Heritage Field opens in old Yankee Stadium grounds
After much anticipation and skepticism from South Bronx residents, Heritage Field finally opened last week to the public where the old Yankee Stadium once stood. Neighborhood residents and baseball aficionados were more than pleased with the grand opening as the pristine 10.8 acre public ballpark exceeded the community’s expectations.
Completed a year behind schedule, Heritage Field is the last addition to the long awaited project. The city did not cut any corners and even laid down the same pricey sod used as the professional Yankee field next door. The park is made up of three Kentucky bluegrass fields and includes $1.2 million worth of original Yankee commemoratives including a wall plaque of baseball legend Lou Gherig’s “luckiest man speech” and a 12-ton chunk of the old Yankee Stadium. They even preserved the original Yankee diamond and field!
Heritage Field is located at the Yankee Stadium subway stop on East 161st Street and River Avenue. The No. 4 train (East Side) and the B and D trains (West Side) make stops at 161st Street/Yankee Stadium.
Be sure to catch the Yankees opening home game this Friday vs. the Los Angeles Angels!
For more about Heritage Field, visit the New York Times Article
(Image Courtesy: NY Mag)
(Source: The New York Times)