Parks, Playgrounds & Park Facilities Bronx STATS 2020
36 BRONX STATS - NOVEMBER 20, 2020 BTR
Crotona Park Play Center
ROBERTO CLEMENTE STATE PARK
Location: W. Tremont and Matthewson
Road
Size: 25-acre
Website: http://nysparks.state.ny.us/
parks/140/details.aspx
Information: Roberto Clemente State
Park is a 25-acre waterfront park that
opened in 1973 along the Harlem
River. The park is named after Roberto
Clemente, the first Latino-American
inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Each year, special events pay homage to
the baseball legend. And each day, the
park offers a variety of recreational and
cultural activities year-round for youth,
adults, senior citizens and the physically
challenged. The facilities include a multipurpose
recreation building, an Olympicsize
pool complex, ball fields, basketball
courts, picnic areas, playgrounds and
a waterfront promenade. During the
summer, the park is home to numerous
concerts and special events. There is
truly something for everyone at Roberto
Clemente State Park.
BRONX PARK
Location: E. 180th Street between Dr.
Kazamiroff Boulevard, Southern Boulevard
and Bronx Park East, Unionport Road
Size: 718.10 acres
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/
bronxpark
Information: Bronx Park, created in the
1890’s, is one of the true hidden gems
of New York City, featuring a myriad
of plants and animals that make their
habitat along the Bronx River and in the
park’s forests, including one of the last
surviving red maple-hardwood forests in
the City. The Bronx River, which begins
in North White Plains and fl ows into the
East River at Soundview Park, offers numerous
scenic and recreational opportunities.
While walking along the river, visitors
can observe a unique habitat which
hosts a diverse array of invertebrates, fi sh,
and birds. While the park is perhaps best
known as the home of the Bronx Zoo and
New York Botanical Garden, Bronx Park
also has many recreation areas. Park
visitors can take advantage of numerous
playgrounds, bicycle paths, baseball diamonds,
tennis and basketball courts, football
and soccer fi elds, a recently installed
skate park, and a dog run. From zoos to
playgrounds to historical landmarks (the
historic snuff mill once owned by the
Lorillards still stands as part of the NYBG),
Bronx Park is an area for all to enjoy.
CROTONA PARK
Location: Crotona Park North to South and
Fulton Avenue to Southern Boulevard and
Crotona Park East
Size: 127.50 acres
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/
crotonapark
Information: Crotona Park, the largest
park in the South Bronx, has served the
community steadily since its purchase by
the City from Andrew Bathgate in 1888.
The beauty of the park is highlighted
by the 28 variety of tree species, but is
widely known for its 3.3-acre lake. While
turtles, ducks and fi sh enjoy the lake,
guests enjoy a 300 foot pool, the largest in
the borough. Tennis fans test their skills
on 20 hard courts, home of the annual
Bronx Pro Tennis Classic, while baseball
teams square off on Crotona Park’s fi ve
diamonds. The park also includes 26
handball courts, 11 playgrounds spread
throughout the park, four comfort stations,
and picnic and sitting areas for those just
looking to enjoy the tranquility of nature.
Crotona Park also hosts many special
programs throughout the year. Since
1984, the Bronx Urban Park Rangers have
organized walks and tours that use Indian
Lake and the trees and fi elds around it as
an outdoor learning laboratory. Visitors
explore pond ecology, bird-watching, Bronx
history, and Bronx plant and animal life.
CityParks Foundation also hosts a number
of free concerts and stage performances
throughout the summer months.
FERRY POINT PARK
Location: Schley Avenue and the Long
Island Sound between Westchester Creek
and Balcom Avenue
Size: 413.80 acres
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/
ferrypointpark
Information: Ferry Point Park, which first
came under Parks jurisdiction in 1937,
is approximately half the size of Central
Park, and is known for its spectacular
views. Situated on one and a half miles
of prime waterfront, Ferry Point Park
was named for the ferries that traveled
between the Bronx and Queens, from
Westchester Village to Whitestone and
from Clason Point to College Point. The
park offers unparalleled views of the East
River, the Manhattan skyline, and of the
Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges.
In addition to views, the parkland also
provides residents with a myriad of
sporting opportunities, including cricket,
soccer, football and basketball. And
there will be more to come. Ferry
Point Park has received great attention
recently with the announcement that
the land will finally see the completion
of a public world-class 18-hole golf
course. In addition to the state-of-theart
golf course, Ferry Point Park recently
welcomed a Community Park with new
little league and junior baseball field,
basketball courts, a play area for children
and a pedestrian trail. A separate 20-
acre waterfront promenade will convert
undeveloped parkland into a passive
ecologically responsible park. Phase 1
of the promenade project will include a
picnic area, comfort station and views of
the Long Island Sound, a multi-use path
and the creation of a tidal wetland.
