Williamsbridge Oval

Parks Cuts The Ribbon On New Playgrounds And Basketball Courts At Williamsbridge Oval Park

Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, students from the Saint Brendan’s School, members of Bronx Community Board 7, the Friends of Williamsbridge Oval and Norwood residents to cut the ribbon on the $6.1 million renovation of Williamsbridge Oval Park.

“Williamsbridge Oval originally served as a reservoir of drinking water for the Bronx, and as a park it has long been a 'wellspring' of recreational opportunities,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “Along with the recently completed running track and synthetic turf field, and the soon-to-be-opened recreation center, these new playgrounds and basketball courts will allow the Norwood community to continue to 'draw from' Williamsbridge Oval for years to come."

The reconstruction includes two new playgrounds: one that is handicapped-accessible and contains play equipment for toddlers and preschoolers, the other with more challenging climbing features for older children. The site is united by a centralized spray plaza that recognizes the site’s history as a reservoir with the embedded names of New York’s aquifers and watersheds. The renovation also includes a new basketball complex, seating, ornamental planting beds, pathways, and restoration of the site’s promenade.

This $6.1 million project is part of a $200 million investment in Bronx Parks paid for with mitigation funds from the construction of the Croton Water Filtration Plant through the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the Municipal Water Finance Authority.

Croton funding has also allowed us to reconstruct park’s recreation center. The $3.6 million dollar overhaul is almost complete, and includes a new roof, façade, drainage system, upgraded restrooms, and handicapped accessibility. This is in addition to a new synthetic turf field and running track that were completed using Croton funds in 2008. In total, nearly $14 million in Croton mitigation funds have been spent on improvements to Williamsbridge Oval Park.

Know Before You Go

Williamsbridge Oval Recreation Center