Bronxites looking to obtain and maintain their perfect summer body can thanks to Bronx Park’s newest addition.
Bronx Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa and Councilman Ritchie Torres joined members of the Bronx Park East Community Association, Community Board 11 and the Allerton community to celebrate the grand opening of Bronx Park’s new adult fitness area on Friday, August 2.
Located at Bronx Park East and Arnow Avenue, Bronx Park’s $292,000 adult fitness area features a double chest press, sit-up bench, overhead ladder and cross trainer; new plantings; benches and safety surfacing.
According to NYC Parks, the individual units were selected based on function to meet the target areas of cardio and muscle fitness while targeting core and upper body strength.
“The new Bronx Park adult fitness area brings quality fitness equipment directly to Bronx residents so that exercise can be made part of an everyday routine to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” explained Torres.
The councilman added that approximately 1,165 residents voted in favor of creating Bronx Park’s adult fitness area.
The project was made possible through the NYC Council’s 2016 participatory budget.
Bronx Park’s adult fitness area was funded with $92,000 allocated by Mayor de Blasio and $200,000 from Torres.
“We always encourage healthy lifestyle choices and now these fitness units will provide our park patrons with easily accessible new options to work out,” expressed Rodriguez-Rosa.
During the event, residents, elected officials, Parks and community leaders each took turns testing the excerise equipment.
“The community is always looking for additions to their local parks and this is a great space to exercise and stay healthy without adding any extra costs,” stated Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez.
Bronx Park is best known as the home of the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden and includes many recreation areas.
In addition to Bronx Park’s new adult fitness area, visitors can also take advantage of the 718.37 acre park’s numerous playgrounds; bicycle paths; hiking trails; spray showers; baseball fields; tennis; bocce and basketball courts; baseball, football and soccer fields; skate park; kayak and canoe launch sites and Wi-Fi hot spots.
Bronx Park also features a similar adult fitness area at its Waring Playground located at Waring Avenue and Bronx Park East.
Much like the borough and the river that runs through it, Bronx Park is named for the 17th century Swedish sea captain Jonas Bronck who settled the area in 1639.
Bronck purchased approximately 500 acres of land from the Dutch West India Company and traded tools, clothes and utensils with local Native Americans for additional property.
After Bronck, this property passed through several different families before the city acquired 640 acres of it between December 1888 and January 1889.
By 1890, the city had acquired properties in the Bronx that would eventually become known as Van Cortlandt, Pelham Bay, Bronx, Crotona and Claremont parks and four parkways.
