kids made comic books using computer graphics, choreographed dance routines, learned martial arts techniques, visited art museums, played musical instruments, learned chess through our ‘Chess-in- the-Schools’ programs, wrote poetry, planned their financial futures and participated in the first annual Afterschool Spelling Bee. The Parks Department partners with organizations like New York Cares, the YMCA, NYC Global Partners and the Museum of Arts & Design to bring new experiences to kids all over the City. For more information, or to register for the Parks Department’s Afterschool Program, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call (212) 360-3300. www.nyc.gov/parks CALENDAR Feature of the Month Webster Playground Back to School Celebration Parks recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony that marked the completion of TREMONT PARK reconstruction to Webster Playground in the Fordham section of the Bronx. COMMUNITY GARDEN The $1.45 million project is part of a $220 million investment in Bronx Parks funded by mitigation funds from the construction of the Croton Water September 1 @ 7:00 p.m. Filtration Plant. Webster Playground is one of ten completed Croton projects. Hiking Club Exclusive: Reconstruction to the playground included new active recreation components Camping at Orchard Beach such as play equipment and swings for tots and pre-teens, basketball and PELHAM BAY PARK handball courts and an adult fitness unit. The reconstruction also included September 14 @ 6:00 p.m. new fencing, seating, plantings and pavement centralized around the design’s main component, a flowing stream that includes boulders, a rock outcrop End of Summer Celebration and a decorative bridge. An existing comfort station is also currently being EL FLAMBOYAN redesigned and is anticipated to open next fall. COMMUNITY GARDEN September 15 @ 2:00 p.m. Located a block away from the bustling Fordham Road shopping district and not visible from the street, this small park is a hidden treasure. Whether you’re looking for an oasis on a hot day to cool off or a place to play basketball, Introduction to Ethnobotany Webster Playground is ideal. VAN CORTLANDT PARK September 22 @ 1:00 p.m. Did you know? Bronx River Festival BRONX RIVER PARK Built in 1914, St. Mary’s Park was one of the six original parks in September 29 @ 1:00 p.m. the Bronx. The site of the Bronx’s first playground, St Mary’s Park became the catalyst for the development of recreational programming Annual Citywide throughout the borough. In 1951, the Recreation Center at St. Mary’s Bocce Tournament Park, became the first indoor, year-round, all-weather recreation center VARIOUS LOCATIONS in New York City. September 29 & 30 @ 10:00 a.m. Current Events Pedal & Paddle the Bronx River BRONX RIVER PARK October 13 @ 9:00 a.m. Halloween Happenings VAN CORTLANDT PARK October 27 @ 4:00 p.m. What’s going on in my park this weekend? How do I request a tree for my street? How can I report a problem in a park? Two volunteers take a break at Poe Park On July 16, City Parks Foundation hosted during a recent It’s My Park! Day. The next “Hip Hop Harry” in concert at Haffen Park. For answers to these questions and volunteer day happens on October 20. Photo: Gustan O’Neal more, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or Plant a tree, repair benches or tend a garden call 311. - it’s your park! Photo: Malcolm Pinckney www.nyc.gov/parks 8.