Fox Playground

Fox Street at E 156 St., Bronx, NY

In 2010, Fox Playground, in the Longwood community of the Bronx was renovated, affirming it as a modern, accessible, safe and fun recreational area for the community. The play equipment was replaced, and the existing basketball and handball courts were upgraded with new painted lines and fencing. New amenities include a spray shower, swings, drinking fountains, ADA-accessible circulation path, benches and fencing. A dog run enclosed with a steel picket fence was built adjacent to the playground. The run features two sections for small and large dogs, and is gated to allow unleashed dogs to frolic. A small arboretum was planted, which includes red maple, honey locust, eastern redbud, dawn sequoia, scarlet oak and Japanese zelkova trees.

The entrance to the park features a notable permanent public sculpture: the 25-foot high Puerto Rican Sun Sculpture by Rafael Ferrer (b. 1933), representing the sun setting between two trees. The sculpture has been conserved by Parks’ citywide monuments conservation project. A separate artwork on the wall of the building at 737 Southern Boulevard, a series of cast fiberglass sculptures called We Are Family by John Ahearn (b. 1951) & Rigoberto Torres (b. 1960), faces a newly-designed sitting area in the park.