Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. announced on Wednesday, July 14, that his office is providing more than $35 million to institutions across the borough through his Fiscal Year 2022 capital funding allocations.

 

According to representatives from the borough president’s office, this year, the borough president will allocate $35,880,000 to 130 total projects. This includes funding for nearly 100 education projects, park upgrades, healthcare technology, improvements to cultural facilities, the creation of over 900 units of new housing, as well as the redesign and redevelopment of Orchard Beach and the design of the Universal Hip Hop Museum.

 

“Through these funding allocations, my office will be able to provide technology upgrades to public schools, new state-of-the-art equipment to healthcare facilities, park renovations and hundreds of units of new housing, which will play a critical role in our borough‘s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Diaz Jr. “I am proud to have been able to provide this funding to so many worthy institutions in this year’s capital budget.”

 

This year, the largest allocation went to education, $9.9 million, representing 28 percent of the borough president’s total capital budget. This money will go towards laptop distributions, technology upgrades and other physical improvements in public schools in different areas around The Bronx.

 

The borough president said that the COVID-19 pandemic had further revealed the deep educational inequities faced by students in the borough. “Through these new funding allocations, my office will be able to take an important step towards leveling the playing field and bringing digital equity to our Bronx students,” he said.

 

According to his office, several notable projects this year include $7 million towards the next phase of the renovation of Orchard Beach. These capital funds are in addition to over $23.9 million that were allocated in previous fiscal years, $3.7 million towards the Universal Hip Hop Museum, and $3 million towards the construction of a sensory playground. The Daniel Boone Sensory Playground will take into account the unique needs of youth with autism and special health needs.

 

Since taking office in 2009, according to officials, Diaz Jr. has provided $356,253,000 in total capital funding to 1,086 projects. “Each of these projects will contribute to the continued progress of our borough that we saw prior to the pandemic. In my final year as Borough President, I am proud to have helped fund so many important projects that have changed the lives of Bronx residents in every corner of our borough,” Diaz Jr. said.

 

A complete list of the capital funding allocations for Financial Year 2022 can be found at https://on.nyc.gov/3B5IrVV.