A ribbon-cutting on Monday, Oct. 12, marked the formal opening of UPTOWN Family Enrichment Center, a new neighborhood space at 3535 Holland Avenue in Williamsbridge. News 12 reported that visitors explored the center, learned about resources and upcoming programs, met staff and connected with neighbors. UPTOWN had listed noon as the start of its grand opening, intended as a broader introduction to families and local partners.
The ceremony was a public opening, not the center’s first activity. UPTOWN says it held a soft launch on Aug. 29 for the Williamsbridge and Baychester communities. The Oct. 12 gathering was planned to introduce the space to more residents, local officials, partners and stakeholders. That sequence matters: the center had already started meeting families before the ribbon-cutting brought in a wider public.
News 12 reported that UPTOWN plans free family activities including parent gatherings, family game nights, women’s groups and seasonal festivities. The center’s site describes workshops and community gatherings for parents, caregivers, young people and neighbors. Those are planned offerings, rather than a claim that every group had begun meeting by the grand opening. The opening gave visitors a chance to learn what could take place in the space.
Before the October opening, UPTOWN also posted an Aug. 4 milestone for its Vitality Cafe, describing it as a space to build community and have conversations about well-being. That earlier offering sits alongside the planned parent gatherings, game nights and seasonal activities reported for the center.
UPTOWN is part of New York City’s Family Enrichment Center network. The Administration for Children’s Services says FECs are free, voluntary and open to everyone. People do not need a referral, appointment or eligibility screening, and they can visit without an intake assessment or disclosing personal family information. ACS says visitors can spend time in a center, join an activity, access available resources or ask staff about connections to other community services. The centers are not case-management programs. ACS listed 30 Family Enrichment Centers across the five boroughs as of January 2026.
The city says each FEC is shaped by its neighborhood: residents help make decisions about the space, activities, partnerships and resources. ACS says centers also build connections through optional warm handoffs. No two centers are exactly alike, with local residents and partners helping determine what each can offer.
The center’s Aug. 29 soft launch offered a concrete example. In its Oct. 1 account, UPTOWN said families stopped at outdoor tables, enjoyed refreshments, learned about the center, played mini-games and received back-to-school supplies. Participants won prizes during the morning. Director Joseph Urbina also gave a presentation about the center’s vision and the activities it was developing for local families.
UPTOWN says the soft launch also introduced members of its Parent Advisory Committee, a group of parents and caregivers who share perspectives to help keep the center responsive to family voices. After the presentation, families took part in larger interactive activities inspired by UPTOWN’s Family Face-Off offerings. The center described teamwork and friendly competition among participants, followed by a raffle with prizes that included a go-kart.
The center organizes its stated work around five protective factors: parental resilience, social connections, parenting and child development, concrete support, and children’s social and emotional skills. UPTOWN describes resilience as drawing on strengths and relationships during difficult days, and social connection as trusted relationships that build belonging. It says concrete support can help families find essential resources, while child development includes communication, problem-solving and emotional regulation. The center also says neighbors can bring their ideas, talents and hobbies, and donations are not required to take part.
News 12 reported that BronxWorks operates UPTOWN and that the New York City Administration for Children’s Services funds it. The center lists its address as 3535 Holland Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467, and gives (929) 645-1881 for questions. The grand opening followed an August introduction and put the center’s planned free activities before a wider audience in Williamsbridge and Baychester.
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