Community Board 10 supports plan to
restore Orchard Beach Pavilion
BY JASON COHEN
In an effort to make Orchard
Beach more accessible and appealing
to the public, NYC Parks
has a massive proposal that
would give the city landmark a
much needed facelift.
On April 15, Community
Board 10 approved a letter of support
for the project that would
restore the popular summer destination.
The plans include replacing
the roof and fl oor slabs and deteriorated
columns, reinstalling
limestone cladding, restoring
the upper level loggia bars, improving
signage, waterproofi ng
under the promenade, repairing
light fi xtures, building an ADA
accessible ramp at the entrance
to the beach and reopening concession
stands.
Lastly, the hope is to have a
restaurant or event space in the
waiting room where the metal
will be restored and a glass vestibule
will be put in.
The project is in the design
phase, which should be fi nished
by the end of the year. Active
construction will begin in 2022
and is estimated to be complete
by 2025. NYC Parks and Marvel
will present their plans to the
NYC Landmarks and Preservation
Committee May 7.
In late 2018 at the projects
start, Bronx Parks Commissioner
Iris Rodriguez-Rosa
called it fi rst community ‘say so’
regarding Orchard beach since
1936.
Similar to the Jones Beach
pavilion on Long Island, when
Robert Moses designed the original
structure in 1937, it had been
used as both a bathhouse and cafeteria
space. At the time, beachgoers
said they would like to see
the former use brought back.
It was also then that Borough
President Ruben Diaz Jr. frustratingly
contrasted Orchard
Beach to Brooklyn’s Coney Island
in regards to the quality of
entertainment and amenities offered.
In early stages of the project,
a the idea of a winter holiday
village was also entertained by
community members involved. NYC Parks plans to renovate the Pavilion at Orchard Beach. Photos courtesy of NYC Parks
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BRONX TIMES REPORTER, A 6 PR. 23-29, 2021 BTR