Bronx Park

Bronx Park is August’s Park of the Month. The 718-acre park boasts some of the city’s most ecologically significant wildlife, including the Bronx River and forests. While perhaps best known as the home of the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Park has many recreation areas including playgrounds, bicycle paths, baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts and football and soccer fields. From zoos to playgrounds to historical landmarks, Bronx Park is an area for all to enjoy.

Bronx Park“Bronx Park is one of New York City’s most diverse parks with an abundance of natural and recreational opportunities,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “With the Bronx River winding through, the park boasts gorgeous riverside landscapes that play a key role in maintaining the ecological diversity of the area. Bronx Park is a also an important segment of the Bronx River Greenway, which will run eight miles between the South Bronx and the Westchester border when completed.”

The Bronx River, which begins in North White Plains and flows into the East River at Soundview Park, offers numerous scenic and recreational opportunities, and is an ecologically important habitat for a diverse assemblage of invertebrates, fish and birds. The two-mile stretch of river in Bronx Park runs through a deep gorge, where a combination of red maple hardwood swamp and floodplain forest grows on the riverbanks.

The Bronx River Floodplain Forest runs along the River and is one of just a few natural streamside landscapes remaining in the city. The Floodplain Forest takes on excess water during wet seasons and allows the river to drain of sediments.

Parks & Recreation recently completed a $3 million project to reconnect the river to the floodplain. By partially removing sediment deposits on the riverbanks, the project increased the floodplain's ability to store and filter flood water. The removal of non-native plantings enhanced the river’s natural habitat and stabilized the river’s banks. The work also included new pathways and boardwalks to improve access to one of New York City's most valuable natural treasures.

Bronx Park is home to the New York Botanical Society, as well as the Bronx Zoo. The New York Botanical Garden was modeled after the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, England, and has become one of the most distinguished gardens in the world, housing living collections of temperate and tropical plants from all over the world. The Bronx Zoo is one of the largest wildlife conservation parks in the United States, housing 4,000 animals representing more than 650 species.