Barretto Point Park

BARRETTO PARK EXPANDS WITH MORE THAN AN ACRE OF ADDITIONAL WATERFRONT

NYC Parks has added 1.2-acres to Barretto Park and renewed permits to keep the floating pool in action for years to come

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, announced today that a 1.2-acre parcel has been added to Barretto Point Park, bringing the total acreage of the park to 12.2 acres. This new section was transferred from DEP to NYC Parks in February 2018 and is now open to the public as a grassy area with picnic tables and views of the East River and Manhattan skyline.

Commissioner Silver also announced today that the floating pool will stay in Barretto Point Park through at least 2022. DEC has renewed the floating pool permit for a five-year term, with the possibility of an additional five-year extension. The original 10-year DEC permit for the floating pool expired earlier this year. In order to secure a new permit, NYC Parks conducted vigorous environmental studies to evaluate the barge’s impact on the river.

“We are thrilled to expand this beloved waterfront park,” said Commissioner Silver. “Bronxites now have more greenspace to unwind, picnic and play. We know how much New Yorkers love the floating pool, so we’ve been working with DEC to keep the pool here at Barretto while ensuring there is no negative impact on aquatic life.”

“In a city as dense as New York, it is a rare occasion to be able to create new parkland,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “We are so happy to be a part of expanding Barretto Point Park and to see this beautiful waterfront property put to good use.”

“Expanding Barretto Point Park and keeping the floating pool through 2022 are welcome news for our community,” said Congressman José Serrano. “As a longtime champion of expanding access to greener and cleaner spaces in urban areas, I’m glad to see an additional 1.2 acres of unused space turned into public parkland. Thanks to this effort, Bronx families will be able to continue enjoying access to a larger outdoor space, free recreational activities, and a cleaner air. The environmental condition of the Bronx has improved tremendously over the years and it will continue to do so with the collaboration of local, state and federal officials.”

“The newly created waterfront open space at Barretto Point Park will bring many new amenities for the enjoyment and use of South Bronx residents,” said Eric A. Goldstein, attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “This much-needed additional green space is not only the result of the good work of DEP Commissioner Sapienza and Parks Commissioner Silver, but tireless advocacy from local group Mothers on the Move on behalf of this community.”

“Mothers on the Move (MOM) is happy that we are moving in the right direction and hope to continue working with the Parks Department,” said MOM Executive Director Wanda Salaman.

Prior to being transferred to NYC Parks, the land was remediated by DEP under NYSDEC's Environmental Restoration Program. The remediation plan included excavation, soil removal, new soil cover and a demarcation layer to prevent intermixing of sub-base and subgrade layers. To ready the area for public use, Parks’ staff cleared and mowed the site, installed picnic tables, a mulched path and fencing.