Work is winding down on a $5 million renovation on Owen Dolen Park, and the Westchester Square Business Improvement District already has programing planned.
The Parks Department is “finishing up punch list items” on the $5 million renovation of the park, and is planning a ribbon cutting for May, said Parks spokeswoman Tara Kiernan.
But Westchester Square BID executive director Lisa Sorin is one step ahead of the Parks Department and already has an Earth Day Celebration planned for Saturday, April 27. The event is the first of nine weekend events planned for this season, she said.
“This should really be something that is part of the launch of the BID as well as the park,” said Sorin. “It is part of the revitalization of the whole area.”
The Earth Day Celebration at the park should include demonstrations of composting from the New York Botanical Gardens “Get Green” program, with master composters, as well as organic arts and crafts.
“It just so happens that the BID has been focusing on putting recycling bins in the area, and we have a green team that has gone through training, and that goes out and picks up the recycling,” said Sorin. “So I thought this was a perfect match up for what we are trying to promote in the area.”
Also being planned for the park this summer is a Health Day @ the Square that will include Zumba and other activities from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.
A third event also upcoming is called “Bollywood in the Bronx,” at the park from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday July 13.
Bollywood is an informal term that refers to the Hindi-language Indian film industry based in Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, India.
“It is something that is culturally diverse, and something that has not been done in the Bronx,” said Sorin. “Bollywood is all about music, and the elegance of dancers.”
Sorin said she expects the barricades around the park to come down very soon.
The Owen Dolen Recreation Center has already been reopened.
Patrick Rocchio can be reach via e-mail at procchio@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3393
