Bronx Park

NYC PARKS CUTS THE RIBBON ON $3.6 MILLION RENOVATION AT WARING PLAYGROUND IN THE BRONX

Playground completed four months ahead of schedule

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue yesterday joined U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, Chairperson of Bronx Community Board 11 Albert D’Angelo, Diana Finch and Raphael Schweizer of the Bronx Park East Community Association, students and staff from P.S. 96, and community members to celebrate the $3.6 million renovation of Waring Playground in the Bronx, completed four months ahead of schedule.

“With summer just around the corner, we are thrilled to open the new and improved Waring Playground ahead of schedule for the children of Allerton,” said Commissioner Donoghue. “With so many brand new amenities to enjoy, Waring Playground will be a focal point of fun for the children of this neighborhood for years to come.”

“The renovated Waring Playground will be a bright spot in our community and a welcoming space for residents of all ages. During my time in the City Council, I secured over $1 million in funding to revamp the playground and provide necessary accessible equipment. We are thrilled to finally have this playground up and running and available to all Bronx residents,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15).

“The renovation of Waring Playground is a huge win for the Bronx and will bring much needed recreational space to the neighborhood and activities for our youth and families to enjoy,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “ Our children ,regardless of their zip-code, deserve to have quality amenities to safely play and have fun and I am so proud to see this project come into fruition. My gratitude to our elected officials, community stakeholders and leaders who fought long and hard for Waring Playground. Thank You to former Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr, Congressman Ritchie Torres and Council Member Oswald Feliz for their allocations towards this $3.6M project. Thanks to Bronx Community Board 11 and the Members of the Bronx Park East Community Association for their commitment and vision to see this project to completion. This project is an important investment in our Bronx Park East community and I’m so proud to see its completion as we prepare for the summer season. Congratulations to Everyone!”

Waring Playground in the Bronx has been completely overhauled and now features new much-needed amenities and a newly renovated basketball court for the neighborhood children. New play equipment has been installed and all areas of the playground are now fully ADA accessible. Newly added features in the playground include inclusive swings, water features, game tables, benches, and park security lighting. The drainage and water supply systems were also reconstructed as part of the project.

The Waring Playground Reconstruction project was made possible with $1.575 million from the Office of the Mayor, $1.075 from the Bronx Borough President’s Office, $450,000 from the City Council, and a $500,000 State grant through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.

Waring playground is part of the development of property transferred in 1937 by the New York Botanical Garden to NYC Parks, and is a unit in a chain of children's recreation areas along the easterly boundaries of Bronx Park.The playground opened in 1939 and had amenities that included a wading pool, sandpits, swings, and a jungle gym.