Bronx Kill - 21st Century

21st Century

In 2001, the New York Power Authority offered to construct a pedestrian bridge linking the Bronx with Randall's Island—part of the agency's remuneration to the community for building two new power plants in the South Bronx. That plan, however, fell by the wayside when local officials argued that an improved Triborough Bridge path would be sufficient. The state authority instead committed millions of dollars to energy efficiency measures in the borough as a whole, including a recently unveiled green roof on the Bronx County Courthouse. A Randalls Island Connector is planned to cross the Kill to connect the island to the South Bronx Greenway.

A 2006 plan for a water park -- the first in the nation for a large city—on the northwest corner of Randall's Island was controversial. Announced by the Giuliani administration as a $48 million, 15-acre (61,000 m2) project, the proposal expanded to encompass 26 acres (110,000 m2) at a projected cost of $168 million before being cancelled in 2007.