Grand opening kicks off huge NYC sports field project

19 May, 2010 Athletic Turf News

NEW YORK, NY — The ribbon cutting for Randall’s Island Sports Foundation (RISF), the completion of a 3-year-long, more than $130 million project, took place May 19 with a host of sports celebrities and public officials on hand.

The grand opening of the project brings more than 60 state-of-the-art athletic fields to Randall’s Island Park. The project began in 2007 to address the enormous demand for outdoor athletic facilities in New York City, a need that led RISF — partnering with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreatio to reconfigure and reconstruct deteriorating ball fields. The fields are a final component of a management, restoration and development plan adopted in 1999, which has also led to construction of Icahn Stadium track & field complex in 2005, the Sportime tennis center in 2009, wetlands restoration and miles of waterfront pathways.

Attending the ribbon cutting were NYC Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott, Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, New York Yankees star players Mariano Rivera and Robinson Cano, tennis legend and New Yorker John McEnroe, and New York Red Bulls soccer players John Wolyniec, Carlos Mendes, and Kevin Goldthwaite.

“The addition of over 60 new and improved athletic fields will vastly increase the amount of playing time available for New York City children, particularly from public schools and community groups. The completion of this project is a significant milestone for our organization and its mission to realize the full potential of Randall’s Island,” said Richard J. Davis, Chairman of the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation.

11 year-round artificial turf fields

The fields project design includes significant upgrades to the park facilities, including the use of state-of-the-art artificial turf on 11 fields for year-round use, crucial irrigation systems under all the fields, and lighting to allow for extended evening play. RISF and Parks have also installed public amenities sufficient to serve a sports field complex of this size, including pathways, restrooms, water fountains, bleachers, dugouts, backstops, signage, information booths, bike racks, and dedicated parking facilities. The project design underwent environmental peer review and also includes the planting of 4000 trees in tandem with the Million Trees initiative of PlaNYC.

“The opening of these fields is a huge achievement for the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, and a tremendous addition of world-class athletic facilities to New York City. This is a project of unprecedented scale and reinforces RISF’s mission to transform the park into the premiere sports and recreation destination for all New Yorkers to enjoy,” said Aimee Boden, Executive Director of the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation.

The entire sports field development is a $61.5 million project with a further $71.95 million of infrastructure work on the island to support the fields and other facilities. It was made possible through support and funding from the New York City Office of the Mayor, the New York State Department of State, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the MTA Bridges and Tunnels, led by the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation and the New York City Parks Department, with management by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. The project is the largest city-funded initiative, in both scale and investment, dedicated toward new sports fields in New York City, in over a century.

Will be used by millions

“Randall’s Island is one of the largest and best athletic field complexes in the nation. The addition of 60 sports fields has transformed Randall’s Island into a destination for athletics to be used by millions of New Yorkers,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “Thanks to our partnership with the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation and the Economic Development Corporation, this Sports Field project will allow athletes, young and old, to play a wide variety of sports all in one location.”

The new fields will accommodate sports including soccer, softball, baseball, football, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby and cricket, and are organized into six complexes across the island: Sunken Meadow Fields; Central Fields; East River Fields; Sunken Garden Fields, Wards Meadow Fields; and Hell Gate Fields. This spring, a diverse range of youth and adult athletic leagues are scheduled to play on the new fields, including: East Harlem Little League; Manhattan Youth Baseball; East Harlem Sports Academy; Zog Sports; Dominican Sports Foundation; and the NYC Fire Department Adult Softball League. As with all City parks, organized play requires a Parks permit, and youth organizations including public schools, private schools, parochial schools and organized youth groups are given priority and are exempt from a Parks permit fee.

“As a New Yorker who grew up playing on fields at Randall’s Island that we were not nearly as beautiful or safe as these are today, and as a father of six New York City kids, I am proud to be part of this important day,” said John McEnroe. “We need to allow kids to make good choices and choose healthy, balanced lifestyles. The great fields and facilities being unveiled today, together with Icahn Stadium and the SPORTIME tennis center, where the John McEnroe Tennis Academy will begin this September, will give tens of thousands of New York kids the chance to be active and to excel at their sport of choice, be it baseball, soccer, lacrosse, track & field or maybe even tennis.”

RISF’s year-round youth programs will also expand to utilize the new sports fields, along with Icahn Stadium and other park facilities. RISF programs are offered free of charge to thousands of children annually, and are run in close partnership with over 120 local public schools and community-based organizations in Harlem and the South Bronx.

Opportunities to “get out and play”

“Open space and active recreation are in constant need throughout New York City. The work that has been done on Randall’s Island expands the opportunities for New Yorkers to get out and play – this is a real treasure for East Harlem and we look forward to continued collaboration with the Randall’s Island Sports Foundation to serve the young people of our community and others throughout the City. Congratulations to all,” says Matthew S. Washington, Chair of Community Board 11, East Harlem.

In conjunction with the opening of the sports fields, RISF is launching a new website – www.randallsisland.org – which provides the most up-to-date information on the fields, including a schedule of events, daily weather announcements affecting play, directions to the park, great photos from the Park’s history, and more.

Bookmark it: digg del.icio.us technorati yahoo facebook twitter

Add Comment

Athletic Turf