Edenwald Recreation Center

A Robust Resource

The Northeast Bronx YMCA aims to meet the recreational and community needs of the surrounding neighborhood. The 52,000-square-foot recreation center features two swimming pools, a wellness center, gymnasium, and other much-needed resources for this community. The facility further advances the OneNYC goals of revitalizing neighborhoods and increasing recreational opportunities for all New Yorkers. OneNYC is a comprehensive plan that establishes goals and specific targets for a strong, sustainable, resilient, and equitable city for all New Yorkers by addressing profound social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Together with the construction of the YMCA at La Central, the Northeast Bronx YMCA, located at 1250 East 229th Street in the Bronx, joins 22 other YMCAs across New York City.

All Under One Roof

Set in a three-acre urban forest, the Northeast Bronx YMCA melds the indoor and the outdoor in order to connect members to the natural environment. The environmentally friendly, standalone facility includes an urban agricultural roof and a teaching kitchen, as well as protected outdoor play and program space for enhanced camp and afterschool programs. Marvel Architects designed the unique project.

The new facility is a hub for thousands of families, offering programs for all ages. A full suite of programs is available at very affordable rates thanks to YMCA’s financial assistance program, a sliding-scale structure that allows all people equal access to the center regardless of income and ability to pay. Programs range from swim safety to family and wellness programs and be transformative for families and children in the northeast Bronx, providing access to high quality programming and spaces that afford them the opportunity exercise, learn and congregate together.

Other features include:

• Two swimming pools
• Full-length basketball court and multipurpose gymnasium
• Senior adult programs, including wellness and social activities
• Multi-purpose rooms for classes, events, and community meetings
• Various programmatic offerings (children’s, youth, family, health, community)
• Approximately 150 on-site parking spots
• Sustainability features to achieve LEED Silver certification

The YMCA has committed to a 35 percent MWBE contracting goal for design and construction. The development hired through our HireNYC program, a free program that connects residents and workers to the City's workforce development services for various projects. Throughout its development and operation, the project will have created 100 construction jobs and 100 permanent living-wage jobs.

A Local Effort

This was a project pursued by the northeast Bronx community for decades. Beginning in late 2013, local community leaders and elected officials began an in-depth analysis of the possibilities for the project to be located at E. 229th Street on a City-owned site. In an effort to maximize the utility of this underutilized site and catalyze a rejuvenation of the broader Edenwald neighborhood, NYCEDC issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) in October 2015, which sought proposals for the development of a recreational facility. Thanks to ongoing collaboration between the community, elected officials, NYCEDC, and all other agencies involved, this project will bring many important resources to the local community and help meet long-desired community needs. In particular, we want to thank Alonzo de Castro of the Northeast Bronx Coalition, Elizabeth Gill of the 47th Precinct Community Council, and the beloved late Bronx Community Board 12 District Manager Carmen Rosa.

Thanks to ongoing collaboration between the community, elected officials, and all other agencies involved, the Edenwald Recreation Center provides many important resources and helps meet long-desired community needs.