{"id":215629,"date":"2026-04-30T17:14:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T17:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/215629\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T17:14:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T17:14:07","slug":"bronx-residents-community-leaders-and-organizations-celebrate-opening-of-revitalized-basketball-courts-at-fort-4-playground-bronx-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/215629\/","title":{"rendered":"Bronx residents, community leaders and organizations celebrate opening of revitalized basketball courts at Fort #4 Playground \u2013 Bronx Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several local leaders, community members and organizations celebrated the opening of the newly renovated basketball courts at Fort #4 Playground<\/a>, located at 2890 Sedgwick Ave., within the Washington\u2019s Walk<\/a> park in Kingsbridge<\/a>, on Monday, April 13.<\/p>\n

The full basketball court and half court at the park received redone pavement and color-seal coating. A drinking fountain and bottle filler were also installed. Other improvements included a reconstructed concrete ramp and stairs, as well as new plantings. All these upgrades are intended to provide a safer play surface for those who use the court, improve pedestrian circulation and enhance accessibility.<\/p>\n

\"\"The newly renovated basketball courts at Fort #4 Playground. Photo courtesy of Theory 9
\n\"\"Photo credit: NYC Parks\/Daniel Avila
\n\"\"Photo credit: NYC Parks\/Daniel Avila<\/p>\n

Funding for this $500,000 project was provided by the New York City Council and Mayor\u2019s Office. The project was also made possible through collaboration between the Sedgwick Park Friends Group, Theory 9<\/a>, local leaders and community partners, who all share a vision to strengthen neighborhoods through investment in youth and public places.<\/p>\n

\"\"Kids were eager to use the new basketball courts. Photo credit: NYC Parks\/Daniel Avila
\n\"\"Photo courtesy of Theory 9<\/p>\n

Among those on hand to join community members in celebrating this occasion were NYC Parks<\/a>\u00a0Bronx\u00a0Borough\u00a0Commissioner Jessenia Aponte, NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Council Member Pierina Sanchez, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, representatives from U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat\u2019s office, Theory 9 Co-Founder and CEO Shakir Seagers and members of Bronx Community Board 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the opening of the basketball courts. Photo by Jewel Webber<\/p>\n

\u201cThese visually striking basketball courts give Bronx hoops enthusiasts a refreshed and inviting new place to hone their skills. By upgrading the pavement, coating and court design, and adding a water fountain with bottle filler, we\u2019ve made this playground better than ever,\u201d Aponte said. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt NYC Parks, we\u2019re committed to improving recreational amenities for all New Yorkers, with an emphasis on communities that need it the most.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Jessenia Aponte speaks at the reopening of the newly renovated Fort #4 Playground basketball courts. Photo credit: NYC Parks\/Daniel Avila<\/p>\n

The upgrades to the basketball courts mark the latest improvements made to Washington\u2019s Walk. The park\u2019s Strong Street Playground recently underwent a $3.04 million full reconstruction, with NYC Parks completing it in June 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reconstruction of the basketball courts at Fort #4 Playground is a significant investment in the health and wellness of our borough,\u201d Gibson said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese modernized courts create new opportunities for our youth and families to stay active, build community and participate in healthy competition. I want to thank NYC Parks, the New York City Council and the Mayor\u2019s Office for their continued investment in our public spaces and for ensuring our Bronx neighborhoods have safe recreational spaces for our residents and families to connect and engage in physical activity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson speaks during the celebration of the reopening of the new basketball courts. Photo credit: NYC Parks\/Daniel Avila<\/p>\n

These improvements marked the first renovations to Fort #4 Playground since 1998. The latest improvements were driven by a commitment to providing local youths with a safe, engaging and accessible space to gather, play and grow. They reflect the needs and vision of local residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis revitalized space is now a safe haven, a place where young people can not only develop their athletic skills, but their confidence, discipline and sense of belonging. A place where positive energy replaces negativity. A place where the next generation can dream bigger,\u201d Seagers said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFort #4 Playground has always been a place where kids come together. Now, it\u2019s a space that reflects pride, opportunity and a stronger future.\u201d
\n\"\"Theory 9 Co-Founder and CEO Shakir Seagers speaking. Photo credit: NYC Parks\/Daniel Avila\n<\/p>\n

Washington\u2019s Walk, located along the southern edge of the Jerome Park Reservoir, carries historical significance to the borough. It once held a Revolutionary War fort that was built under the leadership of George Washington. From 1866 to 1894, a thoroughbred horse racing park, known as the Jerome Park Racetrack, operated there. The site has been under the jurisdiction of NYC Parks ever since the City purchased the land in 1895.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project started with the young people who use this court every day, and I\u2019m proud we were able to bring their vision to life,\u201d Council Member Sanchez said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWashington\u2019s Walk Fort #4 is a community park with a long history dating back to the 1700s, and it sits at the tip of Education Mile, across from the Kingsbridge Armory. This $500,000 investment ensures the court is safe and accessible for the youth and neighbors who rely on it\u2014from after-school games to time together in the warmer months. I thank the NYC Department of Parks for their partnership in completing this project and look forward to seeing the community continue to make full use of the space.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Council Member Pierina Sanchez speaking. Photo credit: NYC Parks\/Daniel Avila<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Several local leaders, community members and organizations celebrated the opening of the newly renovated basketball courts at Fort…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":215630,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[28838,128,85084,9,24,63,129,131,130,85085],"class_list":["post-215629","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-the-bronx","tag-basketball-courts","tag-bronx","tag-fort-4-playground","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-the-bronx","tag-the-bronx-headlines","tag-the-bronx-news","tag-washingtons-walk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215629","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=215629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215629\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}