The all-new, all-weather Fosina Field at City (Flowers) Park in New Rochelle, part of the county’s Westchester Legacy program officially opened today during a ceremony with County Executive Robert P. Astorino, New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson and other City and county officials.
“Fosina Field is a welcome addition to the great variety of recreational fields in our county,” Astorino said. “This park will become a great destination for athletes and fans. With the addition of playgrounds, hiking trails and basketball there will be something for everyone to do. I thank the Board of Legislators for its support of this project, as well as our partners in the City of New Rochelle.”
Mayor Bramson said, “Once City Park is fully completed, this flagship athletic facility will provide recreational opportunities for thousands of residents, including more than 25 community-based organizations with over 200 teams, as well as our local schools and colleges. This outstanding legacy project is proof that even in challenging times we can come together to accomplish big things for the people of New Rochelle and Westchester County.”
County legislators praised the project. Legislator James Maisano, whose district includes parts of New Rochelle and Pelham, said “This was a terrific county/city effort, and when the work is completed, New Rochelle’s kids will have one of the finest athletic facilities in the county. Everyone worked together in a bi-partisan way to put New Rochelle’s kids first, and this project will improve our community for decades.”
County Legislator Sheila Marcotte, whose district includes parts New Rochelle, Eastchester and Tuckahoe, said “This brand new field will now be able to endure countless games and be enjoyed by many. The success of this Legacy program can be measured by the smiles of the children who will happily, and safely, call this their home field.”
Judy Myers, the County Legislator whose district includes Mamaroneck, Larchmont, Rye, and New Rochelle, noted, “Once again, Westchester County’s innovative Legacy program has proven its worth. The opening of this field adds onto the number of athletic fields open to all residents of Westchester County and is a very welcome addition in particular to this southern area of the county that has too few fields and too little open space.”
This all-weather, synthetic turf football, soccer and lacrosse field is the second component of a planned athletic complex at the site which was originally dedicated by the New Rochelle City Council in 1997 and named in recognition of Joe Fosina, who at that time had dedicated 30 of youth service to the New Rochelle Community.
“The whole Youth Tackle League program, both coaches and staff, are excited about this field,” said Fosina. “We look forward to August, and the start of our season. It was a labor of love for most of us, and it’s just beautiful.”
When complete, the 21-acre park will incorporate five athletic fields that are configured in a way that permits multiple sports to be played simultaneously, plus a new playground, a “sprayground,” basketball court and natural areas for passive recreation. The park will be lighted for evening use. It is being built with $9.8 million in Westchester Legacy funding. The project’s design team, Stantec Consultants, recently received a national facility design award for the adjacent Skidelsky field completed in 2009.
The park is located on city property and will be managed by New Rochelle’s Parks and Recreation Department under an inter-municipal agreement with the county. It is located at Fifth and Potter avenues in New Rochelle.
Project History and Overview
City Park, also known as the William “Brud” Flowers Sports Complex, consists of approximately 20 acres and is located in the southeast end of the City of New Rochelle, near its border with the Town of Mamaroneck. The park is bordered by Fifth Avenue to the south; East Street, a paper street, to the west; Barnard School on the north and the MacLeay apartment complex on the east.
The park was originally constructed in the 1920s with the first major construction being the stone recreation building in the center of the site. Various improvements have occurred over the years and the most recent projects include the following:
- Constructed Fosina Field and Concession Building (1997)
- Constructed Skidelsky Field (1999)
- Installed lights at the adult softball field (2001)
- Constructed skate park (2006)
- Constructed picnic pavilion (2007)
City Park and Fifth Avenue sit at a low point in the surrounding watershed. The nearby Beechmont Lake discharges through an open stream into a culvert under the park along with drainage from the surrounding area.
Improvements at City Park include an underground retention/detention facility under the ballfields.
The project was divided into four phases:
- Phase I: Replacement of Skidelsky Field (Funded by FEMA/SEMO).
- Phase II: Replacement of Fosina Field and construction of a new natural turf softball field.
- Phase III: New synthetic turf baseball and softball fields. Creation of a playground and splash pad. Construction set to begin in June 2011 and be completed in June 2012.
- Phase IV: Includes a reorganization of the existing parking lot and additional parking south of the natural turf softball field. (Funded by Westchester County Legacy Grant)
The phasing of the construction was devised to minimize the field outages and disruption to the games and events as much as possible.
Project benefits include:
A flagship athletic facility within a park-like setting
Service to a diverse cross section of youth and adult participants, including more than 25 youth/adult community-based organizations encompassing over 200 teams and New Rochelle School District Athletics, New Rochelle private schools, College of New Rochelle, Iona College, Monroe College and the city’s Parks and Recreation youth/adult programs.
Improved parking and traffic flow, quality athletic fields with sensible configurations that permits multiple sports activities to be held simultaneously
- New synthetic turf surfaces that allow for increased usage with play during or following inclement weather
- Improved site drainage that focuses on environmental conservation
- Sports athletic field lighting that expands the daily use potential
- Passive recreation included in park natural areas
- Water playground and basketball court areas that promote free, healthy, recreational play
Ice Rink
Where are the plans for the much heralded, privately funded ice rink? It’s been three years since this administration helped close the rink at New Roc City, shafting thousands of kids in New Rochelle. The inaction is an embarrassment.
But will the city maintain it?
But will the city maintain it or will it go the way of the Armory, Ward Acres Barn, the church on North Ave and every street in New Rochelle?