City and state officials unveiled a newly expanded section of Grant Park on Friday, marking the transformation of a long-vacant stretch of land along East 170th Street into a 4.7-acre public green space in The Bronx.
The project consolidates 15 formerly vacant lots and a decommissioned block of Grant Avenue into a single, cohesive park, delivering on a key promise of the Jerome Avenue Rezoning approved in 2018.
NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson, City Councilmember Althea Stevens, State Assemblymember Landon Dais, Bronx Parks Commissioner Jesenia Aponte and local residents for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the park’s opening.
“Grant Park is a testament to what’s possible when a community comes together to transform underutilized space into a vibrant, welcoming destination,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura.
“This 4.7-acre park gives residents a beautiful natural lawn, a full basketball court, fitness amenities, and spaces to gather, all right in the heart of their neighborhood. We’re proud to deliver on the promise of the Jerome Avenue rezoning initiative and grateful to our partners in City government who made this investment possible.”
Before its redevelopment, the site consisted largely of empty lots and a former roadbed. For years, the land sat underutilized, a patchwork of disconnected parcels that offered little benefit to nearby residents. Its conversion into parkland was part of a broader city commitment to pair rezoning with investments in public infrastructure, including parks, schools and open space.
The $17 million project was funded with $16.5 million in mayoral funding and an additional $500,000 from The Bronx Borough President’s office.
The redesigned park brings together several previously disconnected spaces, including Grant Playground to the south, the Grant Park Passive Area to the north and the Dred Scott Bird Sanctuary, creating a continuous stretch of green space for the community.
Now, at the center of the park is a natural turf field designed for informal play and community gatherings. A network of pathways now runs through the site, supporting walking and jogging while connecting entrances at the north and south ends. Shaded seating areas, new lighting and upgraded accessibility features have been incorporated throughout the park to make it more welcoming and usable for residents of all ages.
One section of the park is dedicated to sports and fitness, featuring a full basketball court, steel bleachers and outdoor exercise equipment. The layout separates more active uses from quieter areas, while landscaping and tree plantings help buffer noise and create a more comfortable environment.
The redesign also preserves and enhances the Dred Scott Bird Sanctuary, a community garden established in 1996. The space now includes a low-profile fence that maintains its character while improving visibility and integration with the surrounding park.
“Today’s ribbon cutting at Grant Park reflects our shared commitment to investing in the vibrant, welcoming green spaces our Bronx families need but also deserve,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson.
“Together, we are delivering on a broader vision for the Jerome Avenue corridor that ensures, as our communities grow, they have the resources, infrastructure, and public spaces they need in their neighborhoods.”
The park’s expansion is a promise of the Jerome Avenue rezoning, a sweeping land use plan approved by the City Council in 2018 under former Mayor Bill de Blasio. The rezoning covered 92 blocks along the corridor and was the first major rezoning effort in The Bronx in decades.
City officials said the plan aimed to preserve affordable housing, revitalize existing retail corridors, expand job opportunities and improve neighborhood infrastructure. As part of that effort, the rezoning was expected to bring approximately 3,800 new housing units, 160,000 square feet of community facility space and 58,000 square feet of commercial space to the area.
The rezoning was spearheaded by then Councilmember Fernando Cabrera and Gibson, who at the time represented the district in the City Council. While the plan faced opposition from community members concerned about displacement and overdevelopment, supporters pointed to a slate of promised investments, including new schools, improvements to the Davidson Community Center and upgrades to parks along the corridor.
Shimamura said the park’s opening is part of a broader citywide push to expand and improve green spaces across The Bronx, pointing to recent investments including the reconstruction of Haffen Pool and upgrades to other neighborhood parks.
“We understand that every single corner of this city— particularly when it comes to The Bronx and other boroughs where we have underserved and overlooked communities— Parks is not done with them by a long shot. I really am excited about the things that are coming out.”
Assemblymember Landon Dais kept the mood celebratory, comparing the project to the New York Knicks’ record-setting playoff win the night before.
“Like our New York Knicks last night, winning by 51 points, this is a huge victory for the borough of The Bronx,” he said.
Reach Marina Samuel at msamuel@schnepsmedia.com. For more coverage, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
