Savulich/News
June 29, 2010. Shovel-wielders at Heritage Field include Joba Chamberlain (4th from left), GM Brian Cashman (to right of hurler) and, next to him, Randy Levine and Ruben Diaz Jr. (2nd from r.). Officials finally broke ground on the long delayed building of Heritage Field. The fields were supposed to be completed by 2010. A recently opened skate park was three years behind schedule. City officials are now claiming they are replacing 32 acres of parkland as part of the building for the New Yankee Stadium, when in fact only 22 acres are being replaced in the community. Bronx
The field is an 11-acre development, headed by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the city's Department of Parks and Recreation, which follows the year-long deconstruction of the old Yankee Stadium as well as other delays that lasted several years. Heritage Field is expected to be completed by late 2011.
When the project is completed, there will be three baseball fields.
In order for the new Yankee Stadium to be constructed, city officials took over 25 acres of park space in the Bronx and under parks regulations, the city had to provide an equivalent amount of space in return.
The city claims that 32 acres of parkland, which includes Heritage Field, Macombs Dam Park, Mill Pond Park, River Avenue Parks, and Ruppert Plaza, will ultimately be developed.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the ongoing revitalization of the South Bronx,” said NYCEDC President Seth W. Pinsky. “As promised, we completed the demolition of the old stadium in June, safely and on-budget."
City officials say that the new park is a vast improvement over the previous park. Heritage field boasts a state-of-the-art layout and features “three championship grass ballfields for baseball, softball, and little league, along with event space for track and field competition including discus, shot put, and javelin,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe.
However, Geoffrey Croft, the president of parks watchdog group NYC Park Advocates Inc., said the city isn't being up-front about the parks. According to a report released by NYCPA several years ago, only 22 acres are being opened in the neighborhood.
“What they're doing now is trying to claim another five acres and from day one they have not been up-front about the project,” Croft said.
June 29, 2010. Officials finally broke ground on the long delayed building of Heritage Field. (Photo: Marla Diamond/WCBS)
Read More:
Ground Broken at Heritage Field Near Yankee Stadium
Epoch Times - June 29, 2010 - By Jack Phillips
WCBS 880 - June 29, 2010 - By Marla Diamond
New York Daily News - June 30, 2010 - By Mike Jaccarino
No comments:
Post a Comment