Crotona Park
Park of the Month - April 2006
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Crotona Park
The Bronx’s Crotona Park is April’s Park of the Month. The 127 acre park is the largest in the South Bronx and sixth largest in the borough. Offering scenic views, Crotona Park is an oasis of grass, trees, athletic and recreation facilities.
“From lush open fields and rocky outposts to athletic fields and recreation facilities, Crotona Park is one of the Bronx’s most diverse parks that serves as a popular destination for residents throughout the year,” said Commissioner Benepe. “With the completion of several new capital projects in the coming months, Crotona Park will continue to delight and surprise.”
Crotona Park is known for its natural beauty and outstanding recreational facilities, including Crotona Pool and boathouse complex, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and large open spaces for a variety of activities. It is home to some of the most majestic and varied trees in the City, including black cherry, hickory, sassafras, sweetgum, and twenty-three other species, including specimens over a century old.
In the center of the park is Indian Lake, a 3.3 acre body of water that was originally a natural pond and provides a home to ducks, turtles, and numerous species of fish. Parks & Recreation is in the final stages of a $1.7 million renovation of Indian Lake that includes the expansion of a portion of the lake edge that will provide safe access and help diversify the flora and fauna of the surrounding ecosystem.
Renovations to the Tennis House are also nearly complete. The $1.5 million project includes renovations to the public restrooms, a new meeting room for activities, locker rooms and storage space. The building will be A.D.A. compliant.
Crotona Park was acquired in 1888 and known for a time as “Bathgate Woods.” From high points in the park one could see the Palisades of New Jersey to the west and the towers of Brooklyn Bridge to the south. In the 1930s, Works Progress Administration (WPA) employees built the present boathouse on the east side of the pond and entirely rebuilt the area around Indian Lake.
Park of the Month introduces some of our greatest parks and greenspaces to curious New Yorkers and visitors alike.
Park of the Month introduces some of our greatest parks and greenspaces to curious New Yorkers and visitors alike.