South Oxford Park

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, October 19, 2005

PARKS HONORS LATE COUNCIL MEMBER BY BREAKING GROUND ON SOUTH OXFORD PARK

photo by Malcolm Pinckney

On Tuesday, October 18, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe joined Council Member Letitia James, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, State Assembly Member Roger Green, Chair of Community Board 2 Shirley McRae, Chair of Community Board 2 Parks Committee Joan Thorne Manning, Friends of South Oxford Park Chair E. Andrew Marshall, Co-Chair of A.R.T./New York’s South Oxford Space Todd Nau, and local children to break ground on the new $2.26-million South Oxford Park.

"Take a good look around you today, because by next summer, you won’t believe your eyes," said Commissioner Benepe. "In a few minutes, when we break ground on this site, we begin its long-awaited transformation into a brand-new community park."

This $2.26 million project was funded with $1.7 million from Council Member James, $400,000 from Borough President Marty Markowitz, and $150,000 from Mayor Bloomberg.

Both Council Member James and Assembly Member Green took a moment to remember the late Council Member James Davis, who once occupied Letitia James’ seat and who allocated the initial monies for the project. Assembly Member Green gave a small package of daffodil bulbs to Andrew Marshall of Friends of South Oxford Park, to plant in the late council member’s memory.

The project include construction of a new playground with new play equipment, swings, and safety surfacing; a cattail-themed spray shower; a synthetic turf green; new tennis courts and gardens; and new fences, benches, sidewalks, and drinking fountains.

Parks & Recreation acquired the former South Oxford Tennis Club and surrounding land from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development in April 1998. In 2001, Parks tore down the derelict building occupying the site. Construction of the new park is expected to be completed by fall 2006.

"Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words."

Robert Frost
(1874-1963)