Paddlers Celebrate Bronx River at Annual Amazing Bronx River Flotilla

This past Saturday, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, and Bronx River Administrator/Bronx River Alliance Executive Director Linda Cox, FAICP, joined Bronx River Alliance Vice Chair Joan Byron, community groups and dozens of paddlers in a flotilla of canoes and kayaks for a five-mile trip down the Bronx River to celebrate the river's revitalization and raise funds for the Bronx River Alliance's canoe program.

"The Bronx River Flotilla is an amazing celebration of the resurgence of the Bronx River," said Commissioner Silver. "Today, nearly one hundred New Yorkers paddled through restored forests, past families enjoying new waterfront parks, and traveled by the new fish passage that we recently opened for migratory fish. The progress that we've made in bringing back this river for recreation and enjoyment is truly inspirational."

"The restoration of the Bronx River and other waterways in the Bronx has been a catalyst for the renewal of our borough," said Congressman José E. Serrano. "We have found that, beyond the direct benefit of a clean and useable Bronx River, our neighborhoods have been enhanced through renewed community activism and engagement. Our rivers have become a focal point not just for the restoration of our natural environment, but of our community as a whole."

"We're so thrilled to once again kick off the paddling season with the Amazing Bronx River Flotilla," said Bronx River Alliance Executive Director and NYC Parks Bronx River Administrator Linda Cox. "Twelve teams formed this year and raised over $56,000 so that we can provide paddling adventures for 1,000 Bronx youth and families this year."

Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo added, "I love the Bronx River! The come-back of this river is a symbol of what is taking place throughout the Bronx. Places that were written off as too dirty or too dangerous are now, thanks to the efforts of community groups and government working together, beautiful places where families can gather, make lifetime memories and help rewrite the Bronx story in a positive way."

"The Bronx River is a hidden gem in the Bronx," NYC Council member Raphael Salamanca. "It is an ecological treasure and a critical recreational and educational asset for our communities."

The Bronx River Alliance was established in 2001 as a joint partnership organization with NYC Parks and dozens of other partners to protect, improve and restore the Bronx River corridor so that it can be a healthy ecological, recreational, educational and economic resource for the communities through which the river flows. Since that time, NYC Parks and the Alliance have planted nearly 100,000 trees along the river corridor, removed over 650 tons of garbage and nearly 7,000 tires from the river itself. In addition, this partnership has resulted in over $197 M allocated to developing the Bronx River Greenway and restoring the ecological health of the river. Over 44 acres of waterfront parkland have been created or improved including Hunts Point Riverside Park, Concrete Plant Park and Starlight Park.

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