Rev. T. Wendell Foster Park and Recreation Center

21st CENTURY PARK SYSTEM: NYC PARKS, THE GARDEN OF DREAMS FOUNDATION, AND SCAN-HARBOR UNVEIL $1.8 MILLION MULLALY RECREATION CENTER RENOVATION

Yesterday, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, joined Garden of Dreams Foundation Board Members Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels, John Starks, Rangers alumni Brian Mullen, MSG Networks Host Bill Pidto, Executive Director of SCAN-Harbor Lew Zuchman, State Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, City Council Member Vanessa Gibson, City Council Member Diana Ayala, Community 4 District Manager Paul Philps, and members of the community to officially cut the ribbon on the $1.8 million improvement to the Mullaly Recreation Center, soon to be renamed the Rev. T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center, in honor of the late Wendell Foster, the first Black representative from the Bronx in the City Council.

“Just in time for summer, it is my absolute pleasure to cut the ribbon on the new and improved Mullaly Recreation Center,” said Parks Commissioner Silver. “ Thanks to the $1.3 million Garden of Dreams Foundation grant, and to SCAN-Harbor for their tireless advocacy and dedication to the community, this newly renovated recreation center will be a source of joy, play, and creativity for Highbridge youth for decades to come.”

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, SCAN-Harbor has served as a beacon of light for this community, opening its door every week to help provide food and essential items for those in need,” said Knicks legend and Garden of Dreams Board Member John Starks. “The Garden of Dreams Foundation couldn’t be prouder to work together with SCAN-Harbor and New York City Parks to reopen the newly refurbished Mullaly Recreation Center. We know what we have helped create will have a lasting impact on some many kids in this community.”

SCAN-Harbor’s Executive Director, Lew Zuchman remarked, “As we reopen our Mullaly Recreation Center, I do so in remembrance. In the 1990’s, Mullaly was a challenged parkland, amidst the drug ravaged, and, ‘burning buildings’ of the South Bronx. Through Reverend Foster’s spirit and commitment we rebuilt, as did the South Bronx. The, then, NYC Parks Bronx Director of Recreation, Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, was an integral partner in this revitalization. Today, three decades later, we once again come together through partnership. Iris Rodriguez-Rosa has returned to us as the NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner. Our esteemed City Council member Vanessa L. Gibson, assumes the mantle of leadership from both Council member Wendell Foster, and, his daughter, City Council member Helen Diane Foster. The final piece of the partnership: Garden of Dreams! So, because of this crucial partnership with everyone coming together, including Commissioner for Administration/Chief Administrative Officer Joy Wang, and NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, we are able to celebrate the Mullaly Center’s second vital rebirth!”

The Mullaly Recreation Center, soon to be renamed Rev. T. Wendell Foster Recreation Center, in the Bronx, has undergone a tremendous $1.8 million renovation thanks to a generous $1.3 million grant from the Garden of Dreams Foundation, applied for by SCAN-Harbor, and $500,000 from NYC Parks. Garden of Dreams Foundation partner Molekule also donated 13 air purifiers now in use throughout the newly reconstructed recreation center.

The $1.3M Garden of Dreams Foundation grant completely transformed the recreation center into a brand new community hub. This work included refurbishing the gymnasium floors, hoops, and stage; renovating the multipurpose room including dance area with mirror and ballet bar; building a state-of-the-art music studio; a renovation of the kitchen including new cabinets, flooring, and stainless-steel appliances; a renovated computer room, library, and lower level hallway including new flooring and painting; and more!

NYC Parks also completed extensive infrastructure work at the Mullaly Recreation Center to ensure the integrity of the building and its systems for years to come.

Programming and membership at the Mullaly Recreation Center is provided through SCAN-Harbor.

Garden of Dreams Foundation
The Garden of Dreams Foundation is a non-profit charity dedicated to bringing life changing opportunities to young people in need. In partnership with MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports and MSG Networks – including the Knicks, Rangers and Rockettes, Westchester Knicks, famed showplaces, TAO Group Hospitality, and two sports and entertainment television networks – Garden of Dreams provides young people in our communities with access to educational and skills opportunities; mentoring programs; and memorable experiences that enhance their lives, help shape their futures and create lasting joy. All of the Foundation’s activities are driven by four guiding principles – Education, Inspiration, Grants and Moments of Joy – and target young people facing illness or financial challenges, as well as children of uniformed personnel who have been lost or injured while serving our communities. Since its inception in 2006, the Garden of Dreams Foundation has impacted more than 400,000 young people and their families.

SCAN-Harbor
Founded in 1977, SCAN-Harbor is a non-profit youth and family service organization that provides a variety of integrated supports to the highest risk children and families of Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx. SCAN-Harbor is the largest youth service provider in Harlem, East Harlem and the South Bronx, and has a mission to provide integrated family-focused programming that uses a positive approach, harnesses individual strengths and fosters responsibility, self-esteem, initiative and the development of life skills.

800+ COMPLETED CAPITAL PROJECTS
Under the leadership of Commissioner Silver, since 2014 NYC Parks has completed more than 800 capital projects across the five boroughs, advancing the City’s mission to build a more equitable park system for present and future generations. Under this administration, the agency has brought our park system into the 21st century, with guidelines focused on resiliency and access and leading with a data-driven approach to increasing park equity. Parks has also improved its capital process in order to take on more projects and complete them faster. Through these strategies, the agency has reimagined how we invest in parks across the city, including those in communities with the greatest need for open-space improvements that had not seen investment in decades. Parks’ 10-year capital budget is $5.2 billion—the completed projects over the past seven years represents a $1.96 billion investment.