BRONX WEEKLY N www.BXTimes.com ovember 3, 2019 12
Improvements set for Ferry Point Park’s eastern waterfront
Monday, November 18, 2019
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BY STEVEN GOODSTEIN
The city’s most neglected park
will soon see major improvements,
starting with its waterfront coastline
.O
n 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 PGA-sponsored 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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