Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced $34 million in capital assistance funding allocations from the Fiscal Year 2016 city budget, including numerous projects in the east Bronx.
The borough president’s office has made available to the Bronx Times a list of line items to be funded in community boards 9, 10, and 11. The capital budget dollars will go to schools, cultural institutions, parks, senior centers and other causes and projects.
“I am proud to have been able to provide funding to so many worthy institutions, projects and purposes within the community in this year’s capital budget,” said Diaz in a statement.
According to James Rausse, director of capital programs for the borough president’s office, the items funded will be added to the budgets of the appropriate city agencies by September or October.
The allocations are made with collaboration and consultation with the borough’s city council delegation, said Rausse.
Within Community Board 9’s communities, the James Monroe Senior Center on Story Avenue will receive $500,000 to expand its community center, and Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club will also receive $750,000 to expand their space.
Allocations of $75,000 each have been made to Antonia Pantoja Prep Academy, Women’s Academy of Excellence and P.S. 100 for interactive White Boards or computers to enhance the learning experience. A STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program at Bronx Compass High School, on the Adlai E. Stevenson Educational Campus, has seen a $50,000 allocation for computer carts.
“We are part of one of the poorest congressional districts in the country, and every dollar towards programming, infrastructure or community centers is a home run,” said William Rivera, Community Board 9 district manager, adding, after seeing a list of the allocations in his district, that every penny is well spent.
In Community Board 10’s service area, the borough president’s capital funding will boost education, including computers and technology for P.S. 71, The Pelham Lab High School, Renaissance High School for Musical Theatre & Technology, Schuylerville Preparatory High School, and P.S. 72.
“Through this year’s capital budget we are able to allocate funding to several projects in the Community Board 10 area and provide improvements including technology upgrade, building renovations and the Bronx Stem Initiative at PS 71,” said Borough President Diaz. “It is truly a pleasure and proud moment to have been able to provide funding to these essential causes.”
P.S. 392, the Delta School, in Throggs Neck will use $750,000 to renovate a play yard.
In addition to schools, Borough President Diaz has earmarked $500,000 to repair storm damage at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum in Pelham Bay Park, and set aside $400,000 for renovations of a bank building at 2700 E. Tremont Avenue that is the future headquarters of Bronx Council on the Arts.
Community Board 11 will see allocations of $150,000 for the construction of a dog run in Bronx Park East near Lydig Avenue and $500,000 towards the reconstruction of Morris Park’s Loreto Park.
According to borough president’s statement, the funding in Loreto Park is for “new play equipment, safety surfaces and several other improvements.”
