Bronx Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, May 18, 2015

NYC Parks Continues To Transform Gravesend Park And Breaks Ground On Phase Ii Of Renovations

Photo by Daniel Avila

Phase II will double the size of the playground with many added features

On Thursday, May 14, NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey joined City Council Member David Greenfield, Representative Sandra Chapman from the office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Community Board 12 District Manager Barry Spitzer, local students and community members to break ground on the second phase of renovations to Gravesend Park.

This phase consists of $5.45 million worth of improvements, funded with generous allocations of $2.65 million from Council Member David Greenfield, $1.8 million from Mayor Bill de Blasio, and $1 million from Borough President Eric Adams.

“Gravesend Park serves so many communities in Brooklyn, and Parks is excited to break ground on the next phase of renovations,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “Park users will be able to enjoy many new features, from swings to sports courts, better lighting and benches. Thanks to the Mayor’s Office, Borough President Adams and Council Member Greenfield for their support in funding the transformation of this treasured park.”

This project will continue the transformation of Gravesend Park. The construction of this site will double the size of the playground with swings and new play equipment. Additionally, there will be new basketball and handball courts, and reconstructed and re-aligned baseball fields. A renovated seating area, new benches and lighting will also be added. The comfort station and most of the existing playground will remain open during this phase of construction.

During the first phase of renovations in 2008, NYC Parks redesigned Gravesend Park to best meet the recreational needs of the growing population of toddlers and young children. Its reconstruction included a new playground with adventure play equipment, a play mountain, swings and a spray shower. It also featured cafe tables and benches for senior citizens, and a wide array of plants and shrubs.

The park's ballfields were also restored in-house by NYC Parks maintenance and operations crews. They sifted through 1,800 cubic yards of soil to remove debris, added another 450 yards of topsoil, brought in 60 cubic yards of clay for the infields, and seeded, watered and groomed the fields. The comfort station has also been funded by Council Member Greenfield for reconstruction in a future phase.

Located between 18th and 19th Avenues and 55th and 58th Streets, Gravesend Park serves the residents of Borough Park and its surrounding areas. This renovation is part of Council Member Greenfield's plan to improve all parks in his district, serving the people of Borough Park, Bensonhurst and Midwood.

THE BRONX RECEIVES $20,000 FROM TD GREEN STREETS TO SUPPORT LOCAL URBAN FORESTRY

Bronx River Alliance and local students planted 600 trees on Arbor Day with the help of $20,000 grant from TD Bank and Arbor Day Foundation

On Arbor Day, April 24, the Bronx was announced as a winner of TD Green Streets, a grant program from TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, and the Arbor Day Foundation supporting innovation in urban forestry. The $20,000 grant will help to fund reforestation efforts long the Bronx River, led by the Bronx River Alliance that will include planting 600 trees in the Bronx River Forest. The Bronx River Alliance along with sixty students from Bronx International High School helped to revitalize the Bronx River Forest with the planting of 600 trees on the same day.

TD Green Streets is a component of TD Forests, a North American initiative that helps protect critical forest habitats equal to the amount of paper the bank uses each year. Together, these programs underscore the bank’s commitment to forest protection and stewardship, and are a direct investment in the health of our urban tree canopy.

"TD Bank is proud to award TD Green Streets grants to these municipalities for enhancing their green spaces through urban forestry projects," said Joe Doolan, Head of Environmental Affairs for TD Bank. "We're committed to being an environmental leader, and our work with the Arbor Day Foundation helps us do that in communities across our footprint."

"TD Bank is excited to award a TD Green Streets grant to the Bronx for its commitment to urban forestry projects, such as tree planting and ecological restoration at the Bronx River Forest," said Joe Doolan, Head of Environmental Affairs for TD Bank. "TD Bank is committed to being an environmental leader, and our work with the Arbor Day Foundation helps us do that in communities across our footprint."

Linda R Cox, Executive Director of the Bronx River Alliance, stated "we are thrilled to have TD Bank's support to enhance the health of the Bronx River Forest. The river corridor has been transformed by Bronx communities into an environmental and recreational asset and these vital funds will help secure its future."

“This is a big year for trees in New York City – NYC Parks is about to embark on our Trees Count! tree census and we are edging nearer to our MillionTreesNYC goal,” said NYC Parks First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh. “Thanks to TD Bank, we’re able to further green the Bronx and add to the health and beauty of our ecosystem.”

To be eligible for a TD Green Streets grant, qualified municipalities were required to be current Arbor Day Foundation Tree City USA®-designated communities within TD Bank’s United States footprint. Tree City USA® is the nation’s premier urban and community forestry program, providing a foundation for effective, well-organized community tree care.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The merit of all things lies in their difficulty."

Alexandre Dumas

(1802-1870)