“Frolic” might be the best word to describe what happens at Fox Playground. This Bronx playground is more than swings and slides. It’s a tribute. It is also a community hub.
Fox Playground honors David A. Fox. He was a Brooklyn native. Fox lived from 1951 to 1971. He was a Boy Scout. He also worked as a camp counselor. Fox was a member of the Knights of Pythias. This fraternal group valued friendship. They also valued charity and good will.
In 2010, Fox Playground got a makeover. The renovation made it modern. It also made it accessible and safe. The community now has a fun recreational area. New play equipment replaced the old. Basketball and handball courts were upgraded. They got new painted lines and fencing.
Fox Playground offers many amenities. A spray shower cools kids off in summer. Swings offer classic fun. Drinking fountains provide refreshment. An accessible path makes it easy to get around. Benches offer places to rest. New fencing adds security.
Dog lovers rejoice. Fox Playground has a dog run. Steel picket fences enclose it. There are separate sections for small and large dogs. Gates let dogs off-leash. They can frolic and play.
Nature also thrives here. A small arboretum features various trees. Red maples add color. Honey locusts offer shade. Eastern redbuds bloom in spring. Dawn sequoias tower above. Scarlet oaks display autumn hues. Japanese zelkovas complete the collection.
Art enriches Fox Playground. The Puerto Rican Sun Sculpture stands tall. Rafael Ferrer created this 25-foot high piece. It depicts the sun setting between two trees. Parks have conserved this artwork. It is part of a citywide project. “We Are Family” is another artwork. John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres made it. Cast fiberglass sculptures adorn a building wall. They face a newly designed sitting area.
Robert Moses shaped New York’s playgrounds. He built 650 during his 26-year reign. His playgrounds were safe but drab. They had swing sets and seesaws. Slides and sprinklers completed the scene. Asphalt covered everything. Some kids yearned for more. They sought adventure playgrounds. These had timbered ziggurats. They also had rope bridges and zip lines.
Fox Playground blends safety and adventure. It offers something for everyone. It is a place to play. It is a place to relax. It is a place to appreciate art and nature. Remember David A. Fox as you explore. His legacy lives on in this vibrant space. So come and frolic at Fox Playground.