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PARK FACT:

Over half of Van Cortlandt Park is a protected nature preserve, which translates to many scenic trails for your hiking pleasure!

Explore Your Park > Van Cortlandt Park > Highlights > Allen Shandler Recreation Area

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Allen Shandler Recreation Area

Born January 9, 1951, to Frank and Sylvia Shandler, Allen Shandler was a local boy known for his vigor and integrity. In 1962, at just eleven years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Determined to live his life as any other boy his age, Allen dedicated his time to improving his community and helping those around him, displaying a maturity that earned him much respect in the community in which he lived.

Allen and his father organized a drive to raise $300,000 for the Holly Park Recreation Area in Van Cortlandt Park. After Shandler’s death on August 11, 1966, Woodlawn resident and Council Member Mario Merola (1922-1987) secured the funds for the recreation area. Council Member-At-Large Aileen B. Ryan (1912-1987) and Council Member Merola introduced a bill to rename the recreation area for Allen Shandler in 1967.

The Allen Shandler Recreation Area is located in Van Cortlandt Park near the Woodlawn neighborhood. The Wiechquaskeck Lenapes occupied the site of Van Cortlandt Park in 1639 when the Dutch East India Company brought the first European settlers to the Bronx. In 1646 Dutchman Adriaen Van Der Donck (1620-1655) became the first single owner of what is now Van Cortlandt Park; a tract of land bounded by modern Yonkers City Line between Broadway, Jerome Avenue, and Van Cortlandt Park East. Jacobus Van Cortlandt bought the property in 1699 and his son, Frederick Van Cortlandt, built the Van Cortlandt Mansion in 1748. While the Van Cortlandt family occupied the land until the 1880’s (the City of New York acquired it in 1888), the park was not named for its long-time residents until 1913.

The Allen Shandler Recreation Area is situated between Jerome Avenue and the Major Deegan Expressway, south of East 233 Street. The recreation area has two baseball diamonds, a comfort station, benches, and a picnic area with grills and picnic tables. With facilities for football, baseball, softball, soccer, cricket, tennis, golf, swimming, horseback riding, running, and hiking constantly improving, the future of New York City’s third largest park looks greener than ever.

Directions to Van Cortlandt Park

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Under Construction

There are currently 2 construction projects taking place in this park that are affecting access to its amenities.

Portions of the Allen Shandler Recreation area are closed. We are reconstructing the existing picnic area with new picnic tables, grills, plantings, pathways, and split rail fencing. ADA access will be provided for the existing comfort station, new drinking fountain and picnic tables.
Anticipated Completion: Fall 2009

Some of the Parade Ground athletic fields are closed in the northern section. We are reconstructing the Parade Ground fields and the Van Cortlandt Stadium field. A new synthetic turf field for soccer and football has been installed in the stadium. The parade grounds will have cricket fields, soccer fields, and baseball fields with in-ground irrigation. A portion of the cross country running track will be resurfaced and realigned. This project will be built in two phases to allow the public use of some fields during construction.
Anticipated Completion: Summer 2010