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Bronx officials are moving ahead with plans to remake Ferry Point Park as Bally’s casino development continues to progress on the same waterfront site.
The proposal would bring a $160 million overhaul to the park, adding new playgrounds, sports facilities, walking trails, and flood-protection measures. Those improvements are closely tied to Bally’s broader $4 billion proposal to build a sprawling resort beside the East River.
Bally’s has positioned the park investment as a major community benefit within its casino proposal, arguing that the project would deliver more than gaming. The company says the development would create a waterfront destination that combines recreation, entertainment, and public space while preserving Ferry Point’s role as an NYC Ferry stop.
Community input shaped the proposal
The vision started taking shape after Hargreaves Jones worked with Bronx residents during a community engagement period. The landscape architecture and planning firm later presented its proposal to Community Board 10’s parks committee, saying public feedback helped determine both the park’s layout and the facilities it should include.
The result is a redesign spanning five development areas. Two sections would face the Throgs Neck neighborhood, while the remaining areas would follow the waterfront.
Inland improvements include:
- New tennis and pickleball courts
- Upgraded basketball courts
- Refreshed baseball field
- Shaded seating areas, and additional landscaping.
Designers also want to reduce the size of an existing detention basin because it takes up more land than necessary.
Waterfront improvements extend beyond recreation
Flood protection shapes much of the waterfront plan. Parts of the shoreline would be raised up to 10 feet above the flood line before adding recreational facilities.
From there, the proposal adds three soccer fields, walking trails, a scenic overlook, and a playground featuring a 20-foot slide, climbing structures, and a splash pad. Landscape architect Megan Esopenko said she hopes the redesign becomes “a destination park.”
That ambition reflects the role Ferry Point would play if Bally’s larger project goes ahead. The company wants to build a 3 million-square-foot casino resort on the neighboring property, complete with thousands of gaming machines and a 2,000-seat event center.
Bally’s Casino later bought the former golf-course property for more than $150 million. The Trump Organization had previously leased the site, and the purchase gave Bally’s control of the wider development area.
Residents question access and sports priorities
The project has continued to move forward since then, but it hasn’t been without debate. Several residents have questioned whether the redesigned park matches what the surrounding community actually needs.
Transit remains a major concern because the nearest bus stop is almost a 30-minute walk away, and there is no nearby subway station. Although Bally’s introduced a shuttle service in 2023, some residents believe access remains too limited for a project of this scale.
Sports facilities have also become a point of disagreement. Friends of Ferry Point Park liaison Ozzie Yon urged planners to add another baseball field, arguing that nearby Herbert H. Lehman High School still lacks a proper home field.
Yon also questioned whether three soccer fields reflect how local residents use the park. Parks officials responded that the design is too advanced for such a major change, so they will keep the current layout.
Ferry Point Park project moves into next phase
As Gothamist originally reported, the proposal will now continue through the city’s review process before detailed construction work begins. If approvals remain on track, the park redevelopment is expected to break ground in 2028, marking the first visible stage of a much broader transformation planned for Ferry Point’s waterfront.
