EcoBall: Where Green Meets Play

This summer, Bridge Play Foundation proudly launched our very first EcoBall Series — and what a season it was! Thanks to private funding from the City Parks Foundation and Partnerships for Parks through the NYC Green Fund, along with our amazing partnership with The Brotherhood Sister Sol, we were able to host three unforgettaable community events across the Bronx at Macombs Dam Park, Pelham Bay Park, and Franz Sigel Park.

EcoBall was created with a simple vision: to connect environmental education with the joy of recreation. And that vision came to life in the best way possible.

At each event, participants learned hands-on lessons about composting and caring for our green spaces, from topdressing trees to discovering the tiny but mighty creatures that make compost work. Kids’ faces lit up as they watched rolly polies and worms wriggle around, proving that sometimes the smallest teachers leave the biggest impression.

But EcoBall wasn’t just about learning — it was about playing together. After the workshops, everyone laced up for friendly games of Wiffleball and Kickball. Parents joined in, kids laughed, and neighbors cheered each other on. The energy was contagious, reminding us all of the power of community when learning and play collide.

We’re deeply grateful for the support that made EcoBall possible and proud to create a space where our community could celebrate both the environment and the spirit of play. This is only the beginning — and we can’t wait to bring EcoBall back even bigger next year.

Because at Bridge Play, we believe that caring for our parks and caring for each other go hand in hand.