NYC PARKS EXPANDS ON COMMITMENT TO WATER SAFETY AND HEAT RESILIENCY WITH $13.4M RECONSTRUCTION OF EAST BRONX PUBLIC POOL

NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura today joined Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) President & Chief Executive Officer Robert J. Rodriguez, State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, City Councilmember Kevin C. Riley, and community members to break ground on a reconstruction of the Haffen Park Pool Complex in the East Bronx. The project will fully reconstruct the bathhouse buildings, upgrade pool infrastructure, and deliver fully ADA-accessible public facilities, allowing more New Yorkers to beat the heat and learn critical water safety skills.

The $13.4 million project is funded by the NYC Mayor's Office and a grant from DASNY under the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative announced by Governor Kathy Hochul.

"Investments like NY SWIMS are helping communities modernize essential recreational infrastructure and expand access to safe places to swim," said Governor Kathy Hochul. "This project at Haffen Park will transform a long-standing community resource into a modern, accessible facility that serves Bronx families for generations to come. Through our Unplug and Play initiative, we are continuing to create opportunities for New Yorkers to stay active, connect with their communities, and enjoy the outdoors."

"For the past fifty years Haffen Pool has been a cornerstone of summer life in the East Bronx, but it hasn't seen a major upgrade until today," said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. "This project is about more than modernizing a facility - it's about delivering a safe, accessible, and welcoming space where New Yorkers can cool off, connect with their community, and learn important water safety skills. We're grateful to Governor Hochul and the NYC Mayor's Office for funding these important upgrades."

The groundbreaking marks the start of a comprehensive reconstruction of the Haffen Pool Complex, a beloved summer destination that has served as a vital gathering place for Bronx families for decades and serves a community district of more than 163,000 residents. Opened in 1972, the Haffen Pool complex features an intermediate size pool and a wading pool and serves an average of 18,000 swimmers each summer. This reconstruction represents the first major capital projects since the pool first opened.

The upgrades at Haffen Pool continue a period representing the City's highest level of investment in swim infrastructure since the 1970's, with more than $1 billon committed to pool projects through 2029. Other new and reconstructed pools like Astoria Pool, which reopened in 2024, and the new Gottesman Pool in Central Park, which opened in 2025, have already helped more New Yorkers stay cool in the hot summer months while providing safe spaces to learn water safety.

The project will stabilize and reconstruct aging bathhouse structures, fully rebuilding the bathhouse interiors to modernize the facility and improve visitor access. It will deliver upgraded locker rooms, showers, bathrooms, and lighting fixtures, along with improved floor, wall, and ceiling finishes, furniture and lockers. The pool deck and lighting will be fully reconstructed, and the pool filtration system will be replaced with modern equipment housed in a new enclosure designed for ease of maintenance.

A new ADA-accessible public entrance will be added, along with ADA-compliant egress routes throughout the public areas of the complex and a new ramp and staircase providing accessible connection to the wading pool area. New landscaping will enhance the pool and bathhouse entrance areas, and designated parking for Parks maintenance and operations vehicles will be established onsite. New concrete seat walls with companion seating will be installed throughout the pool deck, complemented by restored 1964 World's Fair benches that honor the site's historic character.

In addition to $8.4 million in funding from the NYC Mayor's Office, the project was made possible by a NY SWIMS grant first announced in December 2025. Administered by DASNY and overseen by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, NY SWIMS provides grants that help communities build and improve swimming facilities. Projects are evaluated based on community need, public benefit, and readiness for implementation.

"Through NY SWIMS, New York State is making strategic investments in community infrastructure that expand access to safe, modern aquatic facilities. The reconstruction of the Haffen Park Pool Complex will provide a more accessible, resilient, and welcoming space for Bronx residents, and we are proud to partner with NYC Parks to help deliver this important project," said DASNY President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez.

"Today's groundbreaking on the reconstruction of the Haffen Pool Complex signifies the initial step of a much larger investment not only into the park but also in the many families that call the Northeast Bronx home," said New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie. "As we work towards its total reconstruction, Haffen Park will finally receive the facelift it deserves, resulting in a modern facility that better serves the community while addressing the concerns off all who utilize it. Each phase of this redesign project will bring forth positive change and instill a sense of pride among all residents. I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues in government, Senator Bailey, and Councilman Riley, for their tireless advocacy, as well as NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shmamura and DASNY President & CEO Robert Rodriguez for recognizing the needs and potential of the Bronx. Our collective commitment has resulted in this great win!"

"Seeing the Haffen Pool project move forward is an exciting step for the Bronx community and a great example of Governor Hochul's NY SWIMS initiative in action. This investment will create a safe, modern, and accessible space where families can swim, stay active, and connect outdoors. We're proud to partner with DASNY and New York City to deliver a project that expands access and strengthens community health and wellness," said New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser.

"The groundbreaking of the Haffen Park Pool Complex Reconstruction Project marks a significant investment in the health, safety, and joy of our community," said State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey. "Parks and pools are more than just recreational spaces; they are the heart of our neighborhoods where families gather, and memories are made. By revitalizing this infrastructure, we are ensuring that Bronx residents have access to the high-quality facilities they deserve to use for generations to come."

"Access to safe, modern recreational spaces is essential to the health and well-being of our communities, and this investment in Haffen Park ensures our families have accessible public spaces," said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. "This project transforms a longstanding community space in the Northeast Bronx into a safer, more inclusive aquatic facility for residents of all ages, while revitalizing existing neighborhood infrastructure and expanding opportunities for youth and families to stay active, cool off in the summer months, and connect in a recreational space built for them. Thank you to NYC Parks, Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, the Mayor's Office, my colleagues in government, and our city and state agencies for recognizing the importance of investing in our green spaces and expanding access to this vital resource for our Northeast Bronx community."

"I commend NYC Parks for leading the $13.4 million reconstruction of the Haffen Park Pool Complex and thank DASNY and our state partners for their continued collaboration in advancing this work," said City Councilmember Kevin C. Riley. "This project is a strong example of what can be achieved through coordinated investment across all levels of government. Together with Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, the Mayor's Office, and in coordination with our city and state agency partners, we are advancing a nearly $70 million transformation of Haffen Park that will strengthen water safety, improve accessibility, and create a resilient, community-centered space for the Northeast Bronx."