Lynn Ferst-Valentin has walked her dog, Duke, in St. James Park in North Fordham every day for more than 11 years. "When we first moved here, it was just dirt, there was nothing here," she said.

Now the park is finally getting a much-needed facelift.

On Halloween morning, Ferst-Valentin joined other local residents, sixth graders from P.S. 246 and other city officials to celebrate the grand opening of the newly-renovated district headquarters and comfort station as well as break ground on the final stage of a $4.9 million project to upgrade St. James Park.

"It’s about the right time, I couldn’t be more excited," said Ida Levy, a gardener for the park.

This latest stage of the  park upgrade is an ambitious undertaking, with plans to reconstruct the drainage system and install a central staircase, perimeter stone wall and gates. There are also plans to add a rubberized swing area, a spider climb (similar to a jungle gym), a toddler play area and a highly-anticipated water play area.

The project stems from a $220-million investment in Bronx parks by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) – a concession offered in exchange for allowing the DEP to build the massive Croton Water Filtration Plant in Van Cortlandt Park.

"It’s a way to give back to the community," Council Member Joel Rivera said of the park rehab efforts. "There hasn’t been anything like [this comprehensive overhaul of Bronx parks] since the ’80s."

In total, the city’s Parks Department, with funding from DEP, will rebuild 75 Bronx parks. So far, 10 have been completed, 19 are in construction, 46 are in design phase and 20 are up for contractor bids.

Tulio Cabreja, deputy team leader for the DEP-funded effort, said they hope to complete all the park projects by 2011.

Rivera is especially proud of the changes, but wants more trees for the perimeter of St. James Park. "We live in a cement city [but] this is our backyard. Let’s keep it clean and safe to enjoy to the fullest," he said.

The $1.67 million spent on the district headquarters and comfort station in St. James Park, which was not part of the Croton mitigation funds, was allocated by the mayor, Rivera’s office and a federal Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Rehabilitation grant.

Construction of the comfort station took three years longer than anticipated, due to five contractor defaults and other missteps. But officials say that would not be the case with the upgrade project, two phases of which have already been completed.

"The contracts are moving quickly," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "We don’t see any reason that it won’t be completed on time."

The upgrade should be complete by September 2008, said a representative from William A. Gross Construction Associates, which is handling the project. Construction workers have already started laying asphalt for the perimeter.

As hot chocolate and Halloween candy were handed out at the ceremony, Ferst-Valentin, who has made many friends in the park, said the changes couldn’t have come sooner.

"Everything is overdue," she said. "They just opened the building [comfort station] and now there are new changes."