Devoe Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, December 7, 2004

STUDENTS, OFFICIALS AND ST. NICK BREAK IN NEW DEVOE PARK BASKETBALL COURT

After receiving $477,000 in renovations, the first ball was tossed at Devoe Park’s new basketball court in a fun game of hoops following the ribbon cutting ceremony that took place last Wednesday, November 30.

Among those in attendance at the ceremony were Borough President Adolfo Carrion, Jr., Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Council Member Maria Baez, First Deputy Commissioner for Operations Liam Kavanagh, Assistant Commissioner for Capital Projects Nancy Barthold, Bronx Borough Commissioner Hector Aponte, and students and staff from the St. Nicholas of Tolentine School.

"It was great to participate in my first ribbon cutting as the Bronx Borough Commissioner," said Commissioner Aponte. "The fact that Borough President Carrion and Commissioner Liam Kavanagh grew up within a couple of blocks of the park goes to show what Commissioner Benepe stated in his comments to the school children—if you study and work hard, you can succeed in life."

With the $477,000 allocated by Council Member Baez, Parks & Recreation applied much-needed changes to Devoe Park. The renovations included new color seal coating, backboards, fencing and drinking fountains for the basketball courts, as well as the relocation of the courts to the north end of the park. The pathways and lawns were also expanded, and the drainage system was reconstructed to provide adequate water flow. The Resident Engineer who oversaw the project was Larisa Wayne-Paulmeno.

During his welcoming remarks, Commissioner Benepe directly addressed St. Nicholas of Tolentine School students, reminding them of the importance of exercising their minds and bodies, and of learning from their mistakes. Event participants also enjoyed a beautiful a cappella performance of Whitney Houston’s "The Greatest Love of All," performed by the talented Lissette Pizarro, a Job Training Participant at the St. James Recreation Center.

Following his speech, Borough President Carrion challenged Commissioner Benepe to a game of hoops on the new court. Commissioner Benepe accepted the challenge, and after the ribbon cutting, joined him and four 8^th-grade students from the St. Nicholas of Tolentine School in an exciting game of three-on-three. Even Santa Claus joined in the fun, subbing into the game for a brief time after meeting with the school’s younger students.

While the older kids hit the courts, the Head Start students had the opportunity to meet Santa, and each received a small Frisbee after their visit.

"Wrongs are often forgiven, but contempt never is.
Our pride remembers it forever."

Lord Chesterfield
(1694-1773)