$1.8M renovated historic Walton Playground reopens
2173 White Plains Road 718-931-4335
Just South of Pelham Pkwy.
BY ROBERT WIRSING
Bronx Parks Commissioner
Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, Councilman
Fernando Cabrera, Assemblyman
Victor Pichardo,
Community Board 5 members
and P.S. 279 students and staff
and residents joined in cutting
the ribbon on the fully renovated
Walton Playground, a
Community Parks Initiative
site, on Thursday, May 9.
The 0.34-acre playground’s
revitalization was made possible
through funding with $1.4
million coming from the mayor
and $400,000 from Cabrera.
The reconstruction added
new equipment, water play features,
a half-court basketball
court and seating areas to the
children’s play area.
The new park design incorporates
such sustainable
features as permeable surfacing,
improved drainage systems
to capture stormwater
and decrease runoff, new tree
plantings to increase shade
and improve air quality, water
play features that are controller
operated to minimize
water waste and new lighting
with energy effi cient lamps.
“This summer when kids
are splashing and laughing
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as they play in the sprinklers,
we’ll be able to bask in the joy
of knowing we’re improving
our communities one park at
a time,” expressed Rodriguez-
Rosa.
To commemorate the momentous
occasion, Cabrera, Rodriguez
Rosa, CB 5 chairman
Dr. Bola Omotosho joined local
youth in shooting some hoops
at the playground’s half-court
basketball court.
“Walton Playground is now
a beautiful inclusive green
space for gathering, recreation
and exercise for everyone to
enjoy - kids, seniors, young
adults, families- regardless
of physical abilities, and with
ADA accessible entrances,”
stated Cabrera.
Walton Playground’s extensive
makeover was inspired
by residents’ input of what
they specifi cally wanted to see
added to the playground, according
to Cabrera.
“It is important that we invest
in community spaces such
as Walton Park to ensure children
can have a safe and fun
space to go to enjoy their summer,”
said Pichardo.
The park’s reconstruction
commenced on May 10, 2018 following
a groundbreaking ceremony.
Prior to its renovation, the
park had been forgotten for
nearly 20 years, according to
Parks.
Walton Park is one of 17
parks in the borough listed for
renovation as part of the mayor’s
Community Parks Initiative.
The park’s namesake is
Mary Walton, who lived from
1726 to 1794, and married Lewis
Morris III who was the sole
New York signer of the Declaration
of Independence.
The couple had ten children
and resided in Morrisania.
Their son, Captain William
Walton Morris, who lived from
1760 to 1832, served as aidede
camp to general Anthony
Wayne in the Revolutionary
War.
It is commonly believed that
the adjacent Walton Avenue is
named in honor of Gerard Walton
Morris, a landowner and
descendant of Mary and Lewis.
Parks acquired the property
for Walton Park, located
along East 181st Street between
Jerome and Walton avenues, on
November 24, 1897.
The park was originally
known as ‘Walton Avenue AA
Park’ until the late NYC Commissioner
Henry Stern shortened
its name.
(l-r) Councilman Cabrera; Bronx Parks Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa; Ms. Medina, Davidson Community Center;
Assemblyman Pichardo; Dr. Bola Omotosho, CB 5 chairman and Ken Brown, CB 5 district manager were
eager to cut the ribbon for Walton Playground. Photo by Fernando Justiniano