Governor Kathy Hochul in the present day introduced a $26 million funding in Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Harlem. The funding contains the renovation of the 30-year-old locker room services, upgrades to the out of doors observe and area and the performing arts middle.
“The Harlem neighborhood deserves entry to inexperienced house, high notch sports activities services, and leisure alternatives and in the present day we’re delivering simply that within the Metropolis’s most-visited State Park, Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park,” Governor Hochul mentioned. “Via this $26 million funding, we’ll enhance and modernize one of many state park system’s most original locations and start much-needed work to revive the park as a middle for sports activities, recreation and environmental schooling.”
Because of age and heavy utilization from the hundreds of thousands of holiday makers every year, the park is in want of a complete renovation. Capital enhancements initiatives for the park will embody:
- Renovating the 30-year-old locker room services in each the athletics and aquatics facilities. The $19 million mission will start with the renovation of the athletics locker room beginning in January 2023, with completion in spring 2023; the aquatics locker room renovation will begin in spring 2023 and be full spring 2024.
- Resurfacing the out of doors observe and changing the turf area – a $5 million mission set to start out in February 2023 and finish by June 2023.
- Putting in a brand new heating, air flow, and air con system for the park’s year-round performing arts middle. The $500,000 mission will begin February 2023 and end by June 2023.
Earlier this yr, State Parks put in a brand new $1.5 million lighting tower to light up the out of doors observe and area for night actions and occasions. Moreover, the neighborhood backyard was renovated to incorporate new and expanded raised backyard beds, ADA accessibility enhancements, and improved drainage and water provide.
New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid mentioned, “Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is important to the standard of life in West Harlem. Because of the help from Governor Hochul, these renovations will assist revitalize the essential public and leisure services in order that the park’s many guests can higher take pleasure in all that it has to provides.”
State Senator Robert Jackson mentioned, “We welcome the good information of the funding allotted by Governor Hochul to revitalize Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park, one in all Manhattan’s most spectacular waterfront parks and one which I am proud to symbolize within the State Senate. With this choice, the State honors the vital function that state parks and open areas play within the high quality of life in neighborhoods like West Harlem. I sit up for seeing my constituents benefitting from renovations that can enhance the utility and beautification of this aptly named state park.”
State Senator Jose Serrano mentioned, “Our state parks present numerous advantages to communities all throughout New York State. Throughout the pandemic, our parks turned our refuge, offering a secure place for train, recreation, and delight. The funding and wanted enhancements at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park will be sure that we are able to join much more folks to our beloved parks. My honest because of Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Parks for making these necessary renovations doable.”
Meeting member Al Taylor mentioned, “For almost three a long time, Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park has served as a beacon for wellness, the humanities, and neighborhood togetherness in Harlem and Washington Heights and I’m thrilled it’s getting the funding it must proceed providing world class inexperienced areas, services , and academic assets to the general public. Thanks, Governor Hochul, for honoring my predecessor’s namesake and for investing in New York Metropolis’s most-visited State Park. Via these modernizations and investments Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park will proceed to be a leisure and cultural hub in our neighborhood for a few years to come back.”
Meeting member Danny O’Donnell mentioned, “Whether or not for video games, gatherings, picnics, or the picturesque views, Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park stays one of the vital in style parks for a lot of New York residents – and for good motive! However being in style has meant heavy use of lots of the park’s services , and it’s clear that it is time for some and renovations and upgrades. I’m thrilled at this funding – which is able to assist hundreds of thousands of residents – and thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Kulleseid for his or her partnership in lifting up and bettering our treasured State Parks to make sure that public house stays accessible to all.”
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine mentioned, “I am thrilled that Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is receiving such a transformational funding, which displays its worth to the hundreds of thousands of annual guests who come for sporting occasions, arts performances, and waterfront rest. Open house and parks like Riverbank are integral to wholesome communities. These much-needed enhancements will assist hold West Harlem and the higher uptown neighborhood related to an important inexperienced house.”
New York Metropolis Councilmember Shaun Abreu mentioned, “Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is such a staple of the West Harlem neighborhood and is deeply beloved by New Yorkers all throughout town for its beautiful waterfront views and picturesque panorama. This beneficiant funding from Governor Hochul will go a good distance in making certain that this well-loved park continues to supply a way of belonging and far wanted recreation for native households.”
Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park has served as West Harlem’s leisure and cultural hub for almost 30 years. The park welcomes greater than three million folks every year, rating it among the many most visited state parks in New York State. It serves as a neighborhood useful resource for an space that was as soon as minimize off from the Hudson River. Offering a four-season leisure useful resource for a neighborhood that has been historically underserved, DF Riverbank State Park is a pillar of the West Harlem neighborhood.
The New York State Workplace of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees greater than 250 particular person parks, historic websites, leisure trails, and boat launches, which have been visited by a report 78.4 million folks in 2021. For extra data on any of those recreation areas, name 518-474-0456 or go to parks.ny.gov, join on Fb, or comply with us on Twitter.
