Haffen Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, August 3, 2006

New Ball “Field Of Dreams” In Haffen Park

photo by Malcolm Pinckney

On July 26, Parks & Recreation officially opened new turf at Haffen Park in the Bronx.  This new turf is a synthetic turf ballfield, and the first completed project funded by the Croton Filtration Plant Mitigation Funds.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe was joined by Assembly Member Carl E. Heastie, State Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson, District Manager of Community Board 12 Carmen Rosa, Parks Committee Chair of Community Board 12 Christine Foreman, seniors from the Haffen Park Golden Guys and Dolls, and youth recreation players from the North Bronx Little League and the Community Soccer Club to cut the ribbon on the newly-renovated field at Haffen Park.

The ballfield underwent $1,267,000 in renovations, made possible by the Croton Filtration Plant Mitigation Funds.  This is the first project to be completed as part of a major initiative to improve parks throughout the Bronx with $200 million from the construction of the Croton Water Filtration Facility.  Forty-three of these projects, totaling $92 million, are in design or construction.  Projects are expected to be completed over the next five years.

“We are proud to unveil the new and improved Haffen Park ballfield for the Bronx community to enjoy,” said Commissioner Benepe.  “This ballfield is a perfect example of Parks’ commitment to expanding and enhancing youth recreation facilities.  Our goal is to enable our City’s youth to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle, and what better way to do so than to play ball!”

The renovated ballfield benefits from new synthetic turf, drinking fountains, a ground hydrant, an equipment storage building, pavement, curbing and benches.  In addition, the existing trees were pruned and the chain-link fence was repainted and enhanced with new fabric.  The ballfield can be used for both baseball and soccer.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, both elected officials and youth athletic players eagerly took to the field.  Commissioner Benepe threw out the ceremonial “first pitch,” while Assembly Member Heastie and State Senator Hassell-Thompson took turns at penalty kicks.  On this day of fun and celebration, no one stood on the sidelines.

Haffen Park is named after Louis F. Haffen (1854-1935), who was the first Borough President of the Bronx.  The Park also boasts a swimming pool and wading pool, a playground, and picnic areas.

In almost five years, Parks & Recreation has spent more than $113 million for Bronx park improvements, with new waterfront parks, greenways, and athletic facilities.  There is currently an additional $102 million in active park projects in development, including the creation of a new park at the old concrete plant and Barretto Point Park to expand waterfront access in the South Bronx, as well as the Bronx River Greenway which will connect the South Bronx and Westchester border with a 15-mile multi-use bike and pedestrian path as it is developed over the next decade.  In addition, new ballfields and athletic facilities are transforming the borough.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“I see great things in baseball.  It’s our game – the American game.” 

Walt Whitman
(1819 – 1892)