
New life in Melrose: Tree giveaways return to the South Bronx
The South Bronx is short on trees. But new saplings are growing in the borough
The South Bronx is short on trees. But new saplings are growing in the borough
Elected officials on Friday announced $2 million will be allocated to creation of green space along the Harlem River in Port Morris.
From mid-May, Mott Haven residents can board a free shuttle bus that makes hourly rounds to the Randall’s Island Connector in Port Morris.
According to Mott Haven: Open Space Index, a report published by New Yorkers for Parks in 2014, the neighborhood did not meet 11 out of 15 open space index criteria, including the total acres of open space available to every 1,000 residents.
A multi-year initiative calling for new green space in Mott Haven and Port Morris, is expected to include the creation of a park on the eastern edge of 132nd Street, and another a few blocks away.
A small amount of city funding to fix a playground at St. Mary’s Park has opened up a conversation about fixing the South Bronx’s biggest park, for the first time in years.
The WIllis Ave. Community Garden has reopened, thanks to residents who collaborated with the New York Restoration Project to get it done. Some welcome the changes while others look back fondly at the way it used to be.
The city plans to finish building the Randall’s Island Connector next year; meanwhile, local residents and planners want to ensure the South Bronx gets easy access to the island’s recreational opportunities.