Devoe, Bronx River and Joyce Kilmer Parks to Get Wi-Fi

Bronx River Park is one of three in the Bronx that will be getting free Wi-Fi access this summer. (Photo by J. Evelly)

In the mood to do a little web surfing in the great outdoors? You'll soon be able to break out your laptop or iPad at three Bronx parks, thanks to a city initiative launched today.

Devoe Park in Kingsbridge Heights, Bronx River Park in West Farms and Joyce Kilmer Park, near Yankee Stadium, will be Wi-Fi enabled this summer, part of a bigger project launched by the city and wireless service provider AT&T that's bringing free wireless to 20 different city parks.

Divinely Inspired, a Youth Basketball League Takes on the Bronx's Devoe Park

A new hoops league that preaches Christian values plays at Devoe Park every Saturday. (Photo by Adi Talwar)

Editor's note: A version of this story appeared in the latest edition of the Norwood News, out on streets now.

Shane Barker, a 16-year-old University Heights resident, does not usually use Devoe Park, the triangular and hilly green space that sits on the corner of Fordham Road and University Avenue and is just blocks from his home.

“Me and my brother don’t come down here because there’s troublemakers,” he says.

But today is different. It’s a gorgeous, sunny Saturday morning and Shane, sporting cornrows and the wispy beginnings of facial hair, is one of 70 kids participating in a newly-formed basketball program created by a Bronx-based group called the New York City Christian Athletic League.

Aided by word of mouth and an infusion of funding from local Councilman Fernando Cabrera, the hoops program is flourishing in a park that has become synonomous with trouble.

The league’s founder, Edwin Santiago, and his “right-hand man,” Frank Abarca, both attend Bronx Household of Faith, an evangelical Christian church that meets at PS 15/291 on Andrews Avenue in University Heights.

New from the Norwood News

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Local residents continue to use Harris Field, which is contaminated in parts with high levels of lead. Concerned residents say the city isn't doing enough to keep people out of the site.

[Two additional points about this story before we move on: 

1) Someone called the Norwood News office today to say he saw more people using the fields and was incredulous to find no signage declaring the site contaminated. There is one sign saying "Danger" and telling people to stay out because it's a construction site, but it obviously is not keeping people out. 

2) It's still unclear when the contamination was found. The Norwood News filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request for documentation concerning the contamination and has repeatedly and specifically asked when the contamination was discovered. Advocates claim the Parks Dept. should have discovered the contamination before it began construction, but that doesn't appear to be what happened. It's been more than 130 business days since we first filed the FOIL request. The Parks Dept. originally said it would take 60 business days to fulfill the request. We will continue to beat this drum until we get some answers.]

Ok, moving on.

Find out everything going on for Bronx Week.

Lehman College recently unveiled its multi-million dollar Multimedia Center.

The PS/MS 15 chess team won its second national chess title in five years.

The Dept. of Transportation is studying and will make recommendations on how to mitigate the congestion on Gun Hill Road, which was recently named the Bronx's most dangerous road in terms of traffic accidents and fatalities.

With the weather warming, Devoe Park is again turning into a haven for raucous late-night/early-morning parties, local residents lament.

Youth theater director Carlos Laboy is being forced to take a break from the work he loves while he gets treated for cancer.

Beloved St. Ann's Priest Misael Bacleon ("Father Mike") passed away last week.

And much more. Enjoy.