Last Saturday, the new ballfields on the former site of Yankee Stadium opened to the public — or rather, to a handful of local kids who got to play ball there for the afternoon. It was then closed again, and cable news channel NY1 reports that following this “soft opening,” the ballfields will not reopen until next spring.
That marks the second major delay for the park, which is being constructed with city money to replace the ballfields in Macombs Dam Park, which now sits underneath the Yankees‘ new stadium. Originally, the city announced that the park would be open in December 2010; city officials later moved that date to fall 2011, citing “unforeseen site conditions and new design aspects.” With the new park now not opening until spring 2012, that will mark almost six years that Bronx residents will have gone without ballfields since the demolition of Macombs Dam Park in 2006. But hey, it’s not like a generation of kids has grown up holding baseball practice in the cafeteria or anything.
True, Heritage Field is very late coming on line. Also true, it is a first-rate baseball and softball facility. The biggest truth? The Parks Department needs more money and staff to maintain this gem. Unfortunately, there is no parks conservancy in place and the prospect of seeing the fields degraded is a real one.
True, Heritage Field is very late coming on line. Also true, it is a first-rate baseball and softball facility. The biggest truth? The Parks Department needs more money and staff to maintain this gem. Unfortunately, there is no parks conservancy in place and the prospect of seeing the fields degraded is a real one.
Neil;
Did they say why the fields won’t reopen until spring? I mean, I know baseball season is over, but surely kids could play pickup games when weather allows?
Is this standard for all NY public facilities like this? Closed for three/four months?
They probably don’t have the staff to maintain the grass fields in the winter. It’s not uncommon for ballfields to be fenced off in the winter here, though usually only when they’ve just reseeded.
Cary, any idea?
These are virgin, Kentucky bluegrass fields. Parks is taking every precaution to allow the sod to knit and root.
You think the Yankees could pitch in a couple $’s to maintain those fields?
Mike L:
I’m absolutely certain they could. Unfortunately, I’m also absolutely certain that they won’t.