Southern Fields
Park of the Month - May 2006
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Southern Fields - Ozone Park, Queens
Southern Fields in Ozone Park, Queens is May’s Park of the Month. This new state-of-the-art multi-sport facility, on North Conduit Avenue and 117th Street, was recently renovated and reopened to the public.
"With a huge increase in the demand for playing fields brought about by the boom in youth soccer and the explosion of sports opportunities, we have been challenged to create new and more flexible fields," said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Southern Fields had long been plagued by poor drainage and overuse. By constructing a state-of-the-art synthetic turf field, we have replaced unfriendly surfaces such as asphalt and dirt with a new, safe, and environmentally friendly surface."
The revitalization of Southern Fields was funded for $1.25 million, thanks to capital allocations from Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and City Council Member James Sanders, Jr. The new synthetic turf replaces its former unsafe, worn-out and uneven surface. This project also included a new 8-foot chain link fence with double gates, asphalt pavement, drinking fountain, bleachers, storage shed, trees and plantings. This new facility joins four other existing ballfields that make Southern Field a haven for sports leagues and community groups.
Parks & Recreation is working with some of the best designers, and using the latest materials and techniques, to keep New Yorkers fit and active. Benefits of synthetic turf include improved safety, increased versatility, decreased need for maintenance, and decreased environmental impact thanks to the elimination of chemical pesticides and fertilizer, fossil-fuel-powered equipment, and irrigation-using drinking water.
Park of the Month introduces some of our greatest parks and greenspaces to curious New Yorkers and visitors alike.