Community Board 11 backs Bronx Park skate‑park renovation, sends letter of support

Community Board 11's Parks Committee voted unanimously Feb. 13 to send a letter of support for a proposed renovation of the Bronx Park skate park, a project presented by New York City Parks and the Skatepark Project and budgeted at $2,700,000.

The project — one of several selected under Mayor Adams' public‑space initiative — would replace the existing prefabricated skate park with a redesigned concrete facility intended to serve a broad range of users and ages. Marina, a New York City Parks Department presenter, told the committee the project team proposes the new park "to create a very broad, skill level and ability" range, and that the $2.7 million budget comes from City Council and maintenance funds.

The Skatepark Project's designer, Steve Rodriguez, outlined the plan's key design elements and community input. He said the new layout emphasizes a mix of "street" and "transition" features — a 60/40 split developed from community feedback — and includes widened areas for beginners, improved sight lines, a new pedestrian path connecting to the Bronx River East Park sidewalk, low plantings to preserve visibility, and no planned removal of trees or impacts to critical root zones.

Nut graf: The committee's support clears a local political step in advancing the project to procurement; construction is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2026 with an anticipated substantial completion in the first quarter of 2027, according to Parks' representatives. The renovation aims to upgrade an aging prefabricated facility, increase capacity and accessibility, and address long‑standing community requests for a higher‑quality, longer‑lasting skate surface.

Project details and community concerns The presentation said the existing skate park is roughly 15 years old and will be replaced on approximately the same footprint with concrete features designed for gradual progression, accessibility and longevity. Rodriguez said the design includes beginner zones, a mini ramp/transition area, additional seating, bike racks, trash receptacles, plantings selected to stay low around sight lines, and a perimeter fence with 4‑ and 6‑foot sections as appropriate to nearby obstacles.

Parks staff and the design team emphasized that no trees would be removed and that critical root zones would not be affected. The team also described saw‑cut lines in the concrete for expansion joints and a roughly 10‑foot buffer planting zone around the park.

Public commenters praised the design but pressed for additional amenities. Diane Finch of the Smart East Community Association said the new path and separation from the soccer field "will be great," and urged adding lighting similar to recent improvements at other nearby parks to increase safety after dark. Other speakers raised restroom access and broader lighting along Bronx Park East as safety concerns; Parks staff said the skate‑park project does not include restrooms or area lighting and that added lighting would require separate infrastructure and funding beyond the current scope.

Board action and next steps After public comment, the committee voted to approve sending a letter of support for the skate‑park project to New York City Parks and the Skatepark Project. The committee recorded a quorum and the motion passed without objections or abstentions.

Marina said construction is expected to begin in quarter 1 of 2026, with an anticipated completion in quarter 1 of 2027. Parks staff and the project partners said the existing park would remain open until construction starts.

Parks and the committee acknowledged outstanding issues raised by the public — notably restroom facilities and additional lighting along the park approaches — and described those items as outside the current project's budget and scope. Committee members asked Parks staff to prepare the letter of support for the full board and to circulate a draft in advance of that meeting.

Ending The letter of support advances the project to the procurement and contracting phase; the schedule provided by Parks puts construction start in early 2026 and substantial completion roughly a year later. Parks staff said they will follow up with the committee on items outside the renovation scope, including restroom and lighting requests, as they pursue separate funding or design efforts.