The NYCHA Journal

The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

Connected Communities Program Partners Top Story 

First NYCHA Dog Park Opens at Castle Hill Houses 

Vincent Echavaria

Dogs can now claim an open space of their own at NYCHA’s Castle Hill Houses. 

On May 16, the Authority officially opened its first-ever park space dedicated for dogs at the Bronx development, home to nearly 4,400 residents, including numerous pet owners. 

NYCHA representatives were joined by partners – the Public Housing Community Fund, Design Trust for Public Space, and Center for Justice Innovation, as well as City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias, State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Assemblymember Karines Reyes, local residents, and their canine companions – for a ribbon-cutting to welcome the new dog playground. The enhanced community green space also features an upgraded barbecue and picnic area. 

The Castle Hill dog park — which includes two enclosed areas for small and large dogs to play and run off leash, turf mounds, seating, and water access — is complemented by 32 dog waste stations throughout the campus, which are decorated with art by local residents.   

“The new community space at Castle Hill Houses will provide residents with the opportunity to engage in so many positive outdoor activities — from barbecuing and picnicking to playing with their canine companions at NYCHA’s first-ever dog park,” NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt said. “We are so excited to cut the ribbon on this amazing renovation just in time for the nice weather ahead, and are so grateful to the Public Housing Community Fund and all of our partners on this project, including the residents of Castle Hill, who provided invaluable input through a year-plus participatory design process that guided the priorities of the project.” 

NYCHA’s Chief Operating Officer Eva Trimble added: “Incredible amenities such as NYCHA’s first-ever, on-campus dog park; new and improved barbecue and picnic areas; and renovated green space with fresh landscaping will give residents an incredible outlet for outdoor activity and serve as a vital community hub in the summer months to come. We extend our sincere appreciation to our partners at the Public Housing Community Fund, as well as the Helmsley Charitable Trust, for their support and coordination in bringing this space to life.” 

The newly enhanced outdoor space encourages social connections for both dogs and community members. (photos courtesy of the Public Housing Community Fund)

The effort to create the new park is part of the Public Housing Community Fund’s Green Space Connections program, which aims to create and activate open spaces at Castle Hill Houses and three other NYCHA developments in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Green Space Connections leverages the participatory design process under Connected Communities, a NYCHA initiative that seeks to enhance physical and social connections between residents and their communities.  

“This project reflects our commitment to enhancing NYCHA open spaces, amenities, and overall quality of life for NYCHA residents,” Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki said. “Green Space Connections empowers communities to shape the design of their own public spaces, and the Castle Hill project is a great example of that.”  

The dog park and barbecue area project was selected after more than 800 residents voted during an over year-long participatory design process in which community members provided input on specific plans and priorities for the reimagined open space. Residents collaborated on park proposals through hands-on workshops with Center for Justice Innovation staff and landscape designers from Grain Collective.   

Excited to have Castle Hill lead the way in creating a dog park space at NYCHA, Resident Association President Jeannette Salcedo applauded the process that allowed residents to contribute their own ideas for the revitalized open space. 

“It’s coming directly from the residents, and that’s the most important thing because this is what they want,” said Ms. Salcedo, who has lived at the development for 21 years. “This will provide a sense of community, and it’s an opportunity for people to have a new space and feel good about it.” 

The Castle Hill dog park space features two enclosed areas for small and large dogs to play off leash, turf mounds, seating, and water access. (courtesy of the Public Housing Community Fund)

Vaidehi Mody, a Senior Planning Consultant in NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management division, who has worked closely with the Green Space Connections initiative, noted that incorporating residents’ visions into the project was a key focus of the community engagement.   

“It has been a joy to witness this project come to life,” she said. “Engagement has been central at every level — from scoping, shaping the design through workshops with residents and property management, to thoughtfully designed elements like the creative dog waste stations featuring artwork from Castle Hill’s youngest residents. This work highlights innovation not just in design but also in stakeholder engagement and faster project delivery.” 

Park proponents pointed to the strong connection between open space access and community health and wellbeing. Ms. Salcedo, who looks forward to bringing her 12-year-old Stafford Terrier, Thor, to enjoy the new play area, also noted that such outdoor amenities promote social engagement for both residents and their four-legged friends. 

“I feel it’s really important for us to get back to being social with one another,” she said. “If we can come into a place where we can commune and communicate with one another, it can open up ideas, concepts, and conversations that may not otherwise happen.”  

Featured photo caption: NYCHA and community partners celebrate the grand opening of the Castle Hill dog park on May 16. (courtesy of the Public Housing Community Fund)