A waterfront stroll, a pickleball match, and a few rounds of blackjack could soon share the exact same Bronx address.
Ferry Point Park is slated for a $160 million makeover tied directly to Bally’s massive $4 billion casino development.
What the massive redesign includes
Landscape architecture firm Hargreaves Jones designed the new proposal. The plan spans five distinct sites along the waterfront and further inland.
Visitors can expect a brand-new playground featuring a 20-foot slide, a splash pad, and advanced climbing structures.
Sports fans will get new tennis and pickleball courts, three new soccer fields, and an upgraded baseball field.
The space will also feature a scenic overlook and paved walking paths around the East River. Crucially, the park will retain its active NYC Ferry landing.
Behind the scenes, workers will also raise parts of the ground by up to 10 feet to sit safely above the flood line.
Sharing space with a sprawling casino
The new park amenities sit right in the middle of Bally’s upcoming resort. The company bought the property—a former golf course—for more than $150 million.
They are planning a massive 3 million-square-foot complex. The resort will include a 500-room hotel, 3,500 gaming machines, 250 table games, and a 2,000-person event center.
Community concerns and next steps
Some locals have raised concerns about the area’s mix of amenities and lack of public transit. The nearest bus stop is a 30-minute walk away.
There is also no nearby subway station. However, Bally’s did announce a local shuttle service back in 2023 to help bridge the transit gap.
Some residents also pushed for a second baseball field for nearby Herbert H. Lehman High School instead of the proposed soccer fields.
The city’s Public Design Commission is currently reviewing the proposal. You will have to wait a bit to test out that giant slide, though. Park construction is not expected to break ground until 2028.
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