NYC Parks Breaks Ground on $2.4 Million Renovation Project at Cedar Playground

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, today joined Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson, and Assembly Member Latoya Joyner to break ground on a $2.4 million reconstruction of Cedar Playground.

"The rebuilding of Cedar Playground will provide a greatly needed and improved recreational facility for community members in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. "Our administration prides itself in the ability to provide and offer exceptional and sustainable public spaces to New Yorkers across the city. We look forward to opening this park, growing this park, and essentially making it one of the touchstones in this neighborhood."

The reconstruction project at Cedar Playground will include renovation of the play area, basketball courts and adjacent landscape. Borough President Diaz Jr. has contributed $1.5 million to the funding with an additional $900,000 from former Councilmember Helen Foster.

"I am proud to have funded the Cedar Playground project and excited about the groundbreaking after so much time, effort and money was expended to help launch this wonderful facility," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "I have always been a big proponent of reinvigorating space for children to play and have fun, in a safe environment allowing for them to get exercise like we used to do when we were kids. I want to thank everyone involved in this project for helping make this possible."

"The renovation at Cedar Playground will provide our community with much needed open space for young people to stay active and enjoy the outdoors, said Councilmember Vanessa Gibson. "As this project commences, I thank Bronx Borough President Rubin Diaz, Jr. for his generous $1.5 million contribution towards this park and for his commitment to the beautification of our borough. I would also like to thank Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, Bronx Borough Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, and all of the partners and stakeholders who will be involved in the renovations. I am truly confident that our Morris Heights community will enjoy Cedar Playground for years to come!"

Cedar Playground was last reconstructed in the late 1980's and will now receive a complete overhaul.

"The groundbreaking for a new playground, basketball courts and adjacent landscape at Cedar Park will preserve this beautiful Bronx park as a mainstay for safe family fun for the Morris Heights community and its surrounding neighborhoods," said Assemblywoman Latoya Joyner (D-Bronx, 77th AD). "These recreational and safety upgrades at Cedar Park - thanks to the help from my fellow Bronx elected officials and NYC Parks Commissioner Silver - will allow families to utilize the park and its playground for years to come."