Mill Pond Park ribbon-cutting held

Mill Pond Park ribbon-cutting held

Bronxites have the opportunity to enjoy the great out doors while lounge, jog or play along the majestic Harlem River at the recently completed Mill Pong Park.

On Thursday, October 22, the Department of Parks and Recreation cut the ribbon for Mill Pond Park, located along the Harlem River by Gateway Boulevard.

“Mill Pond Park is the first very significant City park to open on the Bronx bank of the Harlem River,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “We are thrilled to bring increased green space and new, state-of-the-art recreational amenities to this community.”

During the ceremony, students of P.S. 385 The Performance School and Cardinal Hayes High School, along with Benepe, Bronx Parks Commissioner Hector Aponte, elected officials, members of Community Board 4, and representatives of the Economic Development Corporation and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, were able to enjoy a performance by the Bronx-based dance group, A Perfect Imperfection, before joining together to cut the ribbon and open the park.

Mill Pond Park is just one of the parks included in the Yankee Stadium Redevelopment Project meant to replace the parks removed by the creation of the new Yankee Stadium.

“The Borough President and I are thrilled this community finally got the parkland promised as part of the Yankee Stadium Redevelopment Project,” said Deputy Borough President Aurelia Green.

The new 10-acre park, totaling approximately $ 64 million, includes picnic and grass areas, an outdoor classroom, children’s spray showers, a sand play area, two water runnels, and a rehabilitated sea wall, four piers, and rivers edge.

Mill Pond Park also includes 16 Deco Turf tennis courts that will be operated by Parks during the outdoor tennis season, from April through November. Parks is current reviewing responses to the Request for Proposal for a concessionaire to install a bubble over the 12 courts during the winter months, which they will then operate and keep open to the public. They will also manage a year round café at the site.

“As we look at Gateway, the stadium and this park we see economic development in our borough and a continued investment in the Bronx,” said Councilwoman Helen Diane Foster. “This park will be not only a destination for us in the Bronx, but for people from all over the City.”