NEW YORK \u2013 Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura today reopened St. Mary\u2019s Recreation Center in the Bronx following a $20.7 million renovation that makes the historic community center safer, more accessible and better equipped to serve Bronxites for generations to come.<\/p>\n
The renovation reconstructed the center\u2019s fa\u00e7ade, entrance and lobby, repaired its pool \u2014 the only indoor public pool operated by NYC Parks in the Bronx \u2014 and made the facility fully accessible with a new elevator and widened door frames.<\/p>\n
The Mayor\u2019s Executive Budget funded 33 new positions at St. Mary\u2019s, ensuring the facility has the staff it needs to offer programming, maintain the center and serve the community for generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cSt. Mary\u2019s is more than a recreation center. It is a place where Bronx families come to swim, exercise and spend time with their community,\u201d said Mayor Mamdani. \u201cThis $20.7 million capital investment keeps this public space safe, accessible and open to everyone, with a new elevator, critical safety upgrades and repairs to the pool. Further, we have added 33 new staff positions, and we\u2019re giving St. Mary\u2019s what it needs to serve Bronxites for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSt. Mary\u2019s Recreation Center has been a cornerstone of this neighborhood for generations, and today we are proud to open its doors again,\u201d said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. \u201cThis renovation makes the building safer, more welcoming and accessible to everyone, from our youngest neighbors to our seniors. With a new lobby, a new elevator and added staffing to support programs, this center is ready to serve the community. We are grateful to our partners and to the residents whose voices helped shape this project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Safety and code upgrades include a new fire alarm system throughout the center, repairs to the boiler and heat distribution system and upgrades to mechanical and electrical systems, including new electrical switchgear.<\/p>\n
Inside the center, the project reconstructed the men\u2019s and women\u2019s bathrooms on the second floor, as well as staff areas and a staff bathroom on the ground floor. The center also received new fitness equipment, upgraded flooring in select areas and enhanced lighting throughout the facility.<\/p>\n
The project significantly improves accessibility at St. Mary\u2019s. A new elevator provides ADA access to the upper floors, while widened door frames throughout the building make it easier for visitors of all abilities to navigate the center. The center\u2019s pool also received critical repairs to the pool deck by in-house Parks crews.<\/p>\n
St. Mary\u2019s has been a center of public recreation in the Bronx for generations. In 1951, New York City opened its first full-service indoor recreation center at St. Mary\u2019s as part of a citywide effort to provide New Yorkers with places to play, exercise and gather during the colder months. Designed by the architectural firm Brown, Lawford, and Forbes, the building originally included an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, locker and shower rooms and meeting rooms for classes and community programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe celebrate 75 years of the St. Mary\u2019s Recreation Center with the reopening of a newly renovated space,\u201d said NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano. \u201cThanks to a $20.7 million dollar renovation, St. Mary\u2019s Recreation Center will be open to even more community members, with increased accessibility measures and expanded staffing to support community programming. I am grateful to NYC Parks, my colleagues in government and all those involved in this investment in the South Bronx to improve our community spaces.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 75 years, St. Mary\u2019s Recreation Center has been a place where generations of South Bronx families have learned to swim, stayed active and healthy, built friendships and found community,\u201d said Assembly Member Amanda N. Septimo. \u201cToday, we are not simply reopening its doors. We are making sure this beloved institution can fully serve the next generation. A modern, accessible recreation center and the Bronx\u2019s only Parks indoor pool are not luxuries; they are the kind of public resources our families deserve. I\u2019m proud to join colleagues in government and our community to celebrate this investment in St. Mary\u2019s and, most importantly, in the people who call the South Bronx home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reopening of the St. Mary\u2019s Recreation Center marks a significant milestone for our South Bronx community and ushers in an exciting new chapter for the residents and families who have relied on this center for generations,\u201d said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. \u201cFor so many in our borough, public parks and recreation centers serve as the most accessible and affordable places to exercise, learn new skills, build community, relieve stress and participate in programs that support long\u2011term success. Thank you to NYC Parks, Community Board 1, my colleagues in government and all the dedicated community advocates whose leadership helped to make these transformative renovations a reality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe newly renovated St. Mary\u2019s Recreation Center is a $20 million investment in the well-being and safety of families in the South Bronx,\u201d said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. \u201cIt creates a valuable and accessible indoor space where people of all ages can find refuge, recreation and respite. More than 30 employees will staff this center, creating new jobs and bringing opportunity full circle, right back to the South Bronx. I thank NYC Parks leadership, my colleagues in government and the public input that made these long-awaited upgrades possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSaint Mary\u2019s Recreational Center has always been more than a building,\u201d said Council Member Elsie Encarnacion. \u201cIt is a place where Mott Haven families have learned, stayed active and build community. After years of closure due to construction and delay, today we celebrate not only the reopening of the center, but the restoration of an integral part of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
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