The Parks Department and United States Army Corps of Engineers are going the extra mile to turn a damaged land at the mouth of the Bronx River in Soundview Park into vibrant salt marsh.
Expected to begin as early as November 2010, the project will restore three acres of wetland and upland. The Parks Department and Army Corps hope to see the indigenous plant and animal life return to the stretch of river.
“We would love to see the crabs and mussels coming back to this area, and fish species that are diverse,” Army Corps manager Ronald Pinzon said. “Hopefully we will see migratory birds like eagles, and herring. We are psyched about the project. We hope people in urban areas can gain knowledge of the ecosystem.”
The Parks Department contributed one third of the needed funds, while the federal government, thanks to Congressmen Joseph Crowley and Jose Serrano, contributed the remainder.
“We are delighted that the Parks Department and the Army Corps of Engineers will work together to transform Soundview Park into a healthy ecosystem, with native flora and fauna, as part of the Parks Department’s response to Mayor Bloomberg’s PlaNYC vision,” Parks Department Commissioner Adrian Benepe said.“The new salt marsh and coastal habitat along the Bronx River will enhance the park’s natural resources for generations of New Yorkers to enjoy. We are especially grateful to Congressmen Jose Serrano and Joe Crowley for securing federal funding to make this project possible.”
The land targeted for cleanup sits near what some call the Soundview Park “lagoon,” at the south end of Soundview Park. It borders Harding Park.
Community Board 9 Parks Committee member Walter Nestler thinks the project will benefit his neighborhood but hopes that the Parks Department and Army Corps will hold public meetings to educate nearby residents before work begins.
“They are not doing the kind of outreach with this project that we would like to see,” Nestler said. “If there is a public forum, at least the residents could come and take a look at the plans.”
The Parks Department has hosted public meetings for Community Board 10 to address work in Ferry Point Park and should do the same for Community Board 9, he said.
Reach reporter Patrick Rocchio at 718 742-3393 or procchio@cnglocal.com
