Decaying playground to get renovated at Tracey Towers

Donele Harrison said she was 12 or 13 years old when she moved in Tracey Towers in 1976. Back then, the building’s playground had a paddleball and a volleyball court, and she watched over her younger sisters when she took them down to the building’s playground.

“When I grew up here, we had a lot of things that were afforded to us that our children today don’t have and it’s sad,” said Ms. Harrison, who taught a dance class at the building for 31 years. Her students, “The Rising Stars,” performed in holiday shows for Tracey Towers residents. Now, there is no longer a paddleball or volleyball court and the playground has fallen into disrepair. Protective padding under the elevated play area has gaps. Pieces of wood are missing from the benches. The metal walkway leading to the sliding board appears to have rust and chunks of peeling paint are easily seen on every piece of equipment.

After decades of fighting, residents at the Tracey Towers, which has been using the same equipment since the housing co-op first opened, will receive money to buy new equipment.

Councilman Andrew Cohen told residents who gathered on the building’s playground on Sept. 9 that he “was able to secure in this year’s New York City budget $200,000, which will be used to refurbish and upgrade of the recreation area here at Tracey Towers, which has not been able to be used for a long, long time.”

Residents of the co-op welcomed the news. The children will soon be able to go downstairs in the building to play.

“It’s not safe for the little ones anymore,” said Delores Edwards, the tenants association’s secretary. An estimated 1,500 children live in the Mitchell-Lama co-op complex. Mitchell-Lama is a program that provides affordable housing for low-middle income people.

The lack of any overhead shade from the sun also discourages people from coming to the playground, Ms. Edwards said.

“You don’t have metal playgrounds anymore. So, it’s long overdue,” said resident Alonzo Hunter, as he and fellow resident Janet Moore, pointed to the rust and peeling paint on the equipment. “You don’t see [a] playground… anywhere, where you still got this metal stuff,” Mr. Hunter said.

“This is huge for Tracey,” said Jean Hill, the president of the tenants’ association. “When I came here, my kids were little guys. And the reason I came here, I needed some place safe for my children, to play, be comfortable. I could be comfortable and this became that place... And I was content that they were in a safe environment. And that’s what this is about. That is why this is so huge, coming from the councilman’s office.”

“It will be good for the kids. There’s too much going on out here. It’s too easy to get in trouble,” said resident Myisha Hamilton, who was holding her 1-month-old daughter. “It’s my first child. So, to be able to watch her grow and come down here and play with her in her own home, that would be great.” Her nieces also live in Tracey Towers and she “would take them down by Jerome [Avenue] and take them to the park.”

Tracey Towers is the tallest apartment building in the Bronx. Built in 1972, it is located on Moshulu Parkway, comprised of two buildings and has 869 units. The renovated playground is expected to be installed in spring of 2017.

“I’m ecstatic,” Ms. Harrison said. “All different groups of us have fought for this. Every tenants association that has come on board has always brought it up, always wanted to get it done.”

“It’s been such a long time coming and, you know how you think, ‘Is that day ever going to come?’ Well, the day finally got here,” Ms. Hill said.