Press Releases

NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Jessenia Aponte today was joined by City Councilmember Oswald Feliz, Bronx Community Board 6, and community members to celebrate the creation of a new athletic field and amenities at Quarry Ballfields in the Belmont section of the Bronx.

“At NYC Parks, we’re committed to expanding greenspace and improving recreational amenities for all New Yorkers, with an emphasis on communities that need it the most. The revamped Quarry Ballfields now feature a state-of-the-art, multi-use athletic field, a sitting area near the park’s signature rock outcropping, new trees to provide shade, and security lighting to enhance public safety,” said NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Jessenia Aponte. “We’re grateful to the Mayor’s Office for funding this important project and for strengthening neighborhoods affected by gun violence.”

The project reconstructed the existing synthetic turf field and created a new sitting area with benches in the previously undeveloped southwest section of the park. The redesigned field includes permanent goals for both soccer and football.

In addition, the project revamped the site’s drainage and water systems, and added park security lighting along with new sidewalks, fencing, bleachers, and tree plantings.

The $7.3 million project was funded by the Mayor’s Office.

This project was completed under Stronger Parks, Safer Communities, an NYC Parks initiative to enhance recreational assets and greenspaces in communities that are disproportionally affected by gun violence. Part of the Vital Parks for All plan announced last year, Stronger Parks, Safer Communities includes more than $400 million in investments for communities serving residents from six precinct neighborhoods prioritized by the Mayor's Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Upstream investments in community facilities and greenspaces that activate parks, foster social connections, and strengthen community fabric can help deter violence and improve public safety.

Other Bronx capital projects under this initiative include the construction of a new $90 million recreation center in Walter Gladwin Park, a reconstruction of St. Mary’s Recreation Center, and a $17 million project to construct Grant Park in Claremont. To complement these projects, Parks will offer over 1,000 outdoor public programs at four dozen park sites that are located within the target areas to welcome people into parks with nature exploration programs, sports activities, movie nights, and cultural programs.

The Quarry Ballfields site was transferred to NYC Parks in 1993 from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), which had constructed a recreation space with ballfields on the site in 1982. The park is popular for use by with local youth sports leagues.

The ballfields were renovated, and a restroom building was constructed in 1998. In 2021, the park’s baseball diamond was reconstructed through a project funded by the PitCCh In Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by former New York Yankees Cy Young Award-winning pitcher and World Series champion CC Sabathia and his wife Amber.