Evander Gets a Field of Dreams By HEATHER HADDON
"Thank you to those who build hope and opportunity in a place where so often there isn't hope and opportunity," said Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, at a groundbreaking ceremony last week. "Where there is disinvestment and people who walk away, there are also people who remain engaged in building community."
The project got a big boost from Mario Gabelli, a local executive who grew up near the high school. "Me and my brother grew up a block away from here," said Gabelli, whose foundation made the pledge of $500,000. "We spent many a day and night playing on this field. I wanted to give back to the residents of the Bronx." Also present was Olympic gold medalist and soccer star Sara Whalen, along with Bronx High Schools Chancellor Norman Wechsler and Evander Principal Andrew Turay. "This is the field of the American dream," said Turay, overlooking the construction already under way. Members of Evander's 17 athletic teams and ROTC were also in attendance. "I wish I had gotten to practice on a field," said Shavan Scott, an Evander 12th-grader who runs track. "We have to practice inside." Evander's field, built in the 1950s, was renovated only once. Overuse of the relatively small space led to its current state of deterioration.
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The grass will soon be
greener at Evander Childs High School, with the school's athletic field
getting a major facelift. Boosted by a private donation of $500,000, a new
$1.7 million field for football, soccer, baseball and softball will be
ready to go at Evander by August.
Carrion was referring to the work of Take the Field -- a public-private
partnership that has netted millions to build and renovate sports fields
at public schools citywide since 2000. The project at the Williamsbridge
high school -- which many local students attend -- is one of six fields
now being built, adding to the 26 other city athletic spaces already
created.