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April 3, 2012
New Macombs Dam Park ballfields in Bronx on site of former Yankee Stadium open for first baseball game
All Hallows plays Cardinal Hayes on lush new ballfields
NY Daily News
by Daniel Beekman
Right on time? Not even close.
The grass was green, the sky was blue and the players were in heaven Monday as the new Macombs Dam Park ballfields hosted their first baseball game.
Built on the former site of the House That Ruth Built to replace parkland bulldozed to make way for the new Yankee Stadium, the fields boast lush Kentucky bluegrass, sturdy bleachers and plaques to honor baseball history.
Frieze panels from the old stadium overlook the three fields and a blue outline marks the historic Bronx Bombers diamond.
"It feels great to play here," said Lance Montano, 17, an All Hallows High School senior who plays first base. "The park is brand new and the grass is perfect."
But neighbors and players who still feel "shortchanged" by the project described the opening day matchup between All Hallows and Cardinal Hayes High School as bittersweet. The new stadium opened on schedule in 2009 but work on the new Macombs Dam fields only began in 2010.
Local ballplayers went nearly six years without a regulation baseball diamond in their nabe. Pickup play halted and the All Hallows Gaels bused to home games on Staten Island.
Posted by eric at April 3, 2012 9:31 PM