Bronx Park

NYC PARKS BREAKS GROUND ON $5.12 MILLION SHOELACE PARK LINK RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN THE BRONX

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, today joined Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Council Member Andy King, Community Board 12 Parks Committee Chair Ivan Borras, representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation, Bronx River Alliance Administrator Maggie Greenfield, and members of the community to break ground on the Shoelace Park Link Reconstruction project.

“The new upgrades coming to Shoelace Park, including the extension of the Bronx River Greenway, will soon provide the community even more opportunities to run, jog, and bike along the only freshwater river in the city,” said Parks Commissioner Silver. “Thanks to our partners at the New York State Department of Transportation, as well as Mayor Bill de Blasio, Borough President Diaz Jr., and Council Member King, the Bronx will have yet another excellent amenity for all to enjoy.”

“I am proud to have provided funding for this transformational upgrade to the Bronx River Greenway. Our public parks are a central public resource in keeping our communities healthy and in providing all of our constituents with the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities in their own neighborhood free of charge. Thank you to NYC Parks for your commitment to improving our Bronx parks,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

The Shoelace Park Link Reconstruction project will repurpose the original roadbed of the Bronx River Parkway to create one-mile of separated bicycle and pedestrian paths through the Williamsbridge neighborhood in the Bronx. A new entrance at 226th street will connect the new bicycle lanes, improving the capacity of this park as a non-motorized transportation corridor. The entrance, combined with separated pedestrian and bicycle paths and new planted areas, will serve to enhance and improve the overall experience of residents using the park.

The $5.12 million project was funded with a $2.52 million grant from the New York State Department of Transportation, $1.45 million from Mayor Bill de Blasio, $850,000 from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and $300,000 from Council Member Andy King.

Bronx Park is a 718 acre park with baseball fields, playgrounds, woodlands, waterfalls, the NY Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo. Bronx River Park, which because of its dimensions is often called “Shoelace Park,” is a linear park that includes two playgrounds and extends from 211th Street to 231st Street along the east bank of the Bronx River.