Governor Kathy Hochul as we speak introduced a $26 million funding in Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Harlem. The funding consists of the renovation of the 30-year-old locker room services, upgrades to the outside observe and subject and the performing arts middle.
“The Harlem group deserves entry to inexperienced house, prime notch sports activities services, and leisure alternatives and as we speak we’re delivering simply that within the Metropolis’s most-visited State Park, Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park,” Governor Hochul stated. “Via this $26 million funding, we are going to enhance and modernize one of many state park system’s most original locations and start much-needed work to revive the park as a middle for sports activities, recreation and environmental training.”
Attributable to age and heavy utilization from the thousands and thousands of holiday makers annually, the park is in want of a complete renovation. Capital enhancements tasks for the park will embody:
- Renovating the 30-year-old locker room services in each the athletics and aquatics facilities. The $19 million undertaking will start with the renovation of the athletics locker room beginning in January 2023, with completion in spring 2023; the aquatics locker room renovation will begin in spring 2023 and be full spring 2024.
- Resurfacing the outside observe and changing the turf subject – a $5 million undertaking set to begin in February 2023 and finish by June 2023.
- Putting in a brand new heating, air flow, and air-con system for the park’s year-round performing arts middle. The $500,000 undertaking will begin February 2023 and end by June 2023.
Earlier this 12 months, State Parks put in a brand new $1.5 million lighting tower to light up the outside observe and subject for night actions and occasions. Moreover, the group backyard was renovated to incorporate new and expanded raised backyard beds, ADA accessibility enhancements, and improved drainage and water provide.
New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid stated, “Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is significant to the standard of life in West Harlem. Due to the help from Governor Hochul, these renovations will assist revitalize the essential public and leisure services in order that the park’s many guests can higher take pleasure in all that it has to gives.”
State Senator Robert Jackson stated, “We welcome the good information of the funding allotted by Governor Hochul to revitalize Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park, one among Manhattan’s most spectacular waterfront parks and one which I am proud to symbolize within the State Senate. With this resolution, the State honors the crucial function that state parks and open areas play within the high quality of life in neighborhoods like West Harlem. I sit up for seeing my constituents benefitting from renovations that can improve the utility and beautification of this aptly named state park.”
State Senator Jose Serrano stated, “Our state parks present numerous advantages to communities all throughout New York State. In the course of the pandemic, our parks turned our refuge, offering a secure place for train, recreation, and pleasure. The funding and wanted enhancements at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park will be certain that we will join much more folks to our beloved parks. My honest due to Governor Kathy Hochul and New York State Parks for making these vital renovations doable.”
Meeting member Al Taylor stated, “For almost three a long time, Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park has served as a beacon for wellness, the humanities, and group togetherness in Harlem and Washington Heights and I’m thrilled it’s getting the funding it must proceed providing world class inexperienced areas, services , and academic assets to the general public. Thanks, Governor Hochul, for honoring my predecessor’s namesake and for investing in New York Metropolis’s most-visited State Park. Via these modernizations and investments Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park will proceed to be a leisure and cultural hub in our group for a few years to come back.”
Meeting member Danny O’Donnell stated, “Whether or not for video games, gatherings, picnics, or the picturesque views, Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park stays some of the fashionable parks for a lot of New York residents – and for good motive! However being fashionable has meant heavy use of lots of the park’s services , and it’s clear that it is time for some and renovations and upgrades. I’m thrilled at this funding – which is able to assist thousands and thousands of residents – and thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Kulleseid for his or her partnership in lifting up and enhancing our treasured State Parks to make sure that public house stays accessible to all.”
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine stated, “I am thrilled that Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is receiving such a transformational funding, which displays its worth to the thousands and thousands of annual guests who come for sporting occasions, arts performances, and waterfront leisure. Open house and parks like Riverbank are integral to wholesome communities. These much-needed enhancements will assist maintain West Harlem and the higher uptown group related to an important inexperienced house.”
New York Metropolis Councilmember Shaun Abreu stated, “Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is such a staple of the West Harlem group and is deeply beloved by New Yorkers all throughout the town for its beautiful waterfront views and picturesque panorama. This beneficiant funding from Governor Hochul will go a good distance in making certain that this well-loved park continues to offer a way of belonging and far wanted recreation for native households.”
Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park has served as West Harlem’s leisure and cultural hub for almost 30 years. The park welcomes greater than three million folks annually, rating it among the many most visited state parks in New York State. It serves as a group useful resource for an space that was as soon as lower off from the Hudson River. Offering a four-season leisure useful resource for a group that has been historically underserved, DF Riverbank State Park is a pillar of the West Harlem group.
The New York State Workplace of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees greater than 250 particular person parks, historic websites, leisure trails, and boat launches, which have been visited by a document 78.4 million folks in 2021. For extra data on any of those recreation areas, name 518-474-0456 or go to parks.ny.gov, join on Fb, or comply with us on Twitter.
