Soundview Park natural areas

Bronx River, Bronx River Ave. bet. Lafayette Ave., Surf Dr.

Soundview Park is located at the mouth of the Bronx River. Approximately 17 acres of tidal wetland, grassland, scrub shrub, and forest were restored here from 2011 to 2014 in a joint effort between NYC Parks and the US Army Corps of Engineers with additional funding from New York State Department of State. Wading birds such as egrets, great blue and night herons, yellowlegs, and sandpipers forage in the tidal wetland. Woodpeckers, Baltimore orioles, and at least 163 other bird species have been documented at the park. One of New York City's largest oyster reefs is located in the Bronx River estuary next to Soundview Park. The original reef structure was installed by NYC Parks in 2004 to see if oysters could thrive in the area once again; it has since been expanded to five acres by Billion Oyster Project and other partners.

At the southern tip of Soundview Park, in the community of Harding Park near Clason Point, lies a 4.32-acre cove where the mouth of the Bronx River meets the East River. Like all of the Harding Park neighborhood, this shoreline was filled in the early-to-mid 20th century to support development and hardenedwith construction rubble debris and riprap stone, creating steep, unvegetated slopes. Tidal wetlands within the cove are comprised of unvegetated mudflat and a few sparse pockets of low marsh dominated by smooth cordgrass (Sporobolus alterniflorus). An upcoming salt marsh restoration will remove concrete and fill, bring in clean sand and plant salt marsh species, including Sporobolus alterniflorus, Sporobolus pumilus, Distichlis spicata, and others. In addition to the wetland restoration, the project will install a new boardwalk, picnic area, and waterfront overlook / fishing area, all on raised decking surrounded by maritime shrubland and forest.