Improvements set for Ferry Point Park’s eastern waterfront
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BY STEVEN GOODSTEIN
The city’s most neglected
park will soon see major improvements,
starting with its
waterfront coastline.
On Tuesday, October 22,
NYC Parks, along with elected
offi cials and local residents,
celebrated the groundbreaking
of the new $16.1 million Ferry
Point Park Waterfront Path and
Salt Water Marsh Project at 500
Hutchinson River Parkway.
The project, which is expected
to be completed sometime
in 2021, will transform
Ferry Point Park’s eastern waterfront
into a nature sanctuary
that will support and encourage
wildlife to fl ourish.
The 1.62 acre tidal saltwater
marsh will help restore marine
life and revitalize the area’s
ecological diversity. The marsh
will increase biodiversity by
creating a foraging habitat for
harbor herons, wading birds,
deer along with menhaden,
mummichug and other small
and large fi sh that occupy the
East River.
Once the project is completed,
the park will also include
a brand new pedestrian
pathway and fi ve overlooks
yielding scenic views with
benches overlooking the East
River, as well as the Whitestone
and Throgs Neck bridges.
Timber barrier rails and removable
bollards will also be
utilized, to restrict vehicular
access. A majority of the site
will be planted as an open maritime
grassland, a term classifying
grassy areas that are distanced
from the shoreline but
are still within close range of
offshore winds and salt spray.
The grassland will extend to
the edges of the existing Trump
Golf Links golf course.
The project, funded in an allocation
from Mayor de Blasio,
will also provide 12 parking
spots for its visitors.
“Ferry Point Park is in for
a tremendous transformation
- and I’m very excited to offi -
cially break ground on this
project,” said NYC Parks commissioner
Mitchell Silver.
“Thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s
$16.1 million allocation,
this location will soon be an
entirely new greenspace for the
community to enjoy.”
Silver was joined by parks
borough commissioner Iris
Rodriguez-Rosa and elected
offi cials Assemblyman Michael
Benedetto and Councilman
Mark Gjonaj, who both
expressed their excitement
for the groundbreaking of the
Ferry Point Park waterfront
project.
“Ferry Point Park, the most
neglected park in New York
City, is fi nally receiving some
long-overdue attention,” Assemblyman
Benedetto said. “I
thank the mayor for allocating
millions of dollars toward
a project that will transform
Ferry Point Park into a place
where Bronxites can enjoy
the park’s breathtaking water
views and the city skyline,
while at the same time reinvigorate
the park’s saltwater
marsh ecosystem.”
“The new pathway is just
one of several improvements
earmarked for the park,” the
assemblyman added. “By 2021,
Ferry Point Park will also
boast a repaved parking lot as
well as the borough’s second
Manhattan-bound ferry stop.”
Trump Golf Links had expressed
interest in a portion of
the site to expand its current
golf course to qualify for PGAsponsored
tournaments, while
developing a smaller waterfront
footprint for public use.
The Trump Organization
also offered to fund the renovation
of a portion of the park’s
western half. In return they
asked for an extension to the
golf course’s current lease with
the city, cut was rebuffed.
Gjonaj, Rodriguez-Rosa, Silver, Benedetto and other CB10 members and residents were present at the groundbreaking.
Photo by Silvio Pacifi co
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