NYCEDC & NYC Parks Break Ground on $35 Million Lower Concourse Park in the Bronx

Long-Awaited 2.3-Acre Park to Be Developed along the Harlem River and Feature Living Shoreline, Playground Spaces, Overlook Area, Seating/Picnic Area and Flex-Use Lawn among Other Amenities

BRONX, NY—Today, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) & NYC Parks joined city and elected officials to officially break ground on the $35 million Lower Concourse Park, a 2.3-acre park that will be located along the Harlem River between 144th and 146th Street bringing infrastructure upgrades and much-needed open green space and waterfront access to South Bronx communities. The Park is one key part of the City's $194 million Lower Concourse Infrastructure plan, which is a historic investment into this portion of the Bronx, all of which is being led by the NYCEDC, and will bring new infrastructure upgrades, make streets safer, and create new connections to the waterfront. The park is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2025 and open to the public in 2026.

NYCEDC conducted community outreach for the design in 2019 including a community board meeting and community survey, both which helped inform the design. Because this will be a newly constructed park, NYCEDC had to prepare the site for this development which involved the demolition of buildings and infrastructure work including electric, gas, watermain, sewer and road restoration upgrades throughout the Special Harlem River Waterfront District.

“Today’s groundbreaking of the Lower Concourse Park reinforces NYCEDC’s commitment to improving the city’s green space and bringing much-needed open space to the Bronx,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “We thank NYC Parks for their continuous partnership and all of our development partners for the hard work in transforming this site into a park that the community will be able to enjoy for years to come.”

“We’re thrilled to join with NYCEDC to break ground on Lower Concourse Park, which will bring essential green space and recreational amenities to the South Bronx. A playground, picnic area, and multi-use lawn will serve as a destination for local residents and enhance access to the waterfront, while the living shoreline design will increase resiliency against erosion,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “The park’s creation furthers this Administration’s goal of increasing park equity in the outer boroughs and ensuring all New Yorkers have access to high-quality, attractive outdoor spaces.”

“This new park is part of a broad vision for the Bronx community that includes open space, affordable housing, and of course - culture!” said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Nearby, the City has invested nearly $20 million in the home of the Hip Hop Museum, honoring this global artform in the borough where it was born. And just last year, we cut the ribbon the first permanent home for the Bronx Children's Museum in Mill Pond Park, part of this same growing ecosystem of exciting new public assets. When all of these projects are complete and connected by incredible public spaces, the Bronx will have a new jewel in its crown. In the Adams administration, we understand that when we invest in culture and in our public spaces, we invest in New Yorkers – in their health, happiness, and wellbeing.”

Components of the Lower Concourse Park will include:

• A Welcome Plaza that will display signage about the history of the Bronx.
• Playground area that will feature swings for all age groups, stations for children ages 2-5 and 6-12 and a splash pad.
• Bench, cafe tables and seating and public restroom.
• Bike Rack, Hi-Lo drinking fountain
• Picnic tables and seating, BBQ grills, coal bins.
• Musical Play.
• Robust native trees and plants that will provide shade and green space for the neighborhood.
• Flex-use lawn, and;
• A living shoreline to help protect the land from erosion and trap greenhouse gases. The shoreline will also have plants and rain gardens to ease flooding by absorbing excess stormwater.

“This groundbreaking in the Bronx is like seeing a shared dream come true, bringing our community closer to the green spaces it deserves. This park represents progress, unity, and the enduring spirit of the Bronx. Together, we're building a brighter, greener, and more accessible future for all,” remarked Diana Ayala, Deputy Speaker of the New York City Council.

“Lower Concourse Park is a momentous investment in revitalizing underutilized land and creating public investment in the South Bronx” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “The creation of essential green space and recreational amenities are the first of a set of projects under the Lower Concourse Infrastructure Plan which aims to make the streets safer, create new waterfront access to the Harlem River, and provide a living shoreline to enhance the resiliency of both the environment and the community. The creation of a new park builds on the existing assets of the South Bronx by strengthening the infrastructure needed to promote connections to the waterfront and open spaces, support housing and create jobs. I want to thank NYC EDC, NYC Parks and everyone else who was involved in bringing this important project to fruition.”

“Breaking ground on the Lower Concourse park marks a significant step towards improving waterfront access in the South Bronx and expanding green spaces throughout the Borough,” said New York State Senator Jose Serrano. “The 2.3-acre park, accompanied by a living shoreline, will offer park-goers a secure and resilient recreational space along the waterfront. Many thanks to New York City Parks and New York City Economic Development Corporation for their efforts on this initiative.”

“I am excited to see the start of this great new project. The Lower Concourse Park will provide Bronxites with more much needed green spaces,” said Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner. “Every New Yorker should have equal access to parks and I can’t wait to see this project come together over the next few years.”

“Any addition of much needed park space, that includes waterfront access is a win for this Community,” said Arline Parks, Chair, Community Board 1 Bronx. “This project addresses the community's concern for waterfront resiliency and environmental air quality issues.”

The Lower Concourse Park was funded by Mayoral City Capital and NYC Parks is working on a name for the park that will be revealed at a later date. For more information about the Lower Concourse development, please click here. For information about New York City parks, please click here.

About NYCEDC 
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.