Vito Locascio Field

Parks Renames Field In Honor Of Dedicated Former Employee

Parks First Deputy Commissioner Liam Kavanagh joined Council Member Joe Addabbo, Columbia Society President Dominick Anastasio, the Locascio family and DC 37’s Local 1508 union members at a ceremony to rename Loring Ballfield in memory of the late Vito Locascio.

“It’s an honor to celebrate Vito Locascio’s lifelong dedication to Parks and this borough by naming this ballfield in his honor,” said Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “I’d like to thank the Ozone Park community and its elected officials for suggesting that this field be renamed.”

Vito Locascio was a Parks Department employee for more than 40 years and he served as President of the Columbia Association for 32 years. Locascio worked in Queens and Brooklyn. He also served as an instructor in the Parks Olmsted Center’s Training Academy. Locascio passed away in May 2006.

The park was named Loring Field on June 18, 1987, after Loring Avenue, a street that bordered the ballfield until the avenue’s name was changed in 1937. Originally, the field was popular with football leagues. Today Loring Field is used by several football leagues and also for baseball games.

Parks acquired this site in three parts, in 1915, 1951, and 1954. The additions have made the park the full triangle it is today, bordered on three sides by 149th Avenue, Cross Bay Blvd, and North Conduit Avenue.

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