Morrisania Air Rights Houses in the Bronx is slated to receive more than $10.4 million in upgrades, including a new outdoor recreational area, an electronic gate control system, new fencing and other improvements, under two contracts recently approved by the Board of the New York City Housing Authority.

"These contracts will allow us to modernize the infrastructure of the development and, more importantly, make this a safer and more pleasant living environment for the residents," said NYCHA Chairman Tino Hernandez.

The contracts come on the heels of work that saw the remodeling of the bathrooms in all 843 apartments and, more recently, approval of a contract for new closet doors.

Major features in the contracts include:

• The comprehensive upgrade of ground and deck areas sited over the Metro North Railroad tracks.
• Development of a newly acquired lot into recreational open space with paving and athletic surfacing.
• Redesign of play and sitting areas with protective shade structures.
• A new electronic gate access control system for the relocated parking area.
• New security lighting.
• New fencing.
• New steps and new outdoor furnishings consisting of benches, game tables and trash receptacles.

The contracts were awarded to Omni Contracting Co. Inc., Yonkers, N.Y. ($9 million) and Medco Electric Inc., also of Yonkers, ($1.4 million). Work is expected to take two years to complete.

The development, in the Morrisania section of the Bronx, was completed in February 1980. It consists of three buildings, 19, 23 and 29-stories tall. Park Avenue, East 158th, East 161st and East 163rd Streets border the 5.38-acre complex.