PELHAM BAY PARK
Location: Hutchinson River and the Long
Island Sound between the Bronx County
Line and Middletown Road, Watt Avenue
Size: 2,771.75 acres
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/
pelhambaypark
Information: More than three times the
size of Central Park, Pelham Bay Park is
the City’s largest part property. The park
was purchased by the City in 1888, and
has since evolved from a natural woodland
into an enhanced recreational facility
with playgrounds, comfort stations and
other amenities. Among them, Pelham
Bay Park features two golf facilities –
Pelham-Split Rock Golf Course and Turtle
Cove Golf Center. In addition, the park
includes baseball fi elds, basketball courts,
bocce courts, football fi elds, kayak and
canoe launch sites, dog runs, bicycling
and greenways, a horseback riding trail,
playgrounds, miles of bridle paths and
hiking trails, and a breathtaking 13-mile
saltwater shoreline that hugs Long Island
Sound. Recently, the City renovated
the park’s track-and-fi eld, enjoyed by
hundreds of people who use the park each
day. Hundreds also come out to enjoy two
well-known facilities that add to the park’s
notoriety – Orchard Beach and Bartow-
Pell Mansion Museum.
Orchard Beach: The Bronx’s only
beach is an engineering marvel. While
surrounded by acres of natural forest,
marshlands and coastline, the beach is
actually man-made, through the use of
landfill, and 1.2 million cubic yards of
sand, brought by barge. The beach, built
in 1936, covers a mile and 115 acres,
was originally conceived as the “Riviera
of New York,” and its promise is carried
out in its promenade lined with shops,
playgrounds, picnic areas, and more
than two dozen sports courts. On hot
days this beach draws tens of thousands
of families, swimmers, athletes, and
loungers. Thousands come out to enjoy
the Bronx Fireworks Show each year. On
cooler days, its shores make a perfect
setting for peaceful strolls, and its
basketball and volleyball courts and its
playgrounds continue to welcome all of
its neighbors.
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum: Built
between 1836 and 1842, the Bartow-Pell
Mansion Museum exemplifies a type of
country living that existed in the Pelham
Bay Park area in the early 19th Century.
Officially open as a museum since
1946, Bartow-Pell’s mansion, gardens
and landscape offer visitors a source of
serenity in the urban landscape. Many city
children and their teachers participate in
education programs and connect to the
history of the site. Mansion tours, public
programs and classes allow children and
adults to expand their horizons in an
exceptional setting.
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum: Built
between 1836 and 1842, the Bartow-Pell
Mansion Museum exemplifies a type of
country living that existed in the Pelham
Bay Park area in the early 19th Century.
Officially open as a museum since
1946, Bartow-Pell’s mansion, gardens
and landscape offer visitors a source of
serenity in the urban landscape. Many city
children and their teachers participate in
education programs and connect to the
history of the site. Mansion tours, public
programs and classes allow children and
adults to expand their horizons in an
exceptional setting.
VAN CORTLANDT PARK
Location: Westchester County Line, Van
Cortlandt Park South between Broadway
and Jerome Avenue
Size: 1,146.43 acres
Website: www.nycgovparks.org/parks/
VanCortlandtPark
Information: Van Cortlandt Park is New
York City’s fourth largest park. New
York City acquired the parkland in 1888,
but it did not name it in honor of its
long-time residents until 1913. Those
residents enjoy a plethora of activities at
the park each year. The first municipal
golf course in the country opened here
in 1895; a second golf course, the
Mosholu Golf Course, opened in 1914.
In addition, the Van Cortlandt Mansion
was leased by City of New York to the
Society of Colonial Dames and the
historic house opened as a museum in
1897. The Parade Ground was created
in 1901, and National Guard used it
for training exercises until the end of
World War I. In 1913, the Cross-Country
Running Course opened, featuring both
5-mile and 3-mile loops. Van Cortlandt
Stadium opened in 1939. The horse
stables and adjoining bridle path
opened in 1955.
Two nature trails added in the 1980s
offer hikers the opportunity to explore
the wetlands and forests in this park.
The Cass Gallagher Nature Trail
(1984) is dedicated to a longtime
Bronx resident and environmental
activist, and the John Kieran Nature
Trail (1988) commemorates a famed
naturalist and newspaperman. In 1997,
the first east-west connector trail was
established and named for renowned
naturalist John Muir. The park also
offers residents an opportunity to enjoy
football, baseball, softball, soccer,
cricket, tennis, golf, and swimming.
OTHER PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS
AND PARK FACILITIES
Abigail Playground (0.53 acres) – E. 156th
Street between Tinton and Union avenues
Admiral Farragut Playground (1.36 acres)
– E. 176th Street between Crotona and
Prospect avenues
Agnes Haywood Playground (1.32 acres)
– Barnes Avenue between E. 215th and
216th streets
Alexander’s Alley (0.11 acres) – E. 141st
Street between Alexander and Willis
avenues
Allerton Playground (1.60 acres) – Allerton
Avenue between Throop and Bouck
avenues
Ambrosini Field (6.10 acres) – City Island
Avenue at Centre Street
Aqueduct Walk (4.93 acres) – Aqueduct
Avenue between W. Fordham Road and W.
Kingsbridge Road
Aqueduct Walk (8.61 acres) - Dr. MLK Jr.
Boulevard between W. Tremont Avenue
and E. Fordham Road
Arcilla Playground (1.38 acres) – E. 164th
Street between Teller and Clay avenues at
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