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Riverbank State Park to Get $5.2 M in Repairs

By Jeff Mays | April 5, 2012 8:49am
Luis Hernando of Harlem took shots on his friend, Felix Perez of the Bronx, in the rain at Riverbank State Park's soccer field on March 22, 2010.
Luis Hernando of Harlem took shots on his friend, Felix Perez of the Bronx, in the rain at Riverbank State Park's soccer field on March 22, 2010.
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Jon Schuppe/DNAinfo

HARLEM — Riverbank State Park is getting a new artificial turf field, new boiler and gymnasium floor thanks to a $5.2 million from the state's New York Works program.

Brad Taylor, vice chairman of Community Board 9 and co-chairman of the parks committee, said Riverbank State Park is one of the most heavily used parks in Harlem because of its varied services. There's also an ice rink, an Olympic-length pool and programs for senior citizens.

"It's got all these facilities that people want and need," Taylor said.

That means the park gets a lot of wear and tear.

"The turf absolutely needed to be replaced because it was buckling and dangerous. It's so good to see repairs being done," Taylor said.

The New York Works program provides jobs by rebuilding the state's infrastructure.

Johnny Moreno and his wife Ximena Ambriz at Riverbank State Park with their son Emilio, 1, say they didn't know the park was built on top of the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant. "It would be nice if they didn't disguise something that could blow up Manhattan with such a nice park, pool and carousel," Moreno said.
Johnny Moreno and his wife Ximena Ambriz at Riverbank State Park with their son Emilio, 1, say they didn't know the park was built on top of the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant. "It would be nice if they didn't disguise something that could blow up Manhattan with such a nice park, pool and carousel," Moreno said.
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DNAinfo/Jeff Mays

Among the other improvements coming to Riverbank are a new boiler system, improvements to the skating rink and infrastructure rehabilitation.

Parks officials describe Riverbank as the only park of its type in the Western Hemisphere. The $100 million facility is built atop the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant. The park was built as a concession to the community seven years after the sewage treatment plant opened in 1986.