New York City leaders broke ground Tuesday on an $87 million
restoration project on the historic Orchard Beach Pavilion.
The goal of the project is to restore its past beauty, while
also updating it for the future needs of the community.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson called Orchard Beach
a part of the fabric of the Bronx where generations of families still come
together every summer.
“It represents the past, it represents the present, but it
also represents the future,” said Gibson. “This is going to be a beacon of
tourism and economic development and so much stability."
On Tuesday, elected officials joined the Parks Department
and the city's Economic Development Corporation to break ground on the project,
which is also known as the Bronx Rivera.
City officials say the project will restore architecture,
like the blue tiles and decorative floors, but will also provide greater
accessibility and amenities for beachgoers.
Bronx Council Member Amanda Farias called the investment
“revolutionary.”
"We want people to come back and remember the good
times that they had here growing up, but also be able to see a modern look to
bring businesses back in a more modern way," she said.
The NYC Economic Development Corporation says the
restoration project should be finished by the 2025 beach season.