2025 July Newsletter
Summer in Pelham Bay Park
Summer is in full swing!
Join us at these upcoming events in Pelham Bay Park.
July Events
Stories in the Shade
Thursdays, beginning July 10
11 am - 11:30 am
Playground for All Children, Pelham Bay Park
Join the City Island Public Library for stories and fun in the shade of the gazebo.
Amtrak Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement Project Public Meeting
Thursday, July 10, 2025
6 pm - 8 pm
177 Dreiser Loop, Auditorium B
Join Amtrak for an informative public meeting on the Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement Project. This event will provide an opportunity to learn about the planned improvements, timeline, potential impact on local communities, and the Environmental Assessment (EA).
Movies Under the Stars: The Little Mermaid (Live Acttion)
Friday, July 11, 2025
Movie begins at dusk, around 8:30 pm
New Location: Flat Area near Section 4, Orchard Beach
A young mermaid makes a deal with a sea witch to trade her beautiful voice for human legs so she can discover the world above water and impress a prince. Rated PG.
Bring a blanket and a chair! This event is free.
All dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Family Fun Day
Saturday, July 12, 2025
12 pm - 3 pm
Playground for All Children, Pelham Bay Park
Join NYC Parks, WSZIO, and the Friends of Pelham Bay Park for an afternoon of family fun in Pelham Bay Park, starting at 12 pm!
12 pm - John the Magnificent Magician of Simply Magic
2 pm - WonderSpark Puppets
Free!
Kids Shows
Wednesdays
11 am
Playground for All Children, Pelham Bay Park
Join us for fun family shows in the shade of the gazebo!
July 16 - Bollywood Dance Workshop, by Anja Dance Company
July 23 - Native Storytelling and Puppets, by Irma Laguerre
July 30 - African Drumming and Dance, by Yahya Kamate and the Kamate Traders
August 6 - Music with a Message, a 25-member Youth Band
Movies Under the Stars: Inside Out 2
Thursday, July 24, 2025
Movie begins at dusk, around 8:30 pm
Middletown Lawn (behind the bleachers near Stadium Ave & Middletown Rd), Pelham Bay Park
Following the story of Riley from Inside Out 2, new emotions enter the scene as Riley becomes a teenager. Rated PG.
Bring a blanket and a chair! This event is free.
All dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Movies Under the Stars: Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Movie begins at dusk, around 8:30 pm
Middletown Lawn (behind the bleachers near Stadium Ave & Middletown Rd), Pelham Bay Park
Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite to face a new adversary: the mysterious Shadow. Can the crew protect the planet again? Rated PG.
Bring a blanket and a chair! This event is free.
All dogs must be on a leash at all times.
Urban Park Rangers
Climate 101: Urban Heat Island Effect
Sunday, July 13, 2025
11 am - 12 pm
Orchard Beach Nature Center (Near Section 2)
Summer heat getting to you? Cool off with the Urban Park Rangers and learn some of the effects of climate change and how trees other elements of nature provide shade and more.
Family Camping: Bronx
Sunday, July 27, 2025
6 pm - 7 am
Orchard Beach Nature Center (Near Section 2)
Registration Required
We camp to create lasting memories, connect with the natural world, and bond with our families. The Urban Park Rangers celebrate the tradition of camping and we look forward to welcoming your family. Families are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday, July 16.
Discovery Hike: Tide Pools
Sunday, August 3, 2025
1 pm - 2 pm
Orchard Beach Nature Center (Near Section 2)
Explore the shore with the Urban Park Rangers as we take a closer look at these temporary habitats and find out the many creatures that call tide pools home.
Canoeing: Island Hopping
Saturday, August 16, 2025
10 am - 11:30 am
Canoe & Kayak Launch, Orchard Beach
Registration Required
Spend a afternoon exploring the islands that surround the Orchard Beach estuary by canoe. Experienced paddlers only. Participants are chosen by lottery. Lottery registration opens on Wednesday, August 6.
Seining and Shore Exploration
Sunday, August 24, 2025
11 am - 12 pm
Orchard Beach Nature Center
Explore the shore of Orchard Beach and get ready to get your hands wet; seining program participants don waders and use large nets to catch fish and other marine life. All equipment is provided; this program is recommended for ages 8 years and older.
Volunteer
Trees Count at Pelham Bay Park
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
10 am - 12 pm
Pelham Bay Nature Center (near Bruckner Blvd & Wilkinson Ave)
Volunteer with NYC Parks for Trees Count 2025! At each event you will receive a tote bag with all the materials needed to count trees. Next, we'll provide a 20-minute training session that includes the basics of tree identification and how to measure and assess each tree.
Using our Tree Census app, you’ll split up into different zones within the park to start counting trees! After completing your first training event, you are welcome to continue counting trees on your own in smaller parks across the city.
Summer Events: Save the Dates!
Beach Days | Riviera Nights
Saturday August 2
Saturday, August 9
Saturday, August 16
Friday, August 22: Drive In Movie
Orchard Beach
Beach Days | Rivera Nights, our summer event series, returns this August! More information to come.
Viva La Sound
Saturday, September 13, 2025
10 am - 3 pm
Ambrosini Field, City Island
City Island Oyster Reef is holding their annual Viva La Sound Festival! Come by for environmental organizations, live demonstrations, and more!
Bronx Native American Festival
Sunday, September 28
12 pm - 4 pm
South Picnic Area, Pelham Bay Park
This event celebrating the indigenous peoples of the Bronx, New York City, and beyond returns this year!
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Updates
Reconstruction work on the landmarked Orchard Beach Pavilion continues. The building will not reopen this summer.
Orchard Beach is open for swimming! Lifeguards are on duty from 10 am - 6 pm daily. Remember to only swim when and where lifeguards are on duty.
Remember: do not feed the wildlife. Not only is it illegal, but it’s dangerous for the animals. It disrupts their diets and trains them to see humans as food sources. It’s healthy for a wild animal to be wary of humans: it helps keep them safe.
If you enjoyed the City Nature Challenge, this Pollinator BioBlitz might help you keep the citizen science energy up this summer. Running through July 31st, it focuses on observing pollinators in the US and Canada: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pollinator-power-party-bioblitz-2025-competition
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If you’d like to support our programming you can donate here: https://www.pelhambaypark.org/membership
Thank you so much for all that you do. We couldn’t do any of this without you.
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See you in the park!
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