NYC Parks and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced April 29, 2024 that the new Starlight Park in the Bronx won the top award in the 2024 AIAY and ASLANY Transportation and Infrastructure Design Excellence Awards in the category of Open Space.
Starlight Park was formerly a paved industrial property that has been transformed into a public park featuring a vast greenspace and greenway connections.
The park was opened to the public in April 2023 after a $41 million Phase 2 of the project, managed by DDC, transformed an additional 2.7 acres of paved industrial property into a greenspace expansion.
Phase 1 of the work was managed by the NYS Department of Transportation in partnership with NYC Parks and the Bronx River Alliance. Phase 1 of the work was completed in 2013. The park was designed by NV5.
NYC Parks and DDC planted 140 new trees and close to 12,000 new shrubs to support the restoration of the Bronx River shoreline. Wetlands were included in the project to improve water quality in the river and help mitigate erosion. New lighting, retaining walls, a dog run and 4,000 feet of new pathway were installed. Drainage and electrical upgrades along with drainage were made throughout the park. A total of 50,000 tons of soil was removed and replaced to promote ecological health.
Two new bridges were also installed by DDC to help link the park to surrounding communities. DDC also completed the Bronx River House in Starlight Park to house an environmental learning laboratory and operations for the Bronx River Alliance.
