Speaker Menin and Council Member Oswald Feliz Announce $24 Million Investment to Transform Ittner Place into State-of-the-Art Park and Greenspace

Council launch the start of the Park-Webster Avenue Neighborhood Plan

The plan will kick off engagement process to develop community-driven vision for needed neighborhood investments and potential housing growth

THE BRONX - New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council Member Oswald Feliz announced today a $24.4 million capital funding investment into Ittner Place to transform the area's underutilized lots under the Cross Bronx Expressway into new community green and park space. The funding, $14.2 million provided by Speaker Menin in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 and $10.2 million from the previous mayoral administration in FY2026, will be allocated to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). DPR will work in partnership with the Office of Council Member Feliz to design state-of-the-art basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, and a skate park.

"This Council is committed to building more housing in every part of New York City while making the investments that allow neighborhoods to grow and thrive," said Speaker Julie Menin. "In just our first year, the Council has already approved more than 7,000 new homes, including over 3,000 affordable units, and we are determined to do much more. The Park-Webster Neighborhood Plan represents exactly the kind of proactive approach we need-working with residents to identify opportunities for new housing while investing in the parks, infrastructure, jobs, and public spaces that growing communities deserve. I thank Council Member Oswald Feliz for his leadership and partnership in building a stronger future for the Bronx."

Photos of the event can be found here.

"The Cross Bronx Expressway created many challenges in our community, including abandonment in the nearby corridors," said Council Member Oswald Feliz. "I am proud to announce a total of $24.4 million, to transform the vacant lots under the Expressway into the park that our community deserves. The funding will allow the construction of 3 new park spaces, which will include basketball courts and green spaces for families to enjoy. We are going to reactivate the region and build a state-of-the-art park that residents will be able to enjoy for years to come."

Feliz continued, "I am also proud to join Speaker Menin in announcing the Park-Webster Avenue Neighborhood Plan which will focus on one topic: revitalizing the community. This investment will help bring new housing, businesses, and much more to help ensure this community can realize its unlimited potential."

Speaker Menin and Council Member Feliz also announced the launch of the Park-Webster Neighborhood Plan, a planning study of the Park Avenue and Webster Avenue corridors and surrounding areas from Claremont Parkway to E. 188^th Street. With a 20-minute ride to Midtown Manhattan from the Tremont Metro North station, unique open spaces like Claremont and Echo Parks, and proximity to major employers and institutions in the Bronx, the area has tremendous potential for growth and further City investment. The Council will engage community members to explore where new housing, including homeownership opportunities, could fit, what public space and streets improvements are needed; how local businesses and job growth can be supported; and how future investment can build on nearby anchors such as the Bronx Zoo, New York Botanical Garden, and Fordham Road commercial district. The Park-Webster Neighborhood Plan is the first in a series of neighborhood studies to develop community-driven visions for future generations of New Yorkers in the five boroughs.

This announcement is the latest component of the Speaker's proactive housing agenda, which includes the Speaker's plan to modernize aging libraries with affordable housing built above them and her proposed reforms to build as-of-right housing on vacant small lots.

"As Chair of the Committee on Land Use, I believe proactive planning starts with listening to communities and recognizing the potential in spaces that have been overlooked for far too long," said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. "This $24.4 million investment at Ittner Place demonstrates how we can transform underutilized lots into vibrant community assets while proactively creating a broader vision for housing, economic opportunity, and neighborhood growth. As the Council continues advancing solutions for small and underutilized lots across our city, the Park-Webster Neighborhood Plan reflects the approach we need: planning ahead, engaging residents early and pairing responsible growth with meaningful investments in the public spaces and infrastructure that allow neighborhoods to thrive. I commend Speaker Menin and Council Member Feliz for their leadership and partnership in advancing a proactive, community-driven vision for the Bronx."

"When we invest in our parks and public spaces, we are investing directly in the health, safety, and future of our communities," said State Senator Luis Sepulveda. "The $24.4 million investment in the construction of Ittner Place Park represents a strong commitment to transforming an empty lot into a safe and vibrant space where our children, young people, and families can play basketball and volleyball, stay active, and come together as a community." Sepulveda continued, "Investing in our parks is investing in the quality of life and future of our neighborhoods. I applaud the leadership of Council Member Oswald Feliz and Council Speaker Julie Menin for advancing this important initiative and working to bring resources to the communities that need them most. Ittner Place Park will be much more than a new park; it will be a place for connection, recreation, and opportunity that will help strengthen the Park-Webster Avenue community and create a better future for current and future generations."

"For too long, this lot on Ittner Place has sat empty while our young people searched for safe places to play," said Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia. "Today, thanks to Council Member Feliz and Speaker Menin, we are turning that empty space into a basketball and volleyball court our community can be proud of with this $24.4 million investment. This is also just the beginning of a bigger conversation for our community, as the City launches the Park-Webster Avenue Neighborhood Study. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues, community leaders, and residents to help shape that vision."

###