Orchard Beach is the only beach in the Bronx.
Orchard Beach, or as some call it, the Bronx Riviera, forms part of Pelham Bay Park on the westernmost end of the Long Island Sound. The beach was constructed as a parks initiative in 1936 by then-commissioner, Robert Moses. Today, the beach finds itself largely in a state of disrepair. Hopefully, that will begin to change in coming years.
According to the Bronx Times, last month, New York City Parks along with New York City Economic Development Cooperation held a community meeting to hash out ideas about the future of the pavilion and the beach. Some popular options that were discussed included upgrading the quality of the amenities at the beach as well as adding a potential concert venue and fine dining restaurants. Many constituents insisted on allocating funds for general beach maintenance.
The Orchard Beach Pavilion, pictured below, was also constructed in the 1930s and spans more than 200,000 square feet. It has been closed off to the public since 2009. According to Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., “our pavilion looks dilapidated, it is structurally unsound and has all the scaffolding surrounding it. We need to do something.”
Thankfully, something is being done. So far, the redevelopment project has secured a total of $60 million dollars for the renovation. Funds will be coming from the borough of the Bronx, the office of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Cuomo, the City Council, and the state Assembly.
If you want your opinions to be heard about the future of Orchard Beach, you can fill out this survey or attend the follow-up community meeting in the Bronx on Wednesday, January 30.
Featured image: @eventstagramgunna via Instagram