Oval in Spring Creek Park To Be Named in Honor of Cricket Legend Roy A. Sweeney

NYC Parks Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Kevin Jeffrey will join former Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Julius Spiegel, President of United States Cricket Promoters Association Mascelles Bailey, niece of Roy Sweeney Ms. Nickeisha Sweeney, Bishop Dr. Cecil G. Riley, the Royal Nights Marching Band and community members for an official renaming ceremony in honor of Roy Sweeney.

Roy A. Sweeney, sixth child of Cecil and Lily Sweeney, was born in Chapleton, Clarendon, Jamaica. Sweeney migrated to the United States in 1955 and was best known for his efforts to promote the sport of cricket in the United States, his greatest passion. He co-founded the Westbury Cricket Club, which became one of the nation's premier leagues, and later founded the United States Cricket Promoters Association. Sweeney helped found the Mayor's Cup Cricket Tournament, brought many star cricket players and squads to New York City, and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Metropolitan Cricket League in 2008.

In recognition of his services to cricket, Sweeney was inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame on August 24, 1991. He passed away on April 25, 2013 after a battle with diabetes, and is survived by wife Ola and three children- daughter, Audrey, sons Rasheen and Anthony.

A true testament to Sweeney's efforts, the cricket oval at Spring Creek Park is the first designed cricket pitch in New York City. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the pitch was held on May 2, 2003, at which cricket players participated in an inaugural match. Parks dedicates the Cricket Oval to a man whose passion and dedication to the game will serve to engage both youth and adults for many generations to come.