Williamsbridge Oval — music venue
Williamsbridge Oval (often referred to locally as simply "The Oval") is a unique and highly active 19-acre public park located in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx. True to its name, the park is shaped like a massive ellipse and sits entirely sunken below street level, completely encircled by a ring road and a border of historic apartment buildings and homes.The park's distinct, bowl-like topography is a direct result of its fascinating history: it was built directly inside the footprint of the former Williamsbridge Reservoir. The reservoir supplied the Bronx with water from 1889 until it was rendered obsolete and eventually drained in the 1920s. In the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) completely transformed the empty basin into a sprawling recreation complex, officially opening it to the public in 1937.Today, the Oval remains the undisputed focal point of the Norwood community. It features a popular 400-meter running track, multiple turf athletic fields, basketball and tennis courts, and a beautiful, historic WPA-era stone recreation center. Because of its sunken design, the park acts as a natural acoustic buffer, shielding visitors from the traffic noise of the surrounding city and creating a vibrant, self-contained oasis for local sports, fitness, and neighborhood gatherings.
Address: 3225 Reservoir Oval East, New York 10467, United States