NYC PARKS CELEBRATES $6.9 MILLION RECONSTRUCTION OF ZIMMERMAN PLAYGROUND IN THE BRONX

NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Jessenia Aponte was joined today by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Assembly Member John Zaccaro, City Council Member Kevin Riley, City Council Member Oswald Feliz, and community members to celebrate a comprehensive $6.9 million reconstruction of Zimmerman Playground in the Bronx. The project fully reconstructed the playground from the ground up, delivering a new unified layout, enhanced play equipment and safety surfacing, ADA-accessible paths, upgraded amenities, and new active and passive recreation areas.

The project was completed through the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), which reconstructs parks in neighborhoods that have been underserved.

"Corporal Louis Zimmerman Playground is a vibrant new home base for this Bronx community," said NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Jessenia Aponte. "Kids can splash in the new spray shower, families can spread out on the turf field, and neighbors can settle in for a game of bingo, all in one beautifully connected space. It's a joyful new chapter for this park, and a fitting tribute to the young Bronx soldier whose name it carries."

"This investment is about giving our Bronx families a playground they can be proud of and a space that truly serves everyone in our community," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "With new play equipment, recreational amenities, and improved accessibility, the transformation of Corporal Louis Zimmerman Playground creates more opportunities for our children, families, and older adults to come together, stay active, and enjoy their neighborhood. Thank you to NYC Parks, Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Bronx Borough Commissioner Jessenia Aponte, State Assembly Member John Zaccaro, Council Member Kevin Riley, and all of our community partners who helped bring this project across the finish line. As we celebrate this newly renovated space, we are also proud to honor Corporal Louis Zimmerman and ensure his service and sacrifice to our city are never forgotten."

"Zimmerman Playground is back and better than ever," said State Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr. "One of my first community initiatives was a cleanup at this cherished playground, which underscored its importance to our neighborhood. Our families deserve exceptional spaces, and I'm thrilled to see this vision realized. I want to express my sincere appreciation to my colleagues in both City and State government for their support in making this project a reality. A special thanks goes to the dedicated team at the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation for their relentless efforts in transforming Zimmerman Playground into a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will serve our community for generations. This project exemplifies our commitment to creating safe, accessible, and welcoming recreational spaces that enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I also want to recognize the community leaders, local organizations, advocates, and residents whose hard work and collaboration were vital to this success."

"This transformation of Zimmerman Playground represents a long-overdue investment in a space our community has relied on for generations," said New York City Council Member Kevin C. Riley. "I'm proud to have invested in this project and worked alongside NYC Parks, my colleagues in government, and most importantly, the residents whose voices and advocacy helped shape the improvements we celebrate today. From greater accessibility and new recreational amenities to spaces for our children, seniors and families to gather, this revitalized playground will have a lasting impact on the quality of life in our community and ensure Zimmerman remains a welcoming space for generations to come."

The project comprehensively reconstructed the playground, unifying a site that had been split across two disconnected levels into a single, cohesive layout. New ADA-compliant ramps now connect the upper and lower levels, resolving accessibility gaps that had long separated children's play areas from one another.

On the upper level, all-new play equipment and safety surfacing replaced outdated fixtures with new equipment that meets the highest safety standards. New swings for all ages and abilities were installed alongside an interactive spray shower and shaded seating with tables and chairs. The playground's handball wall was resurfaced and transformed with a colorful mural.

The playground's lower level now features a central synthetic turf field for sports, movie nights, and community events. Two new basketball courts, one full-size and one junior-size, replaced the site's single court, and new adult fitness equipment was added nearby. Additional seating throughout the park includes bleachers, picnic tables, and benches, including a dedicated seating area at the corner of Britton Street and Barker Avenue designed to support the community's popular bingo nights.

New water service brought a bottle-filling station and drinking fountains to the playground. The perimeter's brick veneer walls were reconstructed and matched with new stone veneer for a cohesive look throughout the site, and interior fencing was reduced to improve sightlines for parents supervising children. New shade trees were planted along the sidewalks bordering the park and around the turf field, and the site's flagpole was replaced with a new, smaller pole positioned to keep pathways clear.

The project was funded by the NYC Mayor's Office and New York City Council.

Corporal Louis Zimmerman Playground honors Louis Zimmerman, a Bronx native and NYPD police officer who served with Headquarters Company, 305th Infantry, 77th Division during World War I. He was killed in action on November 5, 1918, just six days before the Armistice.