The New York City Housing Authority’s furriest residents ran their tails off Friday at the ribbon cutting ceremony at Castle Hill Houses celebrating the first-ever dog park on the campus of a NYCHA complex.
Now, Castle Hill Houses small and large dogs and their two-legged companions have safe, enclosed spaces to run, jump, play fetch and enjoy fresh water from the new doggie fountain. The project also included an improved picnic area and 32 new stations for easy pet waste disposal all through the campus.
Castle Hill Houses residents pushed for the dog park and worked together with public and private partners for over a year to design and build the new amenities. Jeanette Salcedo, Castle Hill Resident Association President, spearheaded the residents’ organizing and advocacy.
“We’re excited to unveil the new park and community space, giving our residents and their furry friends a wonderful place to enjoy and socialize,” said Salcedo. “Our residents were deeply involved in the park’s design, and it’s incredible to see their vision become a reality. This project will bring joy and vibrancy to Castle Hill Houses for many years to come.”
Residents, visitors, and their pups gathered as State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Assembly Member Karines Reyes, and nonprofit leaders who helped bring the dog park to life lined up behind a red ribbon and cut it together. Moments later, tails wagged and paws pounded the turf as dogs raced into the enclosure, bounding over grassy mounds, leaping onto benches, and soaring through the air after frisbees.
New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías, who represents District 18 which encompasses Castle Hill, said that the dog park was a big step forward in centering the needs and voices of public housing residents, something the city has failed at doing.
“This project is a powerful example of what happens when NYCHA residents are not just heard, but empowered to lead,” Farías said in a statement. “From the first design workshop to today’s ribbon cutting, this new dog park reflects the creativity, care, and vision of the Castle Hill community. It’s more than just a park — it’s a meaningful investment in equity, community well-being, and the everyday lives of public housing families in the Bronx.”
The project is part of the Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF) Green Space Connections program—a $3.2 million initiative funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust—to create and activate open spaces at four NYCHA developments in the Bronx and Brooklyn, benefiting approximately 14,000 residents.
Community organizers from the nonprofit Center for Justice Innovation engaged over 800 Castle Hills Houses tenants for over a year and worked with expert landscape designers from equitable community planning practice Grain Collective to shape and build the park.
“The Castle Hill dog park is a prime example of how different groups with a common goal can come together to create a meaningful amenity requested by public housing residents,” said Grain Collective Principal Runit Chhaya. “We can amplify our impact by pooling resources and expertise, even when budgets are limited.
