NYC PARKS CELEBRATES NEW MILL POND PARK EXTENSION IN THE SOUTH BRONX

NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, State Assemblymember Landon Dais, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Assistant Commissioner for New Construction Finance Daniel Moran, Bronx Community Board 4, L+M Development Partners, Type A Projects, and community members today to celebrate the opening of new park space in the Bronx along the Harlem River waterfront.

A 2.8-acre extension of Mill Pond Park, the new public space includes a waterfront esplanade, children's playground with a spray shower, adult fitness area, BBQ area with picnic tables, plaza and seating area, and a new public restroom facility.

"The new Mill Pond Park extension provides seamless access to the Harlem River waterfront, lovely green and open space, and a host of new park amenities for all ages to enjoy. Our city's investment in this project marks a transformative moment for the South Bronx, turning a once-vacant waterfront area into a hub of affordable housing, cultural programming, and public space that will bring communities closer together," said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. "Our parks are vital to the success and wellbeing of our city, and projects such as these bring essential park space to the outer boroughs and ensure that all New Yorkers can enjoy the benefits of accessible, equitable, and well-maintained public greenspaces."

The $25.5 million project was funded by the city as part of a $194 million infrastructure investment to transform a long-vacant site along the South Bronx waterfront into a mixed-use development that includes housing, cultural facilities, and open space.

The Mill Pond Park extension was designed to provide a link between the neighborhood and the park, as well as the waterfront. It also serves as a connection with the Bronx Point building opened in November 2023, which provides 542 new housing units, an early childhood center, community and retail space, and will serve as the future home of The Hip Hop Museum.

Mill Pond Park, opened in 2009, features a picnic and sand play area, shaded outdoor classroom for kids, ADA-accessible esplanade, and views of the Harlem River. The park also boasts 16 tennis courts with Deco Turf, the same court surface used at the Olympic Games and the U.S. Open.

The park's historic powerhouse building has served as the permanent home of the Bronx Children's Museum since 2023.

"This park extension is a major win for Bronx residents who have long yearned for access to the Harlem River waterfront," said NYCEDC President & Chief Executive Officer Andrew Kimball. "Along with the new Lower Concourse Park that is currently in development, the Mill Pond Park extension is a clear indicator that our city and partners in the private sector are committed in transforming the South Bronx with amazing public spaces, affordable housing, and other cultural institutions."

"Every New York City family deserves beautiful and safe parks where their children can play and grow," said Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión. "This extension and revitalization to Mill Pond Park not only provides more recreational opportunities for family, friends, and communities to connect, but honors our broader mission to build and sustain neighborhood strength and diversity through the affordable housing investments we make. I am excited to see the new 2.8 acres provide spaces and amenities that will be enjoyed for generations to come."

"Bronx Point is not only a victory for this community as far as creating new affordable housing and cultural space, but the development has also further reconnected this borough to the Harlem River waterfront, an amenity critical to the health and wellness of the community," said Josue Sanchez, Senior Vice President at L+M Development Partners. "This open space is a destination for the hundreds of families who call Bronx Point home, the entire South Bronx community, and visitors from all over the world. We are proud to have played a part in the creation of this outstanding redevelopment that has fully transformed once-vacant land into a place to live and play."

"At Bronx Point, an overarching goal of the development and design teams has been to design a world-class built environment that champions the Bronx and the priorities of the neighborhood. Through sustained and committed community engagement, the development team, with Community Board 4 and the City of New York, has done precisely that with the project's open space by transforming previously vacant land into a lush, 2.8-acre waterfront open space and esplanade for the entire community to enjoy," said Annie Tirschwell, principal at Type A Projects. "The new Bronx Point Esplanade is beautiful, uniquely accessible and sustainable and already a favorite spot for the families of the neighborhood. Its official opening represents a collective commitment to the South Bronx community, and we look forward to seeing Bronx Point residents and their neighbors enjoy the esplanade for many years to come."