Barretto Point Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barretto Point Park |
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Barretto Point Park central lawn, with East River in the background
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| Type | Municipal park |
| Location | Hunts Point, The Bronx, New York |
| Area | 12.22 acres (4.95 ha) |
| Owned by | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Status | open all year |
| Water | East River |
| Public transit access | New York City Bus: Bx46 |
| Facilities | swimming pool, picnic area, fishing pier, waterfront promenade, children's playground, basketball court, handball court, kayak/canoe launch, restrooms |
Barretto Point Park is a cool public park right by the East River in the Hunts Point area of the Bronx, New York City. It's named after Francis J. Barretto, who was a merchant and a state assemblyman way back in the 1800s and lived nearby.
Park History
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation got this land in 2001. The park then opened to the public in 2006. Before it became a park, the land was cleaned up and covered. This made sure it was safe for everyone to use.
Before 1950, this spot was used for digging up sand and gravel. There was also a factory that made asphalt here. Later, between 1954 and 1978, more dirt and material were added to the site. This made the land bigger and higher.
Since 2008, Barretto Point Park has been home to a special boat called The Floating Pool Lady. This huge boat is 20,000 square feet! It has an outdoor swimming pool that's 25 meters long.
The boat also has changing rooms with showers and bathrooms. There's even a spray shower for kids. A ramp helps you get on and off the boat. Plus, there's a small outdoor theater for shows and events.
Park Landscape
The look of Barretto Point Park reminds people of how Hunts Point used to be. It was once a more natural, country-like area. Now, the park is a popular outdoor spot for people living nearby to gather.
You can even get to the park from the East River by canoe or kayak. From the park, you can see the North and South Brother Islands. These islands are special places where birds live. They have a long history, going back over 300 years. However, people are not allowed to visit the islands themselves.
Tiffany Street Pier
Right next to Barretto Point Park is the Tiffany Street Pier. This pier was built before the park. It's another great place to relax and enjoy views of the bird sanctuary islands in the East River.
The pier used to be a place where boats loaded and unloaded goods. But it became popular with people who liked to fish. Local residents also came here to find a quiet spot by the water.
In 1995, the city rebuilt the pier. They used a new kind of material made from 1.5 million recycled plastic bottles! This strong plastic can stand up to damage from bugs that live in the water. However, in September 1996, lightning struck the pier. It melted about a third of it, including a small shelter.
The pier reopened in 2000. The next year, the city gave the pier to the Parks Department. Even though it was a bit of a walk from homes in Hunts Point, people still came. They enjoyed fishing, sunbathing, and looking at the water.
Images for kids
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Floating Pool Lady
