On Thursday, August 27, 2015, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., in collaboration with the New York City Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, hosted a ribbon cutting and free movie night at the newly constructed Amphitheater in Soundview Park. Here, Borough President Diaz addresses youngsters following their free yoga lesson, which was sponsored by Sweetwater Dance and Yoga Studio.
Yesterday, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, joined Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., State Senators Jeffrey Klein and Ruben Diaz, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Bronx City Council Chief of Staff Mariela Salazar, DEP Deputy Commissioner Vincent Sapienza, Community Liaison Ramon Cabral, leaders of Community Board 9, and local residents to celebrate the opening of the new amphitheater at Soundview Park.
“Residents of the Bronx now have a newly designed performance and entertainment space right here at Soundview Park,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “Parks are not only green spaces, they are public spaces, and with the completion of this new theater, community members will enjoy more opportunities to gather in the park with neighbors, friends, and family.”
“This is a project I have been working on since I was in the State Assembly and I look forward to the opening of the new Soundview Park Amphitheater,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This new amenity is another example of how things are changing for the better in our great borough. We are providing an area where families can get together and watch movies, much like how people do in Bryant Park in Manhattan and in Coney Island in Brooklyn, while we are also maximizing our green space. I want to thank the New York City Parks Department for their efforts on this project and I look forward to many years of amazing performances at this wonderful new space.”
The natural amphitheater features a performance lawn built in line with Roseland Avenue, alongside a new park entrance and pathway. The $2.8 million construction budget included mayoral funding as well as Croton Filtration Plant Mitigation Funds.
Previously completed at Soundview Park was the construction of a rubberized 400-meter regulation running track and field with areas for pole vault, high jump, long jump, and triple jump. The $6 million project also included a synthetic turf soccer field, bleacher seating, adult fitness units, a misting station, landscaping, and lighting for evening play.
Additional phases of the Soundview Park redevelopment, which include reconstruction of the existing playground while building a new comfort station at Metcalf Avenue, are soon to be finalized.
Known as the “Gateway to the Bronx River,” Soundview Park celebrates the beauty of the Bronx waterfront with extensive views. The 205-acre park was built on a landfill and sits where the Bronx River opens into the East River. The Bronx River is the only freshwater river in New York City.