After more than half a century of summer crowds, the Haffen Park Pool Complex in Baychester is finally getting a serious makeover. Construction is underway on a $13.4 million rebuild, the first major upgrade since the pool opened in 1972. The project will replace the pool deck and filtration system, fully rebuild the bathhouse, and add ADA-accessible ramps along with other accessibility features. NYC Parks says the pool will stay closed during construction and is expected to reopen by summer 2027.
City and state officials gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking, according to the Bronx Times. The state has committed $5 million through a NY SWIMS grant administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, per DASNY, and roughly $8.4 million has been allocated through the mayor’s capital plan, according to the City Council. Together, those funds cover the approximately $13.4 million price tag for the pool work.
Funding and related park work
NYC Parks’ capital-project tracker shows a separate Haffen Park community center project is already in design, with mayoral funding and a projected completion date of December 2026. NYC Parks notes that design is underway and that procurement will move forward once the project scope is finalized.
Officials praise the project
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the work will “transform a long-standing recreational center,” while NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura called Haffen Pool “a cornerstone of summer life in the East Bronx,” according to the Bronx Times.
What neighbors can expect
During construction, the park’s seasonal swim programming will be paused while crews rebuild the pool deck, replace filtration and mechanical systems, and modernize locker rooms, showers and restrooms. The design details, including new accessible ramps and stairways, are laid out in the NY SWIMS award listing, per DASNY. The agency notes that the upgrades are expected to improve maintenance, access and safety when the pool reopens.
