Parks to Cut Ribbon on Restored Leif Ericson Field

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe today joined City Council Member Vincent Gentile to cut the ribbon on over $2.7 million in renovations to the former "Dust Bowl" at Leif Ericson Park. At the event, Council Member Gentile announced a renaming contest for the new field. Also in attendance at the event were Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Julius Spiegel; Community Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann; John Quaglione, representing State Senator Marty Golden; and children from the C.C.B. School.

"For years, children and adults in Bay Ridge played on a field that was so dusty and barren, it was actually named ‘The Dust Bowl,'" said Commissioner Benepe. "Now, thanks to $2.6 million allocated by Council Member Gentile and $165,000 from Mayor Bloomberg, we are pleased to unveil a new state-of-the-art synthetic turf field that is equipped for baseball, soccer and more. With the recently renovated playground and upcoming construction of a comfort station, this is part of our larger effort to transform and enhance Leif Ericson Park."

"This field is all set to be the new recreational gem of our neighborhood - and after all this hard work, its state-of-the-art turf, bleachers and equipment, all it needs is a new name!" said Councilman Gentile. "Commissioner Benepe and Borough Commissioner Spiegel care more about giving our neighborhoods the parks and playing fields they deserve than anyone, and their commitment to our community is invaluable."

The renovations at Leif Ericson Park were funded with generous allocations of $2.6 million from Council Member Gentile and $165,000 from Mayor Bloomberg. The reconstruction of the former "Dust Bowl" creates a state-of-the-art synthetic turf field for multi-purpose play. It now includes new baseball backstops, portable pitcher's mounds, portable soccer goals, benches, bleachers and new sports lighting. A new drainage system, an equipment storage unit and new perimeter chain link fencing ins included. New trees were planted and nesting platforms were built on the light towers to house the Quaker Parrot residents.

The field was designed by Landscape Architect Stacia Tull. The resident engineer was Arian Lamaj and the contractor was Landtek.

In the next phase of the park's renovations, Parks will install a new comfort station to provide relief for those using the nearby field and playground. This $1.2 million project was funded with $800,000 from Borough President Marty Markowitz and $400,000 from Council Member Gentile.