Bally’s Bronx Casino Moves Ahead As $160M Park Redesign Faces Review

NEW YORK – A proposed $160 million redesign of Ferry Point Park near Bally’s planned $4 billion Bronx casino faces community review on today. The improvements would reshape public recreational space around the casino resort, although residents have raised concerns about transportation access and the proposed sports facilities.

Bronx Community Board 10 is scheduled to consider whether to support the redesign, developed by landscape architecture firm Hargreaves Jones following community consultations. The board’s recommendation would be advisory, while the city’s Public Design Commission is also reviewing the plans.

Ferry Point Park Redesign Includes New Sports Facilities

The proposed improvements cover five areas of Ferry Point Park, including two near the Throgs Neck neighborhood and three along the waterfront. Plans include new tennis and pickleball courts, renovated basketball courts, an improved baseball field, shaded seating areas and additional landscaping.

Waterfront improvements would introduce three soccer fields, a scenic overlook and paved walking paths along the East River. A new playground would feature a 20-foot slide, climbing structures and a splash pad, while the existing NYC Ferry landing would remain operational.

The redesign also addresses flooding risks. Hargreaves Jones has proposed raising sections of the waterfront by up to 10 feet and reducing an existing stormwater detention basin to approximately one-fifth of its current size, creating additional recreational space.

NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Jessenia Aponte said community feedback had helped shape the proposal, particularly residents’ requests for accessible recreational facilities and spaces for families to gather.

$4 Billion Casino Development Drives Park Investment

The park improvements form part of the community commitments associated with Bally’s proposed casino resort at Ferry Point. The company received one of three downstate New York casino licences in December 2025, alongside Hard Rock’s Metropolitan Park development and Resorts World New York City’s expansion.

According to Bally’s official casino application materials, the planned resort would span approximately 3 million square feet. The development includes a 500-room hotel, around 3,500 gaming machines, approximately 250 table games and an event venue accommodating 2,000 people.

Bally’s acquired the Bronx property from New York City earlier this year for $156.6 million, completing another stage of the development process. The site was previously associated with a golf course operated by the Trump Organization.

The project has faced financial scrutiny after Bally’s warned investors about liquidity pressures and its ability to meet certain financial obligations. In September, the company secured $560 million in financing commitments to support pre-construction activities while pursuing additional capital for the larger resort.

Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim has maintained that the company intends to keep the development on schedule, although substantial construction and financing requirements remain.

Residents Question Transit Access and Park Design

Despite the proposed improvements, community representatives have questioned whether the redesigned park will be accessible to residents throughout the Bronx. The area lacks a nearby subway station, while the closest bus stop is approximately a 30-minute walk from the park.

Bally’s introduced a neighborhood shuttle service in 2023, but residents have continued raising concerns about long-term transportation options. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has indicated that evaluating potential demand for additional services would be premature before the casino is built.

Other objections concern the balance of recreational facilities. Ozzie Yon, representing Friends of Ferry Point Park, argued that the proposal should include another baseball field to accommodate nearby Herbert H. Lehman High School, which lacks a dedicated home field.

However, NYC Parks representatives indicated that adding another baseball field would require substantial design changes at a stage when the plans are approaching completion. The current proposal retains one baseball field alongside three planned soccer fields.

The next step is today’s review by Bronx Community Board 10, which will consider whether to issue a letter supporting the design. Its decision will not constitute final approval, and the project remains subject to further city review and detailed construction planning.

According to the landscape architects, construction on the park improvements is not expected to begin until 2028. The timetable leaves additional work before residents can access the proposed facilities surrounding Bally’s casino development.

